Top 10 Moments On House Of Cards

By Sarah Chrisien on February 26, 2015

http://www.digitaltrends.com

Hold on to your cufflinks: “House of Cards” Season 3 returns to Netflix this Friday. In anticipation, I decided to put together a recap and review of the show’s most shocking, emotionally powerful, and well-crafted moments.

WARNING: Major spoilers ahead. Do not read if you have not seen the first two seasons of “House of Cards.”

Honorable Mention: Frank sings to Claire. (Chapter 17)

In what is arguably my favorite “House of Cards” scene of all time, the Underwoods sit together on their windowsill and share a cigarette while Frank quietly sings the murder ballad “Pretty Polly” to Claire.

Everything about this scene is utter perfection: the dark lighting that is both romantic and foreboding; the Underwoods illuminated by gentle moonlight but still partially obscured by shadow; Claire rocking back and forth to the soothing sound of her husband’s voice; Frank gently crooning to Claire as if they are the only two people left in the world.

There is nothing particularly shocking or exciting about this scene, but it beautifully showcases both the complexity and strength of the Underwoods relationship, which is (in my opinion) the heart of the show.

10) Frank and Zoe celebrate Father’s Day. (Chapter 7)

In a scene that capitalizes on the creepy dynamic between the two (father-daughter? Mentor-mentee? Lovers? All of the above?), Frank and Zoe have an intense sexual encounter while Zoe is on the phone with her father. Yes, while Zoe is on the phone with her father.

If you say you watched this scene without wanting to cover your eyes and/or ears, you’re lying.

9) Claire threatens Gillian’s unborn child. (Chapter 14)

Claire, who struggles with her own maternal impulses towards the end of Season 1, calmly threatens to withhold critical medicine from pregnant former employee Gillian, telling her she is willing to let her baby “wither and die” to get what she wants.

This moment is exceedingly cold, even for Claire’s standards, and shows that Claire will stop at nothing and is afraid of no one. It also delivers one of my favorite Claire Underwood quotes of all time: “Am I really the sort of enemy you want to make?”

8) Frank kills the dog. (Chapter 1)

The very moment we meet Frank Underwood in Chapter 1, he strangles his neighbor’s mortally wounded dog without a second of hesitation. This establishes Frank’s utter ruthlessness and vicious nature from the get-go. This scene is disturbing, cold, and captivating, and introduces Frank as one of TV’s most intriguing and powerful antiheroes.

7) Lucas is arrested. (Chapters 18 and 19)

Hell-bent on exposing Frank Underwood and bringing justice for his lost love Zoe, Lucas Goodwin becomes involved in an act of cyberterrorism with hacker Gavin Orsay that gets him caught in a FBI sting, arrested, and forced to accept a plea deal that sentences him to 10 years in prison.

It was extremely difficult to watch Lucas be manipulated at every turn while his fate spiraled out of his control. Poor, sweet Lucas. You were too good for the “House of Cards” universe.

6) Claire lies about the abortion on live TV. (Chapter 17)

When Claire is forced to give a solo on-air interview with a hard-nosed reporter, she is badgered into revealing two of her deepest secrets: she had an abortion years ago, and that she was sexually assaulted by Dalton McGinnis.

However, Claire decides to bend the truth and say that the aborted pregnancy was a result of the sexual assault, when in fact the two events were very separate and the child she aborted was hers and Frank’s. This scene is brilliantly acted by Robin Wright, and showcases both Claire’s deep vulnerability and her calculating, manipulative nature.

5) Frank becomes president. (Chapter 26)

As the Season 2 finale progressed, it became clearer and clearer that Frank was going to succeed in his goal of taking President Walker’s position as President of the United States. However, the moment doesn’t really register until Frank purposefully but quietly enters into the Oval Office, surveying it like a ruler assessing his kingdom.

After two seasons of power plays and murders, Frank is finally the highest power in the United States, which is something that is both remarkable and utterly terrifying. In the scene’s the final moments, when Frank does his signature double knock on the Oval Office desk, I couldn’t help but get chills down my spine.

4) Rachel smashes in Doug’s head. (Chapter 26)

One of the most unsettling storylines in Season 2 was Doug Stamper’s growing obsession with Rachel, who he was keeping “safe” in a creepy, bizarre witness-protection situation. His mental state started to unravel as he became more twisted and jealous with every episode.

This built to the moment when Rachel finally escapes Doug after fleeing from his car, and a nail-biting chase through the dark woods ensues. Rachel ends up bashing in Doug’s head with a rock, leaving me alternatingly horrified and satisfied.

3) Frank murders Peter Russo. (Chapter 11)

I watch a lot of TV. Like, way too much for my own good. I have had more than my fair share of heartbreak at the loss of characters. But very few TV deaths have devastated me the way Peter Russo’s did, which had me yelling curses at my computer screen through my tears.

It was just so massively unfair – Peter was left completely broken and unable to overcome his demons, and died quietly and helplessly in his car due to carbon monoxide poisoning at the hands of Frank Underwood. He died totally alone, leaving behind his two children and ex-girlfriend Christina, none of whom he was able to make amends with before his death.

2) The “Threechum.” (Chapter 24)

In one of the most mind-boggling scenes in Season 2, Frank, Claire, and Frank’s oh-so-faithful security guard Edward Meechum did the nasty. The various levels of sexual tension in this scene built on each other in such a unnerving but fascinating way – I was convinced Claire and Meechum were going to hook up with each other, but then Frank entered the room, making it clear this was going to be a whole ‘nother ball game.

Completely surprising (and reckless, on the Underwoods part), this scene sent shock waves through critics and fans. Its utter weirdness (while the scene is full of sexual undertones, you can’t quite believe it’s going to happen until it actually happens) makes it one of the most unforgettable and shocking moments of the show so far.

1) Frank Kills Zoe. (Chapter 14)

What else could possibly rank number one but the unbelievable murder of Zoe Barnes? In the Season 2 premiere, Franks throws Zoe in front of a subway train in order to stop her from further investigating Peter Russo’s death.

I was looking forward to another season full of sneaky, smart, and somehow loveable Zoe, so when she was so viciously killed off that early on, I was initially convinced it had been a fantasy sequence or a dream (cue the internal scream, “That CANNOT have just happened”).

While this was not the first murder Frank committed, it was much more violent, quick, and brutal than Peter’s death. RIP Miss Barnes, we hardly knew you.

“House of Cards” Season 3 premieres Friday, February 27.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format