Chapter 65

well season 5 was the worst yet. ridiculous all the way to the final episode (13). I'm not sure if it's just the underwood's being sloppy or if the writers have had enough and taking the mickey from the audience. either way, it's not worth my time any longer. at first (first few seasons) I could imagine some the the political machinations could be plausible, but come season 4 (and 5) and i'm thinking that if a someone else wrote the story for an upcoming tvshow, it wouldn't see the light of day. sorry Kevin and Robin you are awesome always - as is the cast. sorry about the material this season. ridiculous

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.

Its not that I dislike a woman president, but im here for Francis Underwood! I wait for this show to come out yearly, you cant just change the coolness of Francis Underwood to another character, it doesn't work that way, im not saying that Claire is a bad character, but we're here to support Francis Underwood!

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