House Of Cards “Chapter Nineteen”

We’re in the middle part of the season, and for a show designed to be binged, that means it seems kinda hard to write about the noteworthy stuff since we’re between the big fireworks at the end and the set-up for the season.

But maybe, just maybe, we have a longterm problem for Frank to deal with.

See, I’ve always compared this show to Shakespeare’s work because of the nature of Frank’s asides to the audience.  He’s Macbeth or Richard III.  But there doesn’t seem to be a comparable character to stand against him just yet.  There’s no Macduff or Henry Tudor figure, a person who Frank is a little afraid of, who maybe stands as a picture of decency opposite Frank’s evil ambitions.  Sure, Frank has had opponents, or former friends who could do him damage, people like Zoe Barnes, or Peter Russo, or Lucas Goodwin.  The first two are dead, and Lucas is in jail being urged to take a plea deal.  Janine Sikorsky was scared off.  Rachel Posner is more of a wildcard.  And somehow, I doubt people like President Walker or Remy Danton or Raymond Tusk can stop Frank.

But what about Zoe and Lucas’ former boss, Tom Hammerschmidt?

Tom had initially dismissed Lucas’ theories, but he’s back to consult and he’s decided to look into it.  He even gets a sit-down with Frank.  Now, Tom as a character seems mostly like an old school reporter.  He’s just digging.  He doesn’t seem to scare.  Sure, Stamper can arrange for the FBI to spook Janine into not helping, thus sealing Lucas’ fate, but Tom’s been around the block a few times more than the others.

Now, see, Tom isn’t a flashy character, and in season one, he was portrayed as more of an antagonist to Zoe, but now that he’s retired and she’s gone, he’s just a rather implacable reporter.  That Frank agrees to meet him personally and Stamper has no contingency plans against him, well…

I don’t think Tom will do much of anything, if ever, anytime soon.  The point is, he may be the guy to, if not bring Frank down, at least put together enough information to do so eventually.  There are at least three more seasons to go after all.  If this were Shakespeare’s work, Act V would be the last one where the villain gets his comeuppance.

Beyond that, we see Claire isn’t too far removed from Frank as she, for no discernible reason just yet, plants doubts in the First Lady’s head about Russo’s old aide/girlfriend Christine.  Sneaky way she does it too.  Iago uses the same technique to first plant suspicions of infidelity in Othello’s head.

As for the rest of this show, well, I think Frank is well on his way to permanently severing the connection between Walker and Raymond Tusk.  Man, this looks too easy sometimes.  He really needs a worthy opponent.