Chapter 65

HoC's descent into the bizarre began in season 4. Sure, there were plenty of far-fetched developments in earlier seasons, but season 4 took the proverbial cake. Season 5 opened with more of the same. I'm about to bail on this once-engrossing tale of psychopathic political chicanery, just as I bailed on "24" a season or two before it was put out of its misery. Should I stick around until the end, just because I've already watched 4 seasons? Sunk costs are sunk. And there's a high opportunity cost attached to HoC, given the large number of good shows that are in my Netflix and Amazon Video queues.

After watching the first five seasons, I can say the show died officially in the third one.

When Frank makes it to the presidency, the interesting part of the story ends, with very few exceptions. Seasons 3, 4 and 5 are mainly about how the Underwoods are trying to cover up their crimes and how to retain power.

On top of that, you find yourself lost trying to understand what is going on. It is hard to know who is sided with whom. Speaking of siding, Doug is loyal to Frank to a degree you just can't swallow.

And what's truly frustrating is that Frank never gets caught even though The Herald editor, Tom, is digging deeply into it.

If Frank was to get caught and put in prison that would make a better ending for this season.

Season 5 has been good throughout, however unlike the previous seasons, this one has been a little slow and uneven. It starts off promising, with a very good first episode, only to drag out on the election, which has been happening since season 3-4, it got a bit tiring after a while.

While this season's strongest points come from the brilliant acting by Kevin and Robin, this season has been very slow. Around 90% of season 5 takes place in the White House, and eventually it gets boring. Seasons 1-4 was very open, and had much more interesting characters, and a more throughout story. This did not.

That doesn't mean that this season was bad, this episode in particular was very well written and directed. House of Cards has always been a beautifully shot season, with some great moments.

One of the biggest complaints and what I think is the reason this season got so many bad reviews, is it felt pro-feminist. Almost every male character in this season is portrayed as been dumb, with all the females being the strongest. Claire​ Underwood appears to be smarter than Frank this season, which is completely stupid.

Season 5 has been good, it's had great moments, but overall it felt very feminist, slow and I got sick of seeing the damn White House. So I'll give the season along with this episode a 6.4/10, most of which comes from Kevin's acting.

This is torturous to watch. Only on the 3rd episode of the final season. Don't know if I can keep my interest to see it through. It just doesn't have the spark or snap of Frank's repartee, his quick wit was what sold us and drew us in. The urgency is gone. Robin is a corpse delivering every line in a single monotone voice acting as if she's above it all leaving us nothing to fear, not keeping the audience at the edge of our couches sucks. I miss Kevin Spacey

'House of Cards' for 2/3 of its six season run was a great show. Even the weakest episodes of the first four seasons had a huge amount to be impressed by and to me still managed to be well above decent, yes even the more divisive episodes. Season 5 didn't feel as strong, the show doesn't completely crash down and there are a good deal of fine things. Yet almost all the episodes are quite majorly flawed and the best episodes are not classics, by "Chapter 64" the show did feel like something different.

Season 5's finale "Chapter 65" is one of those finales that ends the season on a underwhelming whimper than a thrilling explosion. It is better than the mess of storytelling and characterisation that was "Chapter 64" and is certainly better than the whole of Season 6, but considering that it was the season finale and that there were a good deal of intrigue on paper a large part of me was expecting so much more. Especially when the best episodes of Seasons 1-4 were so brilliant, and those seasons had plenty of those. As far as the fifth season goes, "Chapter 65" is one of the weaker episodes.

As always, it is beautifully shot and atmospheric. It is well scored, with the last individual score from all the 'House of Cards' to make a completely positive impression. The acting as expected is extremely good, with scorching performances from Kevin Spacey (in his last episode before being fired) and Robin Wright (in her last good performance of the show, was not impressed by her acting in Season 6).

Frank and Claire still compel as characters and their chemistry is dynamite. The writing has some thoughtful moments.

Sadly, "Chapter 65" also lacks tension, other than between Spacey and Wright (and would even say that it was better previously). The pace lacks tautness and energy, some of it due to that but also because there is the sense that 'House of Cards' had run out of material and steam and instead including material that moves aimlessly and feels like padding. The story also can feel muddled from not being fully explored and even for Season 5 (though not as badly as "Chapter 64", which took ridiculous to a whole new level) it lacked clarity and realism.

Did feel that the big reveal was pretty absurd and quite difficult to get the head around, while other than Frank and Claire the characters lack distinction and are quite simplistically written. Everything with the pardon was not that much of a surprise and was almost too anti-climactic and definitely undeserved. Although in a way it did serve as set up for what was to come next season, somehow it didn't feel finished at the end and is fairly abrupt, definitely not a sizzler. Have always thought it dangerous for any franchise film or episode for any show to end in this type of way, just in case any intended follow ups or another season does not happen and gets cancelled.

All in all, there are some things to like but a rather unsatisfying conclusion to an uneven season. Even worse was to follow though. 5/10