The first season was pretty cool. Spacey really owns the character; and his part in the emmy opening last year was pretty funny. I don't think its a show that can go strong for a big volume of seasons, though. It'll be interesting to see how far they try to carry it.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
Three seasons, I'm going to hazard to guess.
Edit: If Netflix is like other companies, it will be longer than three seasons. But it shouldn't be.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
I would have some faith here. I think Netflix is not playing a short game, and I think they booked Spacey probably because the show order was not going to be dependent on his availability (as in, they promised him they wouldn't leave it open to extension). They're building a rep as a content company, and they have the cash to start new projects instead of squeezing the catalogue.
I think competition from the likes of HBO (who I think we cut loose from the Cable TV umbilical very soon), will push Netflix into diverse content.
Posted by krynn (Member # 524) on :
I really thought season 1 was great. I don't think all great stories are necessarily short ones. I think it's all about the writing. If they can think of creative ways to keep me coming back, then I will. This is one of my favorite shows at the moment.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
It just feels like the characters are headed toward a confrontation that's going to end the story that begins when Spacey gets screwed. It feels like it should happen. And that confrontation is only going to be satisfying if it effectively ends the show, in my opinion.
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
Personally I'd love to see three to four seasons. It's a brilliant show.
Also, is the reporter chick gonna have an affair with another girl? That's what it looks like. I'm curious as to who the other girl is and if it's an ongoing thing. I didn't recognize her.
Posted by Geraine (Member # 9913) on :
The executive producer already said that season two will likely be the last.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Spoilers up to episode 6.
The first episode began somewhat boring. Until it wasn't. What happened was somewhat contrived; I wouldn't be surprised if there was a scheduling conflict. I think She would have been more careful, but they justified it with her seeming desperate to keep a halted investigation from failing. It shifts to Lucas. Lucas is the one character who feels most worthy of rooting for. He's basically well intending. Unlike Zoe he's not tainted from her relationship with frank. But he breaks the law to go after frank, although since we know about frank, it's easy to forgive for that when watching. And then he gets set up. After the cliff hanger at the end of season I'm disappointed with how easy frank is winning his duels with both the journalists and tusk. Six episodes in, he's having to hustle, but his obstacles almost feel like nuisances at this point. He isn't trading wins and losses with tusk. He's winning. It barely feel like revenge. He is playing everyone too easily. The show needs an enemy presence that can match frank's. the writing seems interested In giving us one, but so far it's not delivering. But I suspect it will soon. That could still be tusk or the Chinese character. Watching the latter play mind games with Doug was great. Frank is going to suffer a major setback soon, I just think it already should have happened, and the setbacks that have happened are alright but they've been dealt with too fast.
I am enjoying myself. But thus far, less than the first season.
[ February 17, 2014, 10:30 PM: Message edited by: umberhulk ]
Posted by Jeff C. (Member # 12496) on :
quote:Originally posted by Geraine: The executive producer already said that season two will likely be the last.
Recent reports say it was renewed for a third season.
SPOILERS for SEASON 2
Anyway, I watched the entirety of season 2. In my opinion, it is better than season 1. The risk, the tension, everything. I really love the ending, but I just know it's going to turn ugly next season. We can see the pieces moving and it's only a matter of time before Frank's victory turns to defeat. Even if it does, however, the final image left my jaw agape. I was seriously left thinking about how insane and possibly this entire plot has been. It got me thinking about real politics, although I doubt very many politicians have done what Frank has done (though, who can say).
Anyway, Frank had to shuffle and dodge a lot more in the last few episodes than he ever did in season 1. I can kind of see where Umberhulk s coming from, but at the same time, you really have to watch the entire season.
My only complaint with season 2 is that Zoe is dead. I miss her character. I assumed she'd be a mainstay, but it seems that the only constants in this show are Frank and Claire. Everyone else is expendable.
This show is a lot like Game of Thrones in that we just don't know who the good guys are anymore. Who's going to take down Frank now? We assumed it would be Zoe, but that's gone. It won't be her boyfriend, though I suppose anything's possible. My best guess is that the hacker guy will play a part, and perhaps Rachel. Who can say, however. People keep dying in this show and you just never know what's gonna happen next.
Oh, and does anyone else feel bad for Freddy? He was so awesome. I loved that character!
Posted by AchillesHeel (Member # 11736) on :
EVEN MORE SPOILERS FOR SEASON TWO
Do I have to be first one to bring up the Frank/Claire/Meechum scene? I did not see that coming at all, and I would have liked to see a bit more as they have done with every other time people were having sex, so why not actually see a bit of how that dichotomy worked in such a strange power imbalance.
I was pleasantly surprised with the reduction in sex (specifically nudity) in general, the Kate Mara scenes had purpose in season one but I like that Netflix isn't relying on nudity and eroticism for their content. Though they did make sure they had one last butt shot.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
7th episode was gr8
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Episode 9 might be the best in the series.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
EVEN MORE SPOILERS FOR SEASON TWO
quote:Originally posted by AchillesHeel: Do I have to be first one to bring up the Frank/Claire/Meechum scene? I did not see that coming at all, and I would have liked to see a bit more as they have done with every other time people were having sex, so why not actually see a bit of how that dichotomy worked in such a strange power imbalance.
I'm actually not surprised at all. Hollywood remains very skittish about making any of their characters too gay- that's why Frank's homosexual experiences were only ever hinted at in the first season, and here glanced over as merely a way for him to relax.
Anyway, the point is he's more about power and pleasing himself than about sex anyway, so a male conquest for Frank is just as good if the circumstances are right.
There's also just this: male homosexual acts tend to make men very uncomfortable, but female homosexual acts don't have the same effect on women. So you get more lesbianism in television than male homosexuality. Not fair to a storyteller or to gay men, just a fact for most viewers.
Posted by umberhulk (Member # 11788) on :
Walker is a dumber president than George W Bush.
But the story does get dicey and I thought it was on par with season 1.
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
That scene with Meechum was weird and seemed to come out of nowhere, despite the first season hinting at Frank's one time homosexual experience in college.
Despite his lack of ethics and his crimes, I can't help but respect Frank's intelligence, planning, and ability to accomplish goals. The way he passed the bill in the Senate when the Ted Cruz guy backed out of the agreement was an awesome scene.
Posted by Orincoro (Member # 8854) on :
quote:Originally posted by GaalDornick: That scene with Meechum was weird and seemed to come out of nowhere, despite the first season hinting at Frank's one time homosexual experience in college.
It wasn't implied to be a "one time," thing in college, but was intimated to be something somewhat deeper. The words you hear are his lover saying that it was "just a couple of times," but that's in the moment of them minimizing their relationship because it's in the past, despite the lingering attraction.
Posted by GaalDornick (Member # 8880) on :
quote:Originally posted by Orincoro:
quote:Originally posted by GaalDornick: That scene with Meechum was weird and seemed to come out of nowhere, despite the first season hinting at Frank's one time homosexual experience in college.
It wasn't implied to be a "one time," thing in college, but was intimated to be something somewhat deeper. The words you hear are his lover saying that it was "just a couple of times," but that's in the moment of them minimizing their relationship because it's in the past, despite the lingering attraction.
Well, it's not so much the homosexuality that didn't make sense, just the scene itself. The uptight, always professional Meechum sees Claire kissing his hand and without hesitation, or even so much as a glance at Frank for approval, decides to start making out with her neck. It seemed like the writers wanted to throw that in there for shock value as opposed to it happening naturally within the story, IMO.