House of Cards Season 1 Recap: SPOILERS
THIS IS FILLED WITH SPOILERS ON HOUSE OF CARDS SEASON 1. DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE YOU WATCH THIS GREAT SHOW.
Welcome to House of Cards week and man am I excited for this week. House of Cards returns Friday March 4, on Netflix and then I can wait all over again. For those that don't know, House of Cards is an adaptation of a British mini-series that goes by the same name. It is a drama with a political backdrop in current day Washington D.C in which Kevin Spacey plays Frank Underwood, a Democrat from South Carolina's 5th District who is the House Majority Whip. After throwing his support for a presidential candidate that wins the presidency and campaigning for him, Underwood expects/was promised to get Secretary of State in President Walker's new cabinet. When he is told he has to stay as Majority Whip, Frank begins to plot his revenge on the Walker administration that betrayed him.
Now before I spoil everything about Season 1, some characters need to be introduced.
Francis "Frank" Underwood
 |
"Welcome to Washington" Frank says to the audience before opening titles of Episode 1 |
The key thing to note about Frank is that he monologues to the audience, breaking the 4th wall acting as a narrator right off the bat setting up the series. He is experienced, he is ruthless, he knows the system, and he is powerful. He has the respect of his peers, Republican and Democrat alike, and knows how to get what he wants through any and all means necessary.
Claire Underwood
Starring alongside Spacey as his wife, Claire Underwood, is the magnificent actress of Robin Wright, one of my favorite actors in this show. The best way to describe the character of Claire is the "conniving wife that will stop at nothing to be on top" granted she doesn't step on Frank's toes getting there. She supports Frank and tempts him to feed his vices in every aspect of life helping him the same way he helps her get what she wants. She works as a lobbyist for an environmental group for her day job when she isn't helping Frank work on getting his revenge in Season 1.
Zoe Barnes
Peter Russo
Played by Corey Stoll,Peter is probably one of the biggest characters in the series as a whole but especially for the first two. A struggling representative from Pennsylvania, Peter is introduced as a mess. From DUI's to hookers to cheating on his secretary girlfriend, Peter needs to get his life together. Frank sees an opportunity to exact his vengeance on the Walker administration by using Peter, making him a major part of Season 1.
Douglas Stamper
The last big player is Douglas Stamper a recovered alcoholic who works for Frank as his Chief of Staff and has been loyal through thick and thin. While he isn't a huge player this season, he becomes one so he is worth noting. No matter what Frank does, Doug, as he is primarily called, will do it and make sure others do their jobs. He is an enforcer and very much Frank's protégé. Doug is played by Michael Kelly, who walks the line of a character you really like and really dislike often.
Now that the players have been established let's FINALLY recap Season 1 of House of Cards. This is a very basic plot summary of season 1 so please, I cannot stress this enough, WATCH THIS SHOW.
Episode 1:
After being informed that he will have to stay in the House of Representatives, Frank begins to scheme with Claire and they begin to put their plan in motion from their home. They decide their first course of action is to eliminate Michael Kern, the new nominee for Secretary of State, even though Frank doesn't want the position anymore.Claire is also dealing with a problem at her firm as they have to lay off a lot of people in order to hire a woman that Claire wants on her team. While all this is going on, we are introduced to Zoe who is looking to get a good story that will propel her out of the doldrums of being a new journalist. After being shot down numerous times, she goes on a date to the opera where Frank and Claire are as well. While there is no interaction between Zoe and Frank, a picture is snapped:
Zoe finds this online after a friend sends it to her and does some research. Finding Frank's home she goes to him and tries to seduce him with a low cut top as she says "You would have made a great secretary of state" and starts to play a guessing game of what the Walker administration will try to change legislative wise first. After guessing the right think, Frank asks her to leave and sees through her attempt to seduce him with the low cut top.
Peter Russo gets pulled over, drunk, with cocaine in the dashboard and an escort in the car later found to be named Rachel Posner, and Peter is taken to jail. Rachel will be an important part of the next 3 seasons.
Frank has been keeping tabs on Peter and when he learns of his arrest, he sends Doug to get the chief of police to release him, bribing him with a chance to be Mayor of D.C and get support to guarantee it if Russo is released and no record ever existed.
The next day Frank tells Peter he owes him his "Absolute, un-questioning loyalty" and drives home the point that if he doesn't do what he wants, he will let him fall. Peter agrees and is now on Team Underwood as he gets clean and can be a useful pawn to Frank.
Frank leaks Walker's plan to Zoe and his plan for vengeance begins as Zoe's story is on the front page. Frank sits eating ribs at a favorite restaurant as he relishes in beginning the game.
Episode 2:
Frank juggles two parts of his revenge plan in this episode. Linda, the president's chief of staff asks him to help develop the new education legislation because of the recent leak and so Frank gets a bunch of people to sit in a room and create a draft of the plan at the capitol because he can't be bothered with it right now as he needs to defame Kern quickly. The plan to get Michael Kern out of office is enacted as an editorial from a college paper that Kern was editor of surfaces condemning how we shouldn't be supporting Israel. When Frank goes to Zoe to leak this, she refuses since it didn't mention that Kern had wrote the article and was just the editor. Frank warns her to not cross him again and leaves her in the darkness as he uses his next lackey up, Peter Russo to go and talk to the man that did write the article. Peter is tasked with getting him to admit that Kern helped write or wrote the entire article but the man refuses to. Peter uses his specific skill set, or rolling set as it were, to convince the man that he is no reporter or straight edge congressman.
The man sees reason in Peter and "admits" that Kern wrote every word of the article and now Zoe has a story that she will report on. When this news breaks and Zoe suggests in a live tv interview that Kathryn Durant, another pawn of Frank, will become Secretary of State citing an "anonymous source" she becomes famous overnight and Durant is tapped and announced as new Secretary of State.
Meanwhile, Doug has to tie up loose ends paying Rachel Posner, $10,000 to remain quiet that she was with Congressman Peter Russo the night of his arrest before he makes her earn the $10,000.
Claire lays off 18 people and her assistant director who has a very tearful and angry goodbye to Claire who remains emotionless for the most part as she tries to hide her guilt of doing this to the assistant director who has been working alongside her since close to the beginning. The woman is much older and has no idea what she would do for a career if she got fired but Claire goes on anyway. Throughout the episode, Claire is seen running and exercising and noticing women similar to her assistant director not able to adapt to minimum wage jobs and she feels intense guilt causing her to run away from them. Frank, continues with his plan and making sure his lackeys are all in line.
Episode 3:
Frank, has to go back to his home district in South Carolina to handle a recent death that his opponent in the district is using to try to get him out of office come next election. The cause of the young woman who died was a giant "peach" looking tower that she crashed her car into. All while this is going on, the education bill is being debated on with teachers unions and Frank has to call in and try to keep them from walking. In the end, Frank appeases the parents by setting up a scholarship for the girl and threatens his opponent for trying that dirty trick, before returning to Washington at the end of the episode.
Zoe gets more bold as she starts defying her boss by doing live tv interviews against his wishes and starts to gain more attention from a coworker of hers named Lucas. Lucas is like a mentor to Zoe, but is also clearly hoping to date and get with her since episode 1. He likes the confidence she has and encourages her to do what she can to further her career. Zoe also begins to text Frank more asking for more scoops and to see him. Playful flirting ensues and she tells him that in her next interview she will blow him a kiss. Frank begins to enjoy talking to Zoe and when she actually blows a kiss on CNN, he knows she is in this for the long haul.
Peter's chief of staff and girlfriend Christina tells him that she might accept a new job to further her own career. Peter, not wanting to lose his girlfriend at work, has a new incentive to continue cleaning up his act which he begins the process of by working on a Sunday.
Episode 4:
Frank meets opposition from his own party as the House Speaker Bob Birch, refuses to back the bill and that could spell doom for the bill in Congress. Frank uses the new majority leader named Terry Womack as his opportunity to put pressure on Birch to cooperate and keep his Speakership. Frank forces Russo to allow a shipyard in his district to close in order to keep a military base in Womack's district open, ensuring Womack's support for a coup if necessary.
Meanwhile Claire hires Gillian Cole who seems to be fitting in well at the organization, at least until another lobbyist named Remy Danton who represents an oil corporation shows up and offers Claire full funding of her projects if the corporation he represents is able to use the work Claire's firm does for PR. On top of all this occurring, Claire is hosting a gala so she doesn't need the corporation's donation. To draw people to donate in a silent auction Claire reconnects with a photographer who she has a past with named Adam Galloway. She meets him at a hotel room with a beautiful view and the two kiss but quickly stop as Claire claims that it was a mistake.
Zoe continues to push buttons with her editor and when he wants to fire her, the owner of the Washington Herald instead says to promote her to White House Correspondant which she takes. However, on Frank's council, Zoe gives the promotion back and this infuriates her editor even more, as he goes as far to call her "an ungrateful selfish little cu.." trailing off before she starts tweeting what he almost said and quitting right then and there. Zoe and Frank share a conversation after this in their flirtatious banter again before she invites Frank over. He opens the door to find her waiting for him in her dingy apartment where it ends with Frank tossing his briefcase aside and the two have sex.
Episode 5:
Frank spends the night with Zoe and comes home early to Claire waiting for him. There is a mutual understanding of where he was and she accepts that he is with her but, "so long it is for the end goal" which he assures her it is. Nevertheless, Claire renews her attraction to Adam as she is feeling somewhat jealous and less in power than Frank and secures some photographs for her gala. Work doesn't end for Frank however as the leader of the teachers unions Marty Spinella doesn't agree to the bill and threatens to have teachers walk out and strike unless their demands aren't met. Frank of course does not budge and so Spinella organizes a strike. The strike takes place outside of Claire's gala which has to be moved because union workers refuse to let her into the hotel she wanted it at. Frank comes through for her and makes a new venue in the courtyard of the hotel and good PR by delivering catering to hungry teachers protesting outside across the street.
Zoe seeks new employment and furthers her relationship with Frank as he meets with her again and poses for scandalous pictures to prove her loyalty and that she is trustworthy since Frank convinces her that he is putting himself in a risky place. She stays relatively close to him throughout
Peter dealing with the fallout from being forced to close the shipyard by Frank, which costs thousands of jobs for his constituents, and causes a breakup with Christina sends him into depression. Drunk, he confronts Frank on the doorstep of his home about the shipyard closure. Frank takes him inside and what results is a powerful scene when he confronts Russo's drinking and immaturity,
Episode 6
The strike continues to go on and Frank is having to waste too much of his time with it needing it to end. He is being pressured to drop the bill, give up and fail. If it fails his plan can't move forward so he comes up with another plan. As he is coming up with the plan, Claire invites their security detail Meechum, to come in and get a drink of water since it's a hot night. As he is inside, a brick is thrown threw the Underwood's house window and Meechum is to blame since he wasn't outside. Frank spins it to be on the teachers which then results in a debate between him and Spinella on CNN. Spinella accuses Frank of using Claire as a prop in getting what he wants and Frank stumbles after this clearly losing the debate as his gaffe becomes a viral hit. Embarrassed, defeated and backed into a corner Frank makes one last ditch effort. Since the strikes has been going on for 1 month, kids haven't been in school. He and Doug listen to police scanners and finally they get what they want, a young kid is killed and Frank goes on tv with the family of the victim urging Spinella to come in for a talk.
After the events at the Underwood home, Peter decides to clean up for himself now and Claire helps him create a new program to run with as candidate for governor to replace the jobs lost from the shipyard. He is told it won't be easy and that he needs to get community leaders on board. Peter focuses up and says he is ready to work.
Meanwhile, Frank waits for Spinella in the capitol and reveals that he has no intention of talking and intends for the strike to end now but that the teachers get on board. Behind closed doors, he berates and insults Spinella taunting him before revealing that it was Doug who threw the brick through the window, and that Claire lured Meechum in so it could be done. His continual taunts of Spinella fly out of his mouth as he gets him against the door and continues to impose himself on Spinella before Spinella punches Frank hard enough to bleed knocking him to the ground. Frank points out this is a federal crime and that he would press charges if the strike doesn't end now. Spinella agrees and Frank wins. He goes home to be with Claire when Zoe calls asking him to come over but Frank doesn't pick up. Claire asks him why he isn't picking up the to which Frank says, "I'm done with work today"
Episode 7
President Walker finally signs the education bill into law, earning Frank a major victory by gaining a better reputation with Walker who thought it couldn't be done. This sets off Vice President Matthews who has been feeling sidelined as of late and expresses this to Walker who just shrugs it off.
Peter Russo readies himself for the governor's race ahead by attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings with Doug, while his campaign team discusses strategies. Frank uses his relationship with Zoe to generate some positive spin on the announcement as Peter is not really well liked overall especially since he let the shipyard close. Peter however is still struggling to gain his footing and Frank sees that he can't win in this state. To remedy this he meets with Peter's ex Christina, convincing her to forgive Peter and become his deputy campaign manager, reigniting their relationship which was another driving force for Peter wanting to better himself.
As this is happening Doug keeps getting calls from Rachel, the escort that Peter had in the car, about needing more money. She has decided to go clean and stop working as a prostitute and needs help setting up her life. Doug starts to show pity for the girl and genuinely wants her to do better.
Zoe gets a former employee to work at the new website she works at as she wants to be a better person and help her ex rival out. She continues to write what Frank gives her and see him a lot of nights but as she is on her way up to her apartment, Lucas her ex mentor and coworker shows up drunk looking for her. He confesses he likes her and starts to kiss her as Frank drives up the side of the street and watches her "betraying" him. She sees his car and asks Lucas to leave before Frank comes up and it is revealed it is Father's Day and the two have sex while Zoe talks with her dad on the phone because Frank tells her to.
Peter shows up drunk again as Doug and Frank catch him in the street after he tried to turn himself in for the night with Rachel and drunk driving that Frank got him off of. This time Frank drives him home and Peter passes out in the car. Frank, seeing his opportunity, turns on the car, and closes the windows of Peter's car before lowering the garage door leaving Peter to die in the passenger seat clutching a bottle of Booze. Frank wiped off the steering wheel and anything else he touched before fleeing. When Peter is found dead, Claire returns home rushing in through the door hugging Frank and returning to his side as a group of journalists are waiting for them to comment on the death of Russo.
Episode 8
This episode dives into who Frank is as a person, his origins and what his aspirations were as well as hinting of a previous romance with a former classmate at his alma mater military academy which naming a new library after him. For the dedication, Frank and Claire return to the academy only to have work follow them. Remy Danton shows up again trying to talk business about Peter Russo running for governor but he is shrugged off while Frank and his friends at the academy go on a joy ride reminiscing times around campus. Frank and his friend talk long after the other two have passed out drunk sharing a touching moment in the old library as they talk about what they thought they were going to do with their lives and where they would end up.
 |
Not from sex, just pain from doing old exercises at the academy |
Peter and Christina meanwhile are working on gaining support back in Philadelphia, his district, as the people don't like him for shutting down the shipyard which is where most of them worked. They of course are angry and refuse but he convinces a few people that he is their best shot and starts the slow uphill battle of gaining their support for him running for governor of Pennsylvania.
Episode 9
Peter has to begin his campaigning and convince members of Congress that his plan will get jobs and be feasible. There is still a lot of distrust that he is fighting against and Frank knows this will hurt him. Knowing that he needs to have support thrown to him, Frank convinces Vice President Matthews to tour with Russo and help him out
Claire however is starting to fail in her own job as she doesn't have enough funding from Congress and goes behind Frank's back to accept Remy's donation. Frank despises Remy because he used to work him and left to get more money because Remy sees money as power. Seeing Frank devote more and more time into the plan and only using her like a lackey as well, she encourages some house members to vote against the bill even though they said they would to Frank.
Zoe decides she likes Lucas and is noticing how others around her are more mature and honest people and wants to emulate them. She decides to try to keep the relationship between her and Frank professional but Frank blocks her out after that. She sees there was special treatment involved and quickly decides to go back on her wishes. This doesn't stop her from trying to get out though as she knows Frank is using Claire to lift up Russo and is showing her hate for him now.
The House votes on Peter's bill and it fails to pass even after Frank secured enough votes. This enrages Frank seeing it fail and the episode ends with him deciding to find out who lied to him.
Episode 10
Claire continues to feel unappreciated, unequal in this plot towards revenge and Frank can see it more clear now. He confronts her after she is ratted out by the members who didn't vote and she tells him that she is being used like Zoe. Frank reveals he is losing control of Zoe so Claire makes a surprise visit to tell Zoe, "I have known everything from the start."
Zoe becomes even more determined now to get under Frank's skin as she taunts him that he is losing control of "both whores." However, she starts to fear for her own safety and wants to avoid Frank so she goes to Lucas and sleeps over there which eventually leads to her getting in bed and confessing she likes him as well.
Frank is grasping for straws as Peter has gained enough support that he doesn't need Frank, and with Zoe turning on him he needs to move fast to crush Russo. He calls Claire multiple times but she is not answering and spends the night with Adam, the photographer.
Doug is tasked with getting Rachel to come out of retirement one last night. At her new apartment that they bought her, he tells her that she needs to wait for Peter Russo at an event the night before an important radio interview and get him drunk, high off cocaine and to have sex with her. She reluctantly agrees, seduces Peter and he does everything. When he realizes what he has done in the morning, a still very drunk Peter tries to sober up fast and can't absolutely tanking the interview. Doug is content and calls Frank who tells him to get Peter back here but Peter has disappeared ending the episode.
Episode 11
With Peter completely tanking the interview and ruining his new image of cleaned up as it was obvious he was not sober, Frank convinces Vice President Matthews to run instead of Peter. Matthews doesn't hesitate as he would have more power as governor and be happier in his home state than he did in Washington. Frank is then tapped to be the new Vice President as he has a lot of influence but he isn't offered the job yet as Walker still has to decide if he is the best potential candidate. Frank reveals his plan is on the verge of working, but he needs to make sure nothing slips through the cracks as Peter is still missing.
Zoe opens up to Lucas that she has been doing some bad things to get where she is and that she is regretting them. She wants to learn the truth of this man's actions and see what his own end game is. Through the help of her coworker at the website she works at and Lucas, they start to dig.
Claire stays with Adam for close to a week and the two realize that this cannot work out no matter how many times they will try and that Claire is just too different of a person for Adam. She says she wasn't before but he can't accept that answer and she decides to leave.
Peter shows up drunk again as Doug and Frank catch him in the street after he tried to turn himself in for the night with Rachel and drunk driving that Frank got him off of. This time Frank drives him home and Peter passes out in the car. Frank, seeing his opportunity, turns on the car, and closes the windows of Peter's car before lowering the garage door leaving Peter to die in the passenger seat clutching a bottle of Booze. Frank wiped off the steering wheel and anything else he touched before fleeing. When Peter is found dead, Claire returns home rushing in through the door hugging Frank and returning to his side as a group of journalists are waiting for them to comment on the death of Russo.Episode 12
With Matthews about to win the governor's race, Frank is tasked in vetting VP candidates with Walker and Linda. President Walker throws a curveball at Frank sending him to evaluate Raymond Tusk, a multi-billionaire who lives modestly in St. Louis. Frank stays with him and eventually discovers deeper connections between Tusk and the President and realizes that it is actually Tusk vetting him. Tusk offers to support him in return for an unspecified favor able to be cashed in at any time but Frank refuses to lower himself to Tusk leaving him in St. Louis.
Meanwhile Zoe's coworker Janine and her persistence starts to pay off as they begin to see through the conspiracy regarding Frank and Russo finding out about the report being taken off and Russo getting off free. They continue to follow the evidence.
Episode 13
The season finale finds Frank meeting with Tusk again and reaches an accommodation; the President offers him the VP post, and he accepts.
Claire consults a doctor about possible fertility treatments after she has finally decided to want a kid but when she finds out she can have one, stops pursuing it immediately due to. She fires Gillian, who then sues her for wrongful termination and refuses any settlement.
Meanwhile, Zoe, Janine, and Lucas, learn Rachel's identity and begin to put together more of the pieces of Frank's plots figuring out that he has a score to settle with Walker and that he wants to get close to him. It is then announced that Frank will be the new VP as Matthews won the election to be governor.
That's season 1 folks. Season 2 might be a little late getting up because this took longer than expected. Don't worry all three season recaps will be posted before the season 4 premiere Friday 12:00 A.M. on Netflix.
Comments
Post a Comment