Photo courtesy of ew.com
Is Frank Underwood a tyrant?
It’s a question that viewers have time to mull over during episode five of season three of House of Cards because, quite frankly, it’s a slow hour. “Chapter 31” is filled with fireworks being set up to be fired off at a later date. There is some suspense and plenty of intrigue, but for the most part, there is time and space to let your mind wander about the true morality of Frank Underwood as a leader.
This may seem like a ridiculous thing to say, as much of the success of this show is based around the very lack of morality in its protagonist. But watching the final scene of this episode, as scores of Washington residents line up to receive a job through Frank’s new America Works program and stare up at the Fourth of July sky, the relationship between politics and real life comes to mind. These people think that they are being granted a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get a job, that they are about to live out the American Dream. They stare up at the fireworks as a sign of hope and a sign of strength from their country. But the reality is they are only there because Frank Underwood wants four more years of power and America Works is what is going to get him there.
In order to get America Works rolling, Frank enlists the help of the mayor of Washington. The mayor declares a state of emergency in the district and demands $3 billion dollars in relief funds from FEMA to fix his disaster — unemployment. This is just a sly way of getting funds for America Works and showing the public that the program could work in hopes that they will jump on board. All those jobs, all those people and all that hope — they are just pawns in a game played by a greedy man — a game not unlike those that he enjoys on his iPad before bed.
Episode two’s idea of a politician working just to work instead of just seeking his next re-election was an obvious shot at the ridiculous nature of real-world politics. It’s sad that the shot is so painfully true and that, at this point, there’s nothing we can do about it. Following that episode, I find myself looking through all of the dressed up dramatics and fantasized evil of this show in search for some other things that may ring true. I found another big one here in episode five. The idea that many of the programs and foundations and actions passed down by politicians are just tools they are using to get re-elected is not a new one, but it hurts nonetheless to watch Frank Underwood pull that stuff and know that it happens in real life.
So that brings me back to my original question: Is Frank Underwood a tyrant? Sure, his administration restricts freedom of speech in this episode by taking away the credentials of Ayla Sayyad, the pesky journalist who finally crosses the line by getting in a back-and-forth with the president during a presser. Yes, Underwood uses jobs and promotions as a way to put the people he wants in the places he wants and then use them to satisfy an ulterior motive. And okay, he’s constantly plotting devious and, at times, illegal plans to climb the ladder.
But how far off is that from some of the things are elected officials do in the privacy of their offices? Fine, yes, Underwood killed two people — I’ll give you that as just TV. But is everything else as crazy as murder? I think that part of the reason Frank Underwood is so scary to us, even in an episode like this with no over-the-top actions of evil, is because his very attitude is one that permeates our own political landscape and we know it. So, is Frank Underwood a tyrant? Or is he just your typical, power-drunk person of power, a chilling portrayal of countless familiar faces?
Sidenotes:
– Claire makes her move on Russia in this episode, and by that, I mean she invites them into the women’s room and strong-arms them into a deal while she goes to the bathroom. This scene was a bit bizarre, playing as more comical than powerful. But it got things done, setting up what is sure to be a juicy reunion between Frank and Petrov next episode.
– Stamper officially joins Dunbar and immediately offers her some serious dirt on Claire. Let the mind games begin.
– Frank has become more of a bulldozer than I could imagine with AmWorks so far and with his reckless attitude, the sky is the limit. The deeper he digs this whole will only make his climb out all the more fun to watch.
– Ayla is replaced by Detective Rhonda Boney — I mean, Kim Dickens, the actress from Gone Girl. Dickens plays Sayyad’s boss and apparently a great journalist, one who is already stirring up some problems for Underwood and his FEMA plan.
– Slow episodes in HOC are especially disappointing because they stand in such stark contrast to the normal furious pace of action. I’m all for slowing things down a bit and exploring more depth in the characters and situations, this episode just felt like a sudden stop sign on the freeway.
