Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

House of Cards: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie Review

“The best thing about human beings is that they stack so neatly.”

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown June 21, 2014

When it was first made available via streaming, House of Cards' debut season was in some ways overshadowed by Netflix's bold charge into the future of television. Sure, Cards was one of the best new series of 2013; a powerfully addicting water cooler drama in a post-water cooler age. I knew it. You knew it. We all knew it. But no one could talk about the show without, at some point, going on and on about the latest source of premiere programming, the freedom it provides its stable of creators, paced viewing vs. binge watching (still an ongoing debate) and the redemption arc of Netflix itself, which just two years prior had nearly imploded following a poorly implemented price hike that left millions of customers outraged. (To put it mildly.) With House of Cards' second season, though, we're well on our way to taking Netflix Streaming's original programming business model for granted. So sit back, take a breath and focus on what really matters: one of the finest shows of 2014.

"One heartbeat away from the presidency and not a vote cast in my name. Democracy is so overrated."

Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey): former House Whip. Ambitious, intensely calculating politician. Vindictive force to be reckoned with. Newly anointed Vice President. Murderer. In Season One, Frank proved he was capable of anything, even bringing a very literal end to a well-intentioned public figure standing in his path. At the outset of Season Two, the House of Cards showrunners make a point of reminding audiences exactly how far Underwood is willing to go with a shocking, unsettlingly decisive move that blurs the line between protagonist and outright villain. From there, tying up loose ends seems like child's play as the VP turns his attention to a whole new set of problems, none of which afford him a moment's rest. His schemes soon infect President Walker (Michel Gill), White House Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez (Sakina Jaffrey), POTUS' confidant Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney), Majority Whip candidate Jackie Sharp (Molly Parker) and everyone else that poses a threat on -- and off -- Capital Hill. The only person safe from his scorched earth tactics is his wife Claire (Robin Wright), who's busy orchestrating plans of her own. The Underwoods are out for blood, and it suits them all too well.

The series' second season wanders down two or three questionable paths and takes a handful of tricky turns here and there, but it does so with the swiftest of steps and a confidence as compelling and captivating as the characters involved. It's an improvement on its predecessor in almost every way, and Season One was already a taut, unbearably suspenseful slow-burn thriller. From Frank's most sinister Machiavellian machinations (somehow more shocking than before) to the new politicos introduced (Jackie Sharp chief among them), to the cast members added to producer David Fincher and creator Beau Willimon's enviable ensemble, to the expertly constructed scripts, the increasingly daunting stakes, and beyond, Season Two serves up a high-risk, high-reward long-con every bit as intricate and exciting to watch unfold as a classic heist film. The habitually manipulative Underwood isn't plotting to crack a bank vault or loot a casino, of course, but he could pull it off with his eyes closed and his hands tied behind his back. And probably without stepping foot outside his office. A dragon in a garden of serpents, the VP readily embraces the kill-or-be-killed game of Washington political warfare, with the frightening certainty he'll either be crowned king or branded a traitor and lose his head.

Spacey is as irresistible and charming a silver-tongued devil as Underwood. Knowing the inner-workings of the VP's mind and the motivation behind every move transforms the man into an even more magnetic monster. There are crystalizing moments when you realize you're rooting for one of the most vile politicians to grace television; an unmistakably vicious opportunist eager to sacrifice anyone and everyone if it furthers his agenda. And yet every ugly truth, devious plot and stunning revelation only makes Spacey's audience that much more complicit in Frank's crimes. It's the work of a master manipulator -- Spacey more than Underwood -- and inseparable from the mechanics of the season, as designed by the equally formidable Willimon, operating behind the scenes in an even more crucial role. Not that Spacey and Willimon are the only hypnotists in the mix. Spacey's co-stars, Wright and Parker in particular, nearly swipe entire scenes from Willimon's leading man. And for anyone who's watched the original BBC miniseries, you'll know that's precisely the task all involved will need to invest in to bring House of Cards to what promises to be an unforgettable climax. Whether the series ends with Season Three or earns a longer lifespan isn't quite clear at the moment. What is clear is that Willimon and company have the wherewithal to abandon the British miniseries' three-act structure. I'm anxious to see Underwood's story come to a close -- for no other reason than to know how Fincher and Willimon plan to wrap it all up -- but I also wouldn't be heartbroken to learn a fourth season was on the horizon.

The Complete Second Season features thirteen episodes spread across four BD-50 discs:

• Chapter 14: Newly appointed U.S. Vice President Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) tackle two threats that could bring their plans to ruin. Francis grooms his replacement, Jackie Sharp (Molly Parker), as Whip. Claire goes on the offensive.
• Chapter 15: Francis puts China and several related hot-button topics in the cross-hairs. Claire confronts a painful trauma from her past. Lucas Goodwin (Sebastian Arcelus) presses for the truth.
• Chapter 16: Tension rises between Francis and Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney) as the situation with China deteriorates. A battle in the Senate pits Francis against the Republicans.
• Chapter 17: A terror scare at the Capitol traps Francis with a resentful Donald Blythe (Reed Birney). Claire gives a live interview that rocks the media when a secret from her past is revealed.
• Chapter 18: Francis back-channels with Chinese billionaire Xander Feng (Terry Chen). Lucas uses extreme measures to expose the Vice President. A shadowy figure joins Team Underwood.
• Chapter 19: Amidst an energy crisis, Francis and Tusk end their shaky alliance. Lucas must make a tough choice. Underwood's chief of staff, Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly), grows closer to Rachel (Rachel Brosnahan).
• Chapter 20: Despite some friction, President Garrett Walker (Michel Gill) and his wife Patricia (Joanna Going) deepen their friendship with the Underwoods. But it's all-out war between Francis and Tusk.
• Chapter 21: The war with Tusk intensifies. Claire influences Tricia Walker politically and domestically. Francis has a show-down with Linda Vasquez (Sakina Jaffrey) for the President's trust and ear.
• Chapter 22: Things get personal when Tusk blindsides the Underwoods with a scandal. Freddy Hayes (Reg E. Cathey) and Francis' favorite corner BBQ joint get caught up in the mix.
• Chapter 23: With a military stand-off overseas and potential violence at home, Francis wants to finish off Tusk for good. Claire and Jackie Sharp collide. Lisa (Kate Lyn Sheil) moves in with Rachel. Doug grows uneasy. Lobbyist Remy Denton (Mahershala Ali) learns more about Jackie.
• Chapter 24: A special prosecutor, Heather Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel), interrogates Francis. Remy tries to keep his options open but finds himself backed into a corner. Stamper wrestles with his demons.
• Chapter 25: Tensions between the President and Vice President intensify. Francis finds himself shut out and Claire makes a difficult sacrifice. Stamper tries to regain control. Tusk has to make a difficult choice.
• Chapter 26: Francis faces annihilation while the nation is in an uproar. Stamper must tie up loose ends. Claire feels the cost of ruthlessness. Jackie works to secure votes to enact a ruthless manuever.

House of Cards: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Like the series' first season release, House of Cards: The Complete Second Season boasts a striking 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation framed at 2.00:1. Each episode has been shot digitally using Red Epic cameras and the resulting image is pristine. There's a hint of noise to darker scenes that's inherent to cinematographer Igor Martinovic's photography, but nothing that proves distracting. Significant macroblocking, banding, aliasing and other potential issues are simply nowhere to be found, meaning there's a fairly substantial uptick in quality when moving from the overly compressed Netflix stream to Sony's roomy 4-disc Blu-ray. (It's just a shame Sony isn't also releasing a 4K edition, since the series is currently available to stream in 4K for those with compatible 4K displays.) Although the palette is often desaturated and devoid of vibrancy, skintones remain quite lifelike throughout, primaries still have a presence and black levels are rich and foreboding. Detail is excellent as well; crisp and refined, with exceptionally well-resolved textures and revealing delineation. Close-ups are particularly rewarding, with contrast and clarity providing perfectly balanced bipartisan support from nail-biting start to jaw-dropping finish.

House of Cards: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

House of Cards' DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is as slick and deceptive as Underwood, lulling listeners into a false sense of security before pouncing with all the fury and might at its disposal. Dialogue is clean, intelligible and impeccably prioritized, without any mishaps that might impede the experience. LFE output is restrained on the whole but strong when called upon, much like the rear speakers, which deliver a nuanced soundfield brimming with oh so convincing ambient effects, acoustic prowess, directional sleight of hand and immersive know-how. And while the mix only grows aggressive and bears its teeth on a few heart-stopping occasions, it never goes for anything but the jugular when it attacks, and does so without hesitation or mercy. Sony once again delivers on its AV promises.

House of Cards: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Politics for Politics Sake (Disc 1, HD, 4 minutes): Executive producer David Fincher, producer Eric Roth, director James Foley, political consultant Jay Carson and actors Kevin Spacey and Ben Daniels briefly touch on the show's more universal themes, the nature of power and revenge, and the ways in which House of Cards' dynamics aren't so different from those of an average workplace.
• Direct Address (Disc 1, HD, 6 minutes): Members of the cast and crew discuss Underwood's penchant for breaking the fourth wall and the similarities and differences between its use in the original BBC adaptation and the new series.
• Two Houses (Disc 2, HD, 11 minutes): This more extensive behind-the-scenes featurette delves into the show's genesis, the history of the original British version, Fincher's interest in the prospect of a new adaptation and, eventually, the assembling of the creative team, casting and the production.
• Table Read (Disc 3, HD, 8 minutes): Fincher introduces a small selection of table read segments with the cast and crew, intercut with interview segments and the final version of the scenes as they appear in the show.
• Line of Succession (Disc 4, HD, 18 minutes): The most substantial extra delves into the development and production of an episode, from the structuring of the stories, to the differences between the series and a more traditional television drama, to the shooting of a season and beyond.

House of Cards: The Complete Second Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

House of Cards's engrossing second season is darker, slicker and more dangerous than its first, with a frightening furtherance of Francis Underwood's power the brings with it higher stakes, bigger risks and more startling surprises. It remains one of the best written, best performed shows on television (online or traditionally broadcast). Watch for it to make a killing at this year's awards ceremonies. Sony's 4-disc Blu-ray edition is a terrific set as well, with a flawless video presentation (that handily bests its Netflix streaming counterpart), absorbing DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track and, unlike The Complete First Season BD, a number of special features (even though the available content clocks in at less than an hour). If you aren't already watching House of Cards, snap to. If you are, you already know adding The Complete Second Season to your Blu-ray collection is one of the easiest decisions you'll make this year.