EPISODE 404: “Chapter 43”
[WARNING: CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS]
A lot happens in “Chapter 43” and not all of it is executed well, but most of it is. Directing once again by Robin Wright, this is one of those classic House of Cards episodes we’ve come to know and love where just as things are starting to get tense, a sudden event occurs that changes things permanently (or, at least for a really long time) and shifts the direction of the episode, as well as possibly the rest of the rest of the season.
In this case, said sudden event was the attempted assassination of President Frank Underwood by one Lucas Goodwin during a rally protest, in which both Goodwin and Frank’s bodyguard Edward Meechum (Nathan Darrow) were killed by one another. For one, it’s unlikely that any fans of the series ever expected Meechum to be killed off, and this also puts a major damper on the Underwood murder investigation. For roughly three years, Frank finally being convicted for the murders of Zoe Barnes and Peter Russo was the dark cloud looming in the back of every viewer’s mind, and when this season started itself off with Goodwin being released from prison, things finally looked they were started to unravel. Even the die-hard fans of the show will admit that House of Cards sometimes has a knack for being predictable and one-note, but “Chapter 43” turns that criticism on it’s ass and delivers the most unexpected, plot-twisting gut punch we’ve seen from the series so far. “Devastating” wouldn’t even begin to describe it.
Of course, there are the other elements effected by this assassination attempt, such as the Underwoods’ marriage. Moments before, Claire decides enough is enough, and files for divorce. Frank’s objection is obvious, and expected, but what’s more interesting is Claire’s reaction to Frank entering a coma. Ever since Frank became President, the House of Cards power couple have been splitting apart (they quite literally did in the 3rd season finale), but with Frank in a coma brushing the edges of death, we’re seeing a woman at a crossroads. Any spouse would of course be in shock to find their significant other in coma, and it seems like Claire is both in a state of dismay and uncertainty with both her own emotions, and the war that’s been happening between the two of them. After so many episodes of manipulation, one-sided arguing and devious plotting, it’s fascinating to see this new unsure, morally conflicted side of everyone’s favorite First Lady.
Ellen Burstyn also continues to shine as Claire’s mother, Elizabeth. Given her terminal circumstances and how it plays into her relationship to her daughter, she should be a character deserving of all the sympathy, yet Burstyn and the writers managed to transform her, in an extremely brief amount of screen time, from a sympathetic old woman at the end of her rope, to a completely unlikable, rotten old geezer with nothing nice to say, and still, Burstyn shines every second she’s on screen, making a name for herself as the best new character to the series.
The one component that drags the episode down is the continuing, and still wildly uninteresting oil crisis involving Russia, a handful of middle eastern countries, and another Russian traitor being held captive (for some reason) named Igor Milkin. After the equally as exciting and calamitous Corrigan disaster of last season, almost nothing can turn the blandness of this banal plot line into something enthralling, and ironically putting the unfathomably incompetent Vice President Donald Blythe in charge of things while Frank is incapacitated was only mildly amusing when it should have been a game changer.
It took a while for this season to find it’s footing. Between introducing new characters and their respective story arcs, and resurrection the old dusty skeletons of past seasons, it’s been jagged, but I think “Chapter 43” takes the leap for this season, officially bringing the show into a new era. Take out the desperate Russian oil crisis anecdote and you’ve got yourself an otherwise stellar episode of television.
OVERALL RATING: 8.5/10
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