Post: #1

Obviously there will be spoilers here. I'm sick as a dog and snowed in so I've been watching the new season. I'm on episode 5.

Different from the 1st season. Not so much about the acquisition of power, but more about dealing with the real power players, and the heavy hitters.

My problem however is with some of the main themes so far. I do not know how this will play out, but I hope Kevin Spacey does not let me down.

1)Internet surveillance, government overreach, Snowden type stuff. I approve of this theme.

2)Sexual assault. Men in power just straight up raping girls and getting away with it. Goes a lot into military rapes. This part is driving me nuts watching this show right now.

Won't go into detail yet. But discuss.

Post: #2

At the moment I have just finished watching episode 10 and enjoying the ''game'' so far. Didn't see Zoe -situation to play out the way it did.

I found Robert Greene's work even before I found the manosphere and perhaps as a result I grin every time I see Frank or Claire play people with such ease. I do see symptoms of Frank's magic somewhat wearing off at the latter half of s2.

Definitely agree with your analysis about the differences between the seasons. This season is starting to feel a lot more ''Game of Thrones-y'' to me, probably because of stronger presence of other great power players.

Post: #3

I don't watch the show... But I was an extra in an outdoor scene they shot.

Post: #4

The ending to episode 1, holy shit.

SPOILER ALERT

"Did you think I'd forgotten you? Perhaps you hoped I had. Don't waste a breath mourning Miss Barnes. Every kitten grows up to be a cat. They seem so harmless at first -- small, quiet, lapping up their saucer of milk. But once their claws get long enough, they draw blood. Sometimes from the hand that feeds them. For those of us climbing to the top of the food chain there can be no mercy. There is but one rule: Hunt or be hunted. Welcome back."

Post: #5

I did not see that coming. The only fate worse than death for Zoe would be throwing her iphone under that train instead.

Post: #6

Fuck this season.

First episode is the best, and then it's downhill. Still have a couple more episodes to go but it's a bunch of shyte. They got rid of the hot girl with the ripe young looking body. Kate Mara was one of the MAIN reasons I watched this show. The bodies shown are of middle aged cougars. The bullshit sexual assault plot-line. Then to TOP it all, the one "victim" from the military says that she picks up random dudes to rail her at bars, only to "help her cope with the rape". What a load of slut apologist shyte.

The one girl on girl make out is between a 6 and a 6.5 - with the clothes on. None of the sex of the first season, a bunch of old hags, and feminist propaganda.

Kevin Spacey's acting is still on point, but as the executive producer it's his fault. And fuck Robin Wright's man-jaw.

Post: #7

Ep. 9 has a great scene where Underwood AMOGs the shit out of Adam in front of Claire and her panties are practically dripping through the whole scene.

I don't see any type of agenda with this show (on Ep. 9 right now), if anything, all the important characters in the show are portrayed as not really giving a fuck about anything except their own personal ascension into power.

"The road to power is paved with hypocrisy and more than a few casualties. But never regrets." --Underwood

Still really enjoying the show so far.

Post: #8

On episode five as a pregame going out tonight. Get that vice president power in ya!!!


Show is still awesome as fuck. Makes me wish I was motivated by power...and I have a thing for cougars....I would do awful things to that jackie the whip.

Post: #9

Watching it right now.

*******Spoilers********






Wow. Season starts off with a bang in episode 1. I never saw what happened coming. You can safely assume that no show wants to ride itself of its hot, attractive stars. This show is full of surprises.

So intense.

Post: #10

(02-14-2014 08:33 PM)Slim Shady Wrote:  First episode is the best, and then it's downhill. Still have a couple more episodes to go but it's a bunch of shyte. They got rid of the hot girl with the ripe young looking body. Kate Mara was one of the MAIN reasons I watched this show. The bodies shown are of middle aged cougars. The bullshit sexual assault plot-line. Then to TOP it all, the one "victim" from the military says that she picks up random dudes to rail her at bars, only to "help her cope with the rape". What a load of slut apologist shyte.

The one girl on girl make out is between a 6 and a 6.5 - with the clothes on. None of the sex of the first season, a bunch of old hags, and feminist propaganda.

(02-14-2014 09:19 PM)Apollo Wrote:  I don't see any type of agenda with this show (on Ep. 9 right now), if anything, all the important characters in the show are portrayed as not really giving a fuck about anything except their own personal ascension into power.

"The road to power is paved with hypocrisy and more than a few casualties. But never regrets." --Underwood

I think Apollo has the right answer. The sexual assault bill is strictly a means to an end for Claire. Compare her work on the bill to the Clean Water Initiative from last season. Claire used and discarded Meghan Hennesey the same way she used and discarded Gillian Cole.

Post: #11

Finished the season.

Overall it was a success, albeit not as good as the 1st. First episode definitely set the tone, but then I found it to be a little predictable since they used the same tricks/shock appeal factors with new characters. (That MMF for instance...we get it, Frank swings both ways)

Only thing that sort of pisses me off is that Frank really never fucks his wife. I'm assuming there is a reason for that. Under his philosophy of sex=power, perhaps that means that he considers Claire his only equal, I don't know.

Post: #12

(02-15-2014 02:58 AM)Apollo Wrote:  Only thing that sort of pisses me off is that Frank really never fucks his wife. I'm assuming there is a reason for that. Under his philosophy of sex=power, perhaps that means that he considers Claire his only equal, I don't know.

I was also wondering about this, even during the first season. I don't think we see Frank and Claire have sex until the MMF. And even then, we don't know whether he penetrates her. After the first season episode where he goes to his military college alma mater and we learn he did some gay stuff with is old classmate, I started wondering whether Frank is "mostly gay" but has sex with women like Zoe when he needs to manipulate them.

Overall, I say the second season was great. It wasn't quite perfect -- I didn't really care for the Lucas/Gavin subplot or the continued Rachel Posner subplot. But this season should give Netflix a handful more Emmy nominations, and maybe a few wins.

Post: #13

(02-14-2014 08:33 PM)Slim Shady Wrote:  Fuck this season.

First episode is the best, and then it's downhill. Still have a couple more episodes to go but it's a bunch of shyte. They got rid of the hot girl with the ripe young looking body. Kate Mara was one of the MAIN reasons I watched this show. The bodies shown are of middle aged cougars. The bullshit sexual assault plot-line. Then to TOP it all, the one "victim" from the military says that she picks up random dudes to rail her at bars, only to "help her cope with the rape". What a load of slut apologist shyte.

The one girl on girl make out is between a 6 and a 6.5 - with the clothes on. None of the sex of the first season, a bunch of old hags, and feminist propaganda.

Kevin Spacey's acting is still on point, but as the executive producer it's his fault. And fuck Robin Wright's man-jaw.

I don't think the sexual assault plot-line is bullshit. I think it's being pretty clearly shown for what it is: a pet project for the first ladies to dally over, and that'll appease the lemmings. It doesn't seem like some veiled way to "discuss issues of rape culture" or anything. It gave more depth to Claires character, and the younger marine girl is definitely not the poster child of victims. I think it's a pretty interesting plot line that'll be attacked here for existing, and in the regular world for not giving enough gravitas to the "very real issue of """""RAPE CULTURE"""""""".

Post: #14

It seems like I will reconsider my positions after I've finished watching the last few episodes. Sorry I'll change my knee jerk to: Spacey, and the characters are still mostly great. Still believe there should be more nubile naked pussy shown. I can tell from reading that the sexual assault stuff is going to end up being just a ploy for Claire which I had in the back of my mind, so I'll reserve judgement. STILL, my analysis earlier of how it is still somewhat sympathetic to "rape culture" in a way is true. It's not the point "it's just for the old ladies club to discuss". The point the liberal audience will make is "oh men are pigs who won't touch this important subject". A freshman boy at Harvard forcing himself on a girl and penetrating her, after she has broken his nose? Come on. Can't be completely ignorant of the "issues" of today.

Post: #15

Watched the whole season, it seemed like this season jumped a lot especially with the subplots. There was great political manoeuvrings though. I especially liked the Underwood owning the Senate.

Great another year of waiting. Is it just me or does this season use more explicits?

Post: #16

Just finished. The final few episodes of the season are on an upswing in quality. Wonder how they will keep stuff exciting with him already in power now. Move to foreign relations politiking? AMOGing Chinese and Iraninan leaders?Or maybe FU just spends the rest of his time filling out NCAA brackets like Barry. The rise was all just a big troll.

I don't mind him being bisexual necessarily. Buying into the whole Sperm Wars thing, I can see how that is an advantage. The Doug-Rachel plot was kind of busted I think. Still think it needs more young chicks. Maybe do an angle on young interns giving blowies in the Oval office for season 3.

But again, powerful stuff from Spacey.

Post: #17

Maybe I'm a bit immature but I just thought that stuff in the end of episode 11 was weird... it made me uncomfortable. I had been thinking that this was all a build up to Meachem being a kind of son they never had, and then... Jesus, i almost had to stop the show.

Post: #18

Is the show really that good..I heard the hype but never watched it.
If yall are talking about it on the forum..it must be decent

Post: #19

(02-15-2014 09:51 PM)Sourcecode Wrote:  Is the show really that good..I heard the hype but never watched it.
If yall are talking about it on the forum..it must be decent

It's good. It's always a trip seeing what Frank Underwood's next move is.

Post: #20

Just finished watching the whole season. The whole thread is spoilers, but just in case:
SPOILER WARNING



I thought the rape/sexual assault sideline was incredibly well handled. There was no perfect victim and all the proponents for the legislation and their own agendas which were more important than meaningful reform. Claire Underwood lied about the details of her abortion, there's no reason to think she didn't lie about the details of the rape. The other woman was totally unstable and required heavy medication just to hold it together. The legislation itself was championed by Claire Underwood as a way to get close to the first lady so that she could sabotage the Presidents marriage. It was dropped as soon as it was no longer politically expedient. The message I got is that regardless of how real rape culture in the military may or may not be the only people talking about it are doing it for their own ends.

The only thing I didn't find believable was how quickly Doug was knocked down by Rachel. She went after him with the knife and he dealt with it smoothly. The first hit with the rock didn't seem to do much damage. I don't know why he didn't fight back more.

Post: #21

I have more of a problem with Doug Stampers handling of the Rachel situation within the realm of the show as opposed to the writing. It was realistic, but I found myself thinking "isn't it obvious you can't coop someone up forever and never expect them to lash out against you?" I think it's unfortunate how poorly he handled that situation, and it was because he had replaced his alcohol addiction with his addiction to controlling her.

Post: #22

^^^
Actually I think in that sense they handled it pretty well. Doug is an alcoholic and he has control issues. Rachel was his new alcohol and he tried to contain his feelings towards her through control but it ended up killing him in the end.

Post: #23

Keep in mind also that now that Stamper is gone, that computer hacker guy is pretty much shit out of luck. Underwood is completely oblivious (blindspots) to that guy and the Rachel situation.

Show is called "House of Cards", nothing would satisfy me more than to see a "Breaking Bad" style meltdown.

Another good line I just remembered...

"What you're asking is just shy of treason. Just shy, that's politics."

Post: #24

(02-15-2014 11:01 PM)Apollo Wrote:  Keep in mind also that now that Stamper is gone, that computer hacker guy is pretty much shit out of luck. Underwood is completely oblivious (blindspots) to that guy and the Rachel situation.

Show is called "House of Cards", nothing would satisfy me more than to see a "Breaking Bad" style meltdown.

Another good line I just remembered...

"What you're asking is just shy of treason. Just shy, that's politics."

I think that would go against the theme of the show. This show isn't Breaking Bad, The Sopranos or any of those types of shows. It's not "The Bad Guy Gets His Comeuppance" or even "The Good Guy Wins... But What is Winning?" This show seems completely content showing Frank to be a horrifying cold and evil subhuman, and having him continue to win. I don't see the show ending with Frank "getting his".

Post: #25

3rd season will revolve around Snowden guy/Rachel trying to expose Spacey as one main plotline.