House Of Cards Season 3 Epis 9 Thru 13 Reviews: Without Me You Are Nothing (Season Finale)

We've come to the end of another season of "House of Cards". Overall it lagged a bit but that's to be expected. After three years, it's not all bright and new and shiny anymore. The story line has also boxed the characters into a corner. During the first two seasons we watched Frank ruthlessly rise through the ranks to his goal of the White House. Now that's he's there, all he can do is hang on (which doesnt make for as riveting a watch). Some have criticizes this season because more time is spent on relationships (vs politics). I personally welcomed this since to me Frank/Claire (or as I like to call them "Flaire") are the best part of this show. There's so much about this couple that we havent seen. Anyway, here's my thoughts about the major players. Feel free to add yours in the comments below.

Go Get Him Heather and Jackie!

Heather Dunbar- The introduction of a suitable sparing partner for Frank was a great addition. Heather is tough but doesnt compromise her morals. Even though she lost Iowa to Frank she's not out by a long shot. I would vote for Dunbar for president.
Jackie Sharpe and Remy Danton- It's obvious that Jackie was only married as a convenience. Frank reminds us that the marriage was his idea. No one would vote for a single woman without children. Jackie still has feelings for Remy. I hope these two kids end up together in the end. Remy and Heather seem to be the two characters on "House of Cards" with some real morals. "Some" being the operative term here. Will Remy be able to stay out of politics or will he be sucked back in?
Doug Stamper- I personally was sick to death of the Doug/Rachel story line so I'm glad it's finally over. That took up WAY too much time. I know Doug needs to kill Rachel in order to ensure Frank is protected BUT, given his emotional reaction to thinking she was dead the first time, why not just pretend that's the truth? Why try so hard to find her? Why let her go only to come back and kill her anyway? His motivations make no sense to me. I did enjoy seeing Doug's physical rehab at the beginning of the season. I also enjoyed seeing more about his sad life. As his brother reminded him, all Doug has is his work. Since Doug is Frank's most loyal lap dog, I dont think the wierdo is going away anytime soon.
Frank & Claire- I've said it many times previously but "Flaire" is the best part of "House of Cards". Theirs is the strangest coupling I've seen on TV in some time. It seems to be more of a political partnership and less of a husband/wife relationship. Is Frank bisexual? He has had several trysts with both men and women so I have no idea. Frank was famously quoted as saying "Everything is about sex, except sex which is about power". I just know he/Claire arent doing it much anymore. Claire had always viewed their arrangement as a partnership of equals but in season 3 she feels like Frank gets what he wants and she doesnt. What exactly does Claire want though? Does she want to be President? And does Claire have any real feelings? One minute she's as cold as ice threatening to "let the baby inside you whither and die" to an employee. The next she's upset over a gay activist that she barely knew committing suicide. I cant get a bead on that woman. And what was up with that rough sex scene? There had been no indication of that in their relationship thus far. Had they had rough sex at some point? Or was her futile attempt to have any kind of sex with him? Now that Claire has walked out what will Frank do to her? Will her journal mysteriously reappear and the world know of her first abortion? Will she tell America he's a murderer (and/or) possibly gay (which incidentally some people think are equal sins)? All I know is all hell is going to break loose when those two go at it. I cant wait.
Thomas Yates- is writing a book about the president in order to sell the public on America Works. For a second it appeared Frank was interested in Thomas for more than writing (but nothing happened). Frank confides a number of secrets to Thomas. Thomas tells Frank his best selling novel was mostly written by someone else. Claire, who was at first suspicious of Thomas, later reveals some of her feelings for Frank. After reading the first chapter of the book, Frank gives Thomas the boot.Thomas begins an affair with Kate Balwin. She's a reporter who is hot on Frank's trail so this could be a conflict of interest. Thomas vows to publish the book (its his best work) even if he doesnt get the OK from the President.
Gavin Ospray- I like Gavin but wanted the Rachel storyline to be O-V-E-R. I enjoyed his scenes with Lisa. We always saw Cashew the Guinea Pig after he left her with Lisa before fleeing to Venezuela.
Seth Grayson- Seth wanted to be Chief of Staff when Remy quit but Frank gave the job to Doug instead. He's close enough to the President to cause some real damage if he wants.
Edward Meechum- All we know about Meechum currently is that he remains loyal to the President (even after his three-way with Frank and Claire). Strange indeed.

Season 3 Needed More Cashew

Main happenings in the last five episodes (that werent covered above):

As the hurricane approaches, Frank signs the bill to refund FEMA. This shuts down America Works (since that's where the money originally came from). Freddy from the BBQ joint had previously applied for a job. Frank later makes him a groundskeeper at Freddy's request. I like Freddy. He doesnt believe all the BS he hears from the president.
Russian President Petrov forces Claire to step down as UN Ambassador in exchange for him pulling troops out of the Jordan Valley and defusing a situation that could have led to war. Petrov proves to be as nasty as Frank.
Frank, Heather and Jackie have their first presidential debate. Frank's plan was to make Jackie attack Heather's children. Jackie does this and comes off looking very poorly. After the debate, Jackie defects to Heather's side. Remy also quits as Chief of Staff due to Frank's treatment of Jackie.
Doug informs Heather about Claire's journal. Heather tells Frank he has three days to pull out of the race or she will reveal that Claire had an abortion. Doug then double crosses Heather and gets back in Frank's good graces by torching the journal (or so it appears). I dont trust Doug AT ALL.
Despicable Things Frank Did In Season 3- Frank was relatively tame this year as compared to the last two. Besides his usual political shenanigans, he peed on his father's grave and spit on the crucifix in a church (only to have it topple over and shatter into a million pieces). We'll add that to his previous deeds-- killing a woman (Zoe) by pushing her in front of a subway car, killing a man (Peter) with carbon monoxide, strangling a dog with his own bare hands, impeaching a sitting president and ordering Rachel's murder (which finally came to fruition this year). Let me know if I've left anything out.

Who Will Be Left Standing In Season 4?

Favorite Quotes:

"I should have never made you president."- Claire to Frank.
"Ive got God's ear now"- after Frank spits on a crucifix in a church (which then shatters to the ground).
"Sometimes I think the presidency is an allusion of choice."- Frank.
"Heather wont win because she doesnt have Claire Underwood standing by her side."- Frank. Neither will Frank I'm afraid.
"If she goes after Claire I'll slit her fucking throat in broad daylight"- Frank about Heather.
"You're not killing Rachel. You're killing Cassie. Rachel is already dead. My name is Cassie Lockhart."- Rachel before she is killed by Doug.
"When I said we were lying what I meant was, for all these years I thought we were on this path together. But its not what I thought it would be, what I convinced myself it would be. It's your office, not mine...I dont recognize myself when I look in the mirror."- Claire.
Frank: "You want an evil partner when it suits you. You want a man when it suits you...All I'm hearing is that its not enough. The White House is not enough. Being First Lady is not enough." Claire: "No its you that's not enough." Ouch! That stung.
"When we lose because of you, there will be nothing. No plan. No future. We will only be has-beens. Here is the brutal fucking truth. You can hate me, you can be disgusted, you can feel whatever it is you want to feel because frankly I'm beyond caring. But without me you are nothing."- Frank to Claire.
And in the final scene of the season, Claire says "I'm not going to New Hampshire, I'm leaving" and with that she walks out on Frank.

Frank Doing Presidential Stuff

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). The intriguing relationship between Frank and Claire keeps me coming back regardless of what politically is going on. It seems Frank has met his match this season though in Heather and in President Petrov. Any guesses on what will happen next year? I assume Frank will win the Presidency again (unless season 4 is the last).