Despite really liking/loving Seasons 1-4, Season 5 wasn't as good with the last two episodes of it in particular starting 'House of Cards' decline. Season 6 though was a disgrace all round and didn't feel like 'House of Cards' at all, almost certainly unrecognisable from the standard of Seasons 1-4. If asked what was in my opinion the worst final season for any show, my answer would be a quite easy this. The one for 'Game of Thrones' is also very controversial understandably and the final episode was a severe let down.
But at least the final season for that show actually started off well with two good episodes, while going downhill from there. Season 6 of 'House of Cards' was a failure from the very start, with the first episode being heavily flawed from the get go and all the episodes having the same flaws and more rather than ever improving (instead in the last two episodes in particular the feeling intensified). "Chapter 68" is no improvement over the first two episodes, other than providing a few answers for what had happened to Frank, whose absence leaves a gapingly massive hole that never filled throughout the season's run. Actually thought it was as bad as "Chapter 66", with the same flaws almost amplified and then more flaws were made along the way.
Will start with the few positives. Diane Lane does her best with not particularly great material, more at ease-looking than the other actors and not looking bored, and her chemistry with Robin Wright has its minor moments, the closest the episode gets to having any chemistry. Michael Kelly is compelling as Doug, up to this point of the season the only character to compel me and not frustrate me.
The photography is slick and classy as ever.
However, "Chapter 68" is still a massive failure in terms of writing and storytelling. The story is quite thin and not an awful lot moves forward, none of the revelations at this point illuminated me and have been quite far-fetched instead and this is no exception. Also feeling shoe-horned for the sake of it. The dialogue is as stale and awkward as the previous two Season 6 episodes, Claire as uncharismatic and incapable of making any logical decisions that don't confuse as them and Robin Wright as cold and wooden as before.
Considering what happened to her in "Chapter 64", seeing Catherine playing a major and almost pantomimic here role in this episode was hard to swallow, especially when made to spout lines as bad as the one in the review summary which sounded like a different Cathy. Her role in the episode was just too neurotic to the point of resembling the most over the top of cartoons.
Moreover, the Shepherds are not at all interesting as characters, their motivations still vague, and after being one of the better newer characters in Season 5 the writers had clearly run out of ideas for Jane. Patricia Clarkson overdoes it uncharacteristically, trying no doubt to make the most of such lacking material. Everything with the Potus completely fails to make sense and would be more at home in a straight to video/DVD film, far from worthy of the 'House of Cards' name. This for me was also the first episode of 'House of Cards' ever to have the music feel intrusive and over-scored.
In conclusion, weak. 3/10
