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Kevin Spacey: Returns as commander-in-thief
©2015 MRC II Distribution Company L
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©2015 MRC II Distribution Company L.P. All Rights Reserved
The famed fictitious Machiavellian politician ' who counts Chinese Politburo member Wang Qishan and US President Barack Obama as fans ' is back, as House of Cards premieres on Feb. 28 in Jakarta.
For those who don't mind spoilers, here's the story so far. In its first season, Cards introduced Frank (Kevin Spacey in a Golden Globe- winning performance) as a Congressional whip, keeping the votes in line in the House of Representatives.
Insulted when the president reneges on a deal to appoint him as Secretary of State after the election, Frank and his wife, Claire (played with cool intelligence by Robin Wright) aim for revenge ' in bloody Shakespearean style, complete with amusing asides to viewers.
By the end of the series' first 13 episodes, Frank schemes and murders his way into the vice presidency. By the end of the second season, Frank plays a corrupt Chinese official against a corrupt American billionaire and manipulates the president into resigning. Underwood becomes commander-in-chief without a single vote cast in his name ' and with more than a few dead bodies.
Netflix, the US-based video streaming company that produced the series, has been tight-lipped about what's in store for season three, especially after a glitch let subscribers catch several new episodes for about 20 minutes earlier this year.
The new season will have a 'day-and-date' release in Asia, meaning it will be presented within hours of its US premiere, according to Jonas Engwall, the CEO of RTL CBS Asia Entertainment Network, which will present a season-three marathon locally on K-Vision starting at 3 p.m. on Feb. 28.
Security was also tight at RTL CBS' two-episode sneak preview of the new season for journalists on Tuesday, although Engwall says that was driven by Netflix to preserve the surprises for fans.
Cell phones and recording devices were surrendered at the door and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) were signed barring revelation of spoilers or key plot points.
However, in broad brush strokes, the new season begins soon after Frank's inauguration. Congress won't pass any of his bills and he looks as if he may be a political dead man. Meanwhile, Claire, channeling Hilary Clinton and Lady Macbeth, wants to know if the fluff work of the First Lady job will be as good as it gets for her.
We're told that Mideast policy is on hold, entitlement reform is important and that the Russian president is coming to town, but little else.
The focus is on Frank and Claire in the first episodes. Favorite characters such as Frank's new No. 2 Remy (Hunger Games' Mahershala Ali) and Frank's sexy protege Jackie (Deadwood's Molly Parker) make all-too-brief appearances.
The best scenes (that can be discussed outside the NDA) go to Wright and Benito Martinez (The Shield), who plays Hector Mendoza, a senator eyeing a run for the Oval Office against Frank, as he goads Claire into an undiplomatic snap before the cameras.
Compared to previous seasons, the first two episodes sacrifice drama for scenery porn. Yes, that's Seth (Derek Cecil) in a look-alike version of the White House Press Room. Yes, that's Frank in the White House Situation Room. But action, not set design, should drive the story.
It's something show runner Beau Willimon, who worked for four major presidential candidates, should know well. He's written five plays, including Farragut North, which was adapted for the big screen by George Clooney.
The first two episodes indulge in policy details that only a wonk could love.
Case in point: Frank wants to revise entitlement programs, such as social security. 'You are entitled to nothing,' he tells the nation on television.
Great: we love tough-love Frank.
But then cut to a cabinet meeting, where the president browbeats his advisors with demands to back his legislation unchanged. ('I don't want 'a version',' Frank says in one of several quotable lines. 'I want vision.').
It's a dramatic moment, albeit a confusing one: where is the Frank who can smile and smile and still be a villain? Why is the president of the United States using hand-scrawled figures on flip chart (!) to make a case for reform to the Cabinet? Why am I trying to keep track of percentages in a political drama?
We're here for Richard III, not the latest from Dick in Finance.
As Frank turned yet another page of the chart, I thought, isn't it time for another reporter to get pushed to her death on the train tracks?
Hopefully, the wonky focus is part of Willimon's set-up for the rest of the season: Frank and Claire have been experts at power politics ' making sure other people lose and they win. However, running a party and leading a nation need different skills.
So it's compelling when the Underwoods stumble during the subdued start of season three. Spacey and Wright lead their characters brilliantly through some emotionally dark moments in a series that has been full of dark moments.
But let's hope that we soon see Frank and Claire at their best in the remaining 11 episodes: backs against the wall and fighting, Underwood style, with smiles, treachery and underhandedness.
In Indonesia, K-Vision will present all 13 episodes of House of Cards, season 3, on the RTL CBS Entertainment HD station on Feb. 28 and again on March 1, at 3 p.m., followed by weekly episode screenings starting on March 4. The writer attended the sneak preview in Singapore as a guest of RTL CBS Asia.
