Man, “Chapter 29” was peak House of Cards. Easily the best episode of the third season so far, and definitely a series highlight, at least in my view. It didn’t spin its wheels like “Chapter 28” did; there was only brief mention of Frank possibly running in 2016, because the episode wisely concerned itself with matters that matter to him now. It was by turns fun and intense, and as of now is the high-water mark of season three.
Russian president Viktor Petrov (played brilliantly by Lars Mikkelsen) is coming for a visit, so you know what that means: lots of protests. Petrov is obviously a stand-in for Putin, and House of Cards handles his character perfectly. Petrov, and by proxy Putin, has to walk a tightrope between being intimidating and being charming, and he does so with aplomb. Mikkelsen’s presence is electric, and you can see not only the charm and charisma that got Petrov to where he is, but also the cold menace behind his eyes. HoC plays things remarkably even-handed; Mikkelsen’s portrayal of Petrov isn’t a hatchet job on Putin, nor does it act an apology.
The show’s heart is clearly on its sleeve, though. Not only does Pussy Riot get invited to dinner at the White House, but they briefly derail the proceedings by delivering an incendiary, insulting toast that ends with them pouring out their wine on the table. Moreover, “Chapter 29” plays its end credits over a Pussy Riot music video, so it’s pretty easy to see where the show’s sympathies lie.
Petrov and Frank have an engrossing dynamic; they test the air like boxers, trying to see what will make the other duck or flinch. Petrov insults his host by kissing Claire in front of everyone, while Frank gets the last laugh, going solo into what was supposed to be a joint press conference and basically calling Petrov an unreasonable bully. I know “fuck Putin” isn’t exactly a controversial stance, but it’s nice to see the show stick it to him so hard.
Elsewhere, Gavin is trying desperately to get out of the FBI, where he’s working in a cubicle under the new Deputy Director, that asshole Green who threatened to kill Gavin’s guinea pig last season. Doug says he’ll get Gavin’s passport unlocked if Gavin tracks down Rachel. I’m really glad that House of Cards kept Gavin around, not only for Jimmi Simpson’s great performance, but also for his and Doug’s relationship.
Claire has to make nice with Cathy Durant, which is proving difficult. Claire isn’t getting a lot of respect as an Ambassador, which is understandable, given how she got the job. Then, because House of Cards takes place in a Bizarro Washington D.C., they bond over beer pong. The First Lady and the Secretary of State play beer pong and talk about peace keeping in the Jordan Valley. Very fun, surreal scene.
This was the strongest, most focused episode of House of Cards thus far (and yes, I know it’s only the third, so shut up. Start your own website, motherfucker). If every episode was as good as “Chapter 28,” this wouldn’t be binge-worthy, but if HoC can maintain the level of quality and craftsmanship on display in “Chapter 29,” it could become brilliant television.
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