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[Cornballer]

Our two weeks are over, so this thread will no longer have spoiler tags for Season 2.

The 13-episode second season of House of Cards will be available on Netflix Instant Watch on February 14th at midnight Pacific Time. House of Cards is a political drama from David Fincher and Beau Willimon following the career of a ruthless politician played by Kevin Spacey. Additional cast members include Robin Wright and Kate Mara. The rest of the cast is listed below. The series is an adaptation of the BBC miniseries from the early 90's.

All 13-episodes will be released simultaneously on Feb 14th. This continues a huge foray into original programming for Netflix, and it's been estimated that they invested over $100 million in the first two seasons. House of Cards has been renewed for a third season, and presumably that will be released in early 2015.

Regarding spoilers, since all of the episodes will be up immediately for streaming, we're in something of a gray area. After some discussion, we decided that all discussion will be tagged and labeled for the first two weeks (until March 1st) while people are initially watching the series, and then after that we'll go to full discussion of everything without tags. Please spoiler tag any discussion and label which episode you're talking about outside of the tags: e.g. Ep 3:

Spoiler

I can't believe Kevin Spacey killed another hooker.

Three Emmy Award wins including David Fincher ("The Social Network") for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and nine nominations including Outstanding Drama Series went to this acclaimed political thriller. Lead Actor nominee Kevin Spacey stars as ruthless, cunning Congressman Francis Underwood, who will stop at nothing to conquer the halls of power in Washington D.C. His secret weapon: his gorgeous, ambitious, and equally conniving wife Claire (Lead Actress nominee Robin Wright).

The series stars Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Michel Gill, Gerald McRaney, Mahershala Ali, Sebastian Arcelus, Kristen Connolly, Nathan Darrow, Sakina Jaffrey, Michael Kelly and Molly Parker.

Additional cast members appearing in the series include: Jayne Atkinson, Gil Birmingham, Rachel Brosnahan, Reg E. Cathey, Derek Cecil, Terry Chen, Ben Daniels, Joanna Going, Boris McGiver, Mozhan Marno, Sam Page, Kate Lyn Sheil, Jimmi Simpson and Constance Zimmer.

Crew:

Season two will feature episodes directed by Jodie Foster, James Foley (Glengarry Glen Ross), Carl Franklin (Homeland) and John David Coles (Justified).

Videos: (please spoiler tag discussion of the trailers)

• Official Trailer (youtube)
• Full 2-minute trailer (youtube)
• First teaser (youtube)
• Sneak peek clip from S2 (please spoiler tag any discussion)

Links:

• Official page on Netflix's site
• Wikipedia
• IMDB
• The original "House of Cards" BBC trilogy (1990) streaming on Netflix Instant

News & Articles:

• TVLine: Sam Page & Molly Parker join the Season 2 cast
• WSJ: The Most Devious Man in D.C. (Kevin Spacey discusses the new season of 'House of Cards,' TV's new business model and whether he has political aspirations.)
• NY Times Magazine Feature: The Post-Hope Politics of ‘House of Cards’
• THR: Netflix Renews 'House of Cards' for Season 3

Promotional Pictures: (click to enlarge)

​

Reviews & Comments:

The Bottom Line: The continuing political machinations of Frank Underwood and how he's scheming his way to the top. A little heavy handed -- like last year -- but also quite a bit of fun when the tempo moves and Kevin Spacey is killing it, which is frequently.

And therein lies the show's fundamental problem that must be righted: The Underwoods have no worthy opponents. There are only so many scenes of duping, playing, and ruining that one can endure without wanting the tables turned. Grade: B

The first season of “House of Cards” achieved the dual feat of instantly emerging as a first-rate drama while simultaneously being seriously overrated. Dense and smart, “Cards” is still partially skating by on reputation – and for Netflix’s purposes, that’s good enough.

Schedule:

All 13 episodes are available on Netflix on February 14th, 2014. Netflix typically releases content at midnight Pacific Time.​

Posters:

Animated version of the poster.

 

[ivysaur12]

The OP? I couldn't possibly comment.

 

[Tucah]

Excellent OP, can't fucking wait for more. I absolutely devoured the first season last year.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I'm excited! I hope I can finish some of the other shows I'm watching before the premiere so I can binge the season over the weekend.

 

[Dany]

I love this OP more than sharks love blood.

 

[teruterubozu]

That Variety blurb makes no sense. First-rate drama but seriously overrated? WTF?

 

[fallengorn]

Nice OP! Can't wait to binge on the season.

And therein lies the show's fundamental problem that must be righted: The Underwoods have no worthy opponents. There are only so many scenes of duping, playing, and ruining that one can endure without wanting the tables turned.

I hope that doesn't mean we don't get moments like his flubbed debate. One of the highlights of the first season for me.

 

[Cornballer]

A few more articles from today:

- Washington Post: ‘House of Cards’ creator Beau Willimon looks back at show’s wild ride, teases Season 2
- Washington Post: Kate Mara makes her mark with breakout role in Netflix’s ‘House of Cards’
- The Windsor Star: Canuck actress Molly Parker spars with Kevin Spacey in 'House of Cards'
- Deadline: Netflix Keeping Its Metrics To Itself, Ted Sarandos Says

 

[fallengorn]

The one thing I don't like about House of Cards is that it's almost too good.

 

[teruterubozu]

A show can be really great but also highly overrated. See: Breaking Bad.

"First-rate" means first rate, best in class - how can that be overrated?

 

[WeAreStarStuff]

What's the story with her Wedding Ring?

Clicked on the original and zoomed in: http://i4.minus.com/iKlZT6dnHZgo2.jpg

 

[Cornballer]

"First-rate" means first rate, best in class - how can that be overrated?

Here's a link and a longer pull-quote if you want to take a look at what they said about House of Cards.

- Variety Review

The first season of “House of Cards” achieved the dual feat of instantly emerging as a first-rate drama while simultaneously being seriously overrated – riding the “Netflix reinvents TV” angle and juicy inside-the-Beltway bits to front-page coverage. No fools they, season two generally proceeds with more of the same, exhibiting a show with abundant strengths – foremost among them Kevin Spacey’s showy performance as an unscrupulous politician – but also underplayed weaknesses, including a continuing failure to present its scheming protagonist with equally matched foes. Dense and smart, “Cards” is still partially skating by on reputation – and for Netflix’s purposes, that’s good enough.

 

[Mr Cola]

Please no more filler episodes, im looking at you Peach building and that strange Library episode, so strange to have so little of the network strings and still adhere to "heres an episode that doesnt contribute a thing". Other than that, best new series I have seen since Breaking bad, couldnt be more thrilled for season 2.

 

[teruterubozu]

Here's a link and a longer pull-quote if you want to take a look at what they said about House of Cards.

- Variety Review

Ah thanks. It seems the big complaint is the Underwoods don't have a worthy opponent this time around.

 

[- J - D -]

Looking forward to this, but I am worried about Variety and EW's critiques regarding The Underwoods once again not having worthy opponents. 2/3 through the first season I was ready for them to get their comeuppance. Never happened (understandably, since it was the first season).

 

[Cornballer]

- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Q&A: Kate Mara of Netflix’s ‘House of Cards’
- KC Star: New season brings a formidable female player to ‘House of Cards’

 

[Chesskid1]

hmm, need to read a recap of season 1, i marathoned it in like 3 days when it first came out and i'm forgetting a bunch.

i really really loved s1 so i'm very excited.

 

[Deku Tree]

This gonna be good.

 

[Draconian]

Let's do this! I'm really, really pumped for this. Are season 1 spoilers allowed in here before March?

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Please no more filler episodes, im looking at you Peach building and that strange Library episode, so strange to have so little of the network strings and still adhere to "heres an episode that doesnt contribute a thing". Other than that, best new series I have seen since Breaking bad, couldnt be more thrilled for season 2.

The library episode was the best episode of the season! It wasn't filler at all - it provided a deep insight into the character of Frank.

 

[Draconian]

Please no more filler episodes, im looking at you Peach building and that strange Library episode, so strange to have so little of the network strings and still adhere to "heres an episode that doesnt contribute a thing". Other than that, best new series I have seen since Breaking bad, couldnt be more thrilled for season 2.

Peach building was hilarious and with the Library episode were great insights into Frank's character. I bet you weren't a fan of "Fly" in Breaking Bad, were you?

 

[ezekial45]

Can't wait! I was really impressed with the previous season.

Also, I have to say that Robin Wright is so incredibly attractive in this show. I mean the other female leads are great, they just don't hold a candle to her.

 

[Cornballer]

hmm, need to read a recap of season 1, i marathoned it in like 3 days when it first came out and i'm forgetting a bunch.

i really really loved s1 so i'm very excited.

Netflix has one on the main HoC page. Just click on "Trailers & More".

 

[Cornballer]

- KC Star Review: Second season of ‘House of Cards’ is a vote for vice

Frank hasn’t changed, and neither has his brand of Machiavellian political theater. In its second season, “House of Cards” is just like its main character: clever, ruthless, a bit too self-satisfied and surprisingly powerful.

 

[Mr Cola]

Peach building was hilarious and with the Library episode were great insights into Frank's character. I bet you weren't a fan of "Fly" in Breaking Bad, were you?

I felt the show established an plot device early and kept deviating to the point that it lost focus, Frank and his wife wanted revenge and then the white house, but past the first two episodes this motivation became thinner and thinner, there were far too many detours at which I wasnt sure what his motivations were. They rectified this later in the last few episodes but it was very clear to me the shows pace was all over the place, leading to some episodes I mentioned which didnt advance the plot at all.

 

[Cornballer]

Alright, folks. Let's ease up on the gif-fight otherwise I'm going to call Stamper. Thank you.

 

[Yen]

Can't wait!

 

[yellow submarine]

Alright, folks. Let's ease up on the gif-fight otherwise I'm going to call Stamper. Thank you.

I love characters like Stamper and "The Wolf". I would watch a series based on these guys who get dirty work/shit done (tm). Is there a movie or show along those lines?

 

[Cornballer]

Ah thanks. It seems the big complaint is the Underwoods don't have a worthy opponent this time around.

Critics only received the first four episodes, so who knows to what extent they're indicative of the entire season when it comes to that.

 

[Cornballer]

Let's do this! I'm really, really pumped for this. Are season 1 spoilers allowed in here before March?

Missed this comment earlier. Yes, Season 1 spoilers are fair game in here before March.

 

[Pryce]

The second poster (the one up close) is beautiful. Have to buy that at some point.

 

[Bladenic]

Wonder what Kristen Connoly's character will have to do this season.

 

[RedShift]

Here's a link and a longer pull-quote if you want to take a look at what they said about House of Cards.

- Variety Review

Thinking about Underwood with an equally matched opponent has made me lust over a crossover with The Thick of It. Tucker vs. Underwood would be amazing.

 

[Draconian]

So who believes that Janine and Lucas are dead if they help Zoe investigate Russo? It seems pretty clear that Frank wouldn't have offed him unless he had some easy ways to either cover his tracks or deal with those looking into it.

 

[BertramCooper]

Please no more filler episodes, im looking at you Peach building and that strange Library episode, so strange to have so little of the network strings and still adhere to "heres an episode that doesnt contribute a thing". Other than that, best new series I have seen since Breaking bad, couldnt be more thrilled for season 2.

What? Those were two of the best eps of the season.

Season 1's biggest weakness was the teachers' union bullshit. I don't expect this show to be a super-realistic portrayal of Washington politics, but that was downright cartoonish.

In any case, I'm very psyched that it's back. Can't wait to marathon it next weekend.

 

[BlackGhost]

Here we go! Another excellent OP cornballer.

 

[dLMN8R]

Perfect valentines day gift

 

[kazebyaka]

All i want is more talking to the camera

 

[Frost_Ace]

The library episode was the best episode of the season! It wasn't filler at all - it provided a deep insight into the character of Frank.

Yep, loved it.

 

[Chris R]

All i want is more talking to the camera

All I want is more Zoe. Mmmmmm

 

[Pryce]

We need more episodes like Frank's college. Except with other characters.

 

[Buckethead]

cant-wait.gif

 

[Mattlikewhoa]

I'm going to try and not marathon it, but who am I kidding...

 

[Draconian]

Just saw a commercial on TV during an NBA game. Glad to see that they're promoting it.

 

[TomServo]

Whelp, there goes that weekend.

Shit.

 

[Imm0rt4l]

Can't wait

 

[Draper]

Now I won't really be alone on Valentines Day! Go me!

 

[LordCanti]

I'll marathon the hell out of it. There is no other way.

I know it makes me an old-timey weirdo, but I prefer the one episode a week format. This newfangled "let's release em all at once" thing wrecks/makes a single day of my life and then leaves an enormous hole.

Now I won't really be alone on Valentines Day! Go me!

That's Valentines day? Awww shit. That's going to make watching it pretty impossible ><

 

[Draconian]

I'll marathon the hell out of it. There is no other way.

I know it makes me an old-timey weirdo, but I prefer the one episode a week format. This newfangled "let's release em all at once" thing wrecks/makes a single day of my life and then leaves an enormous hole.

But can't you just watch one a week now anyway? Or are you saying that the show is so addicting you can't help but watch them all quickly? If so, I'm sure that's not a bad thing at all in Netflix's eyes.

 

[LordCanti]

But can't you just watch one a week now anyway? Or are you saying that the show is so addicting you can't help but watch them all quickly? If so, I'm sure that's not a bad thing at all in Netflix's eyes.

The second they post them, any and all spoilers are out there in the universe. They're addicting, sure, but I've got to beat the inevitable day-after facebook, twitter, etc, message about the "shocking finale" or whatever "shocking" things are going to happen.