Chapter 68

This is the first episode of the season that partly shows the writers can still write great storylines for House of Cards. Especially Doug Stamper's and Tom Hammerschmidt's storylines are very interesting and continue where season 5 ended. It gives impressions of how great this season could be if Frank Underwood was still alive. I miss House of Cards...

Claire has rooted out all kinds of potential trouble. One is Kathy who was pushed down the stairs by Frank. She ends up with an induced "embolism." Meanwhile, the Shepherds continue to flex their muscle. They have a couple things that can destroy the presidency. Claire is trying to get Doug to be her guy, but as of now, he is too loyal to Frank. We also have the Washington newspaper guy, Hammerschmidt, walking away because of what journalism has become. He has a load of information that could be used against Frank Underwood (which would pull Claire in). One really creative thing the writers are doing is to show Claire in he youthful element. It really shows her and the creation of the vipers that inhabit her world.

I have always thought that this show is average. This episode was well below average. It is such trash now. The show is for conspiracy theorists.

There are so many new characters emerging from God knows where (after they killed off most) and it's the last season. I'm trying but i can't seem to care for them. The acting is weird too on top of that, especially those new character..

I stopped watching half-way through this episode, and I had been a loyal viewer. Let's face it. This show "jumped the shark" a couple of seasons ago. But it was still fun to watch, even as real life DC became more outrageous than Frank Underwood could ever imagine. However, with the abrupt exit of Kevin Spacey, there's no way to salvage this show. The boring plot thread of who killed Frank has no narrative momentum because it's all speculation with no flashbacks to Frank or even a witty turn to the camera from Frank. It plays like desperate time-filling ... Oops, I just dozed off there.

Giving Claire her own show would be fine. But they need to jettison Frank completely and have her involved in a plot we care about. Otherwise, the show is just a boring, desperate slog.