Reviews

At over 3 hours, this movie was way too slow and way too long for the cinema (some people gave up and walked out before the end). They could easily have cut an hour from this. Many scenes were long and meandering, and not really that necessary for the story development. As a movie, it probably could have been (and should have been) wrapped up in a few minutes (five or so?) after Hoffa is killed. The last half hour or so is very slow and self-indulgent. Great cast, great acting, though.

Season 3 seems to be plodding along at best, but this episode took the biscuit. Claire's behavior makes no sense. Supposedly a strong (unscrupulous) woman with high political ambitions of her own, she behaves like a bratty teenager and torpedoes a hugely important Middle East peace process because a "naive", "selfish" gay activist hangs himself in a Russian jail cell. Note: kills himself. He was not murdered by the Russians, nor even badly treated, as he himself admits.

Up to that point the activist had already been painted in a fairly unfavorable light. Sure, he was a political pawn, but he had largely brought it on himself, and his ungrateful justifications and posturings towards Claire for their efforts to free him beggar belief. He refuses to leave on principle for all sorts of ridiculous reasons. He berates Claire for not getting the Russians who were captured along with him freed also. Is he a moron? Does he really think an American government could have that sort of influence over Russia?!?! He would rather make his case in court!! As if the Russian government would give him a pulpit to denounce them! Claire's responses to him are weak.

Firstly, why the Underwoods are in Russia. After a terrible first meeting in DC with the Russian President, they decide to go to Moscow to patch things up and to achieve something very concrete, important and hitherto elusive: progress on Middle East peace. Frank and Viktor reach a workable agreement, despite their suspicions of each other (this was the strongest part of the episode because we could understand where each side was coming from, without being judgmental). It only remained for the final press conference, beginning with Claire saying a few words about the activist's death. She reads the prepared speech, then pauses and turns to insult the Russian President publicly in his own country, thereby destroying all the potentially lifesaving, peace-bringing plans that had been agreed. Who is petulant and selfish now, Claire? Her self-justification to Francis afterwards was pathetic, and, thankfully, he exploded with rage - rightfully!

This is the second time Claire has deliberately sabotaged Francis, but, with the stakes so high this time, her behavior is unconscionable. It is impossible to take her political ambitions seriously anymore.

The whole logic of the episode is ridiculous, devoid of reality and credibility, which was this program's forte early on.

Generally a good show, but this episode was silly beyond words. Apart from the basic premise of the story, the execution was incredibly sloppy - would the FBI really go after someone known to be extremely highly contagious with a deadly disease without any protection whatsoever? The disease (synthesized from a 700 years old plague) kills in hours, but they manage to get the antidote from the perpetrators just in time to save their key agents and, somehow, people all around the world. The story was totally lacking in credibility. It was more like an uninspired episode of a poor soap. All we needed was an intervention by aliens! What went wrong?

Loved Season 1. It had a coherent story, great musical numbers, and a great cast. We were engrossed in the struggle to put on a Broadway Musical, and were prepared to overlook its over-reliance on people just happening to eavesdrop on a conversation soooooo many times!

Season 2, however, is a mess. There is no one thread any more, and the overly melodramatic story meanders all over the place, at a snail's pace. You have Bombshell treading water, a ridiculous Dangerous Liaisons show also in the works, while, at the same time, everyone gets infatuated with the mediocre music of the obnoxious "prodigy" Jimmy Collins. It just beggars belief that these people would give him the time of day, let alone indulge his tantrums. Why anyone like Karen Cartwright would fall for a jerk like him is totally baffling and unbelievable?

Season 2 has been a great disappointment, after such a strong Season 1.