We'll be doing an ongoing review of the second season of Netflix's House of Cards as we're able to watch it over the next week. We'll have an overall score and verdict once that's complete. Jump in and let us know what you think, but please try to stay clear of spoilers for those who aren't as far ahead as you may be, or at least leave a warning that you're going to talk about things from "Episode X" on.

Loading

Season2, Episode 1, Chapter 14:

Loading

Season 2, Ep 2, Chapter 15

Loading

Season 2, Ep 3, Chapter 16:

A contemplative Frank is a dangerous Frank.

Season 2, Ep 4, Chapter 17:

Claire so often works for the right thing, in perhaps the wrong way.

Season 2, Ep 5, Chapter 18:

I'm taking my ball home.

Season 2, Ep 6, Chapter 19:

Mr. President, this is not a man you should lend your ear to.

Season 2, Ep 7, Chapter 20:

Linda come, Linda go...

Season 2, Ep 8, Chapter 21:

Frank's last friend.

Season 2, Ep 9, Chapter 22:

Those who can't be trusted also cannot trust.

Season 2, Ep 10, Chapter 23:

Doug is a forever man.

Season 2, Ep 11, Chapter 24:

"I'm gonna get you, Sucka."

Season 2, Ep 12, Chapter 25:

Thanks, and hope you're enjoying!"I'm willing to let your child whiter and die inside you if that's what's required. Now tell me, am I really the sort of enemy you want to make?"Oh Claire, you've gone full-on Lady MacBeth. The angels are breathing a sigh of sweet relief that you've had second thoughts about pursuing motherhood. Unless your plan is steal Gillian's unborn child, that is."Chapter 14" was notable in that the direct-to-camera address was saved for the final moments, which served to do two things: One, highlight the strength of the storytelling with or without the benefit of the exposition and intimacy that the fourth wall break creates. Two, remind us that Frank is an enigma known only to himself. He'll let us think we're his confidant, but it's always, always under his terms. That's just what Zoe learned.Iron wills. This episode was about tests of them across the board; and the Underwood camp, not surprisingly, came out on top of each battle. Claire, Doug and, of course, Frank, faced opposition, and each one took increasingly Machiavellian - and malevolent - steps to ensure that they won. Zoe, Gillian, and Rachel aren't spineless jellyfish, it may have been so much easier for them if they were (though Rachel is the least steely of the three). Indeed, they were each punished to the degree that they were dogged in their pursuit of good/truth - either for their own sake or the world's. Rachel put up a minimal scuffle for autonomy, Gillian a larger campaign for justice, and Zoe went straight for, and then into, the belly of the beast.When it comes to the Underwoods, this tight-knit group of family and co-conspirators, the viewer is reminded of one of Kevin Spacey's other iconic characters: Keyser Soze, and his philosophy on what it takes to achieve your goals in a world full of people who may try to stop you, or otherwise get in the way. For Frank Underwood, taking that final step toward the Oval Office meant taking the action that would be for most, and should have been for him, unthinkable. This wasn't allowing a man to die - which was bad enough - this was the murder of a young woman who had everything in front of her.It wasn't so much that Zoe's death was shocking that made it a great television moment. Some viewers may have seen her end approaching, just as we saw the lights of that train in the distance. I paused that scene three times, I suppose to delay what I feared was an inevitable, and gruesome, conclusion. It was actually more that her murder was perfectly in line with who Frank is, and, in fact, who she was.Zoe was a barracuda in the making; a woman whose ambition outran her morals momentarily. When the consequences became too real, however, a natural ethical crisis kicked in. She was simply out of her depth when it came to ruthlessness - as was Rachel, as was Gillian. Zoe was smart, sharp even, but young, and to some degree naive and unaware of the depths of the depravity she was treading in.In the end, Zoe had more faith in human, or at the very least Frank's, nature than she should have. Is it unbelievable that this savvy girl would not see the danger? Maybe, or maybe she just didn't think he'd do it, not to her. She bit off more than she could chew. It was sad, yes, and perhaps theatrical what with the trench coat. The sequence, and the show, is heightened for the sake of titillating, satirical drama, sure, but there's the ring of truth to that very simple idea: When the stakes are that high, it's about doing what the other person isn't willing to do."FU" indeed.“Democracy is so overrated.”Frank’s opening quip may be simple, but it also handily sets the tone, and encapsulates the theme, for the remainder of the episode. During the first season of House of Cards, it seemed that some of the Washington players may be interested in something other, or at least in addition to, the politics of politics. Say, for example, the governing of a nation. When Russo betrayed not only the people who elected him, but himself, his core values, and the very reason he’d entered the fray in the first place in Season 1, we felt that loss of innocence. It now seems that there are no characters left who have any concerns other than their own political capital.Not only is the President easy to manipulate, but it seems that every player in the field – other than Frank – is. We’ll need him to meet someone who is at least close to a match at some point. For a moment, it seemed that Trusk may fill that role, but Frank is setting the groundwork for his demise brick by brick. It’s possible that Congresswoman Sharp, who hesitated only for a breath before she annihilated the man who had been like her father, may ultimately be the one way step forward to push Frank in front of the metaphorical tracks.Side note: It was interesting to see Frank start to feel the confines and cost of his ambition – both in his inability to stand up for his wife, and more humorously, in his inability to play God of War. Even Claire, in her vulnerability, will forgo vengeance in the name of ambition. It seems she’s found strength in that choice, though. One she made long ago. This was a strong episode for Claire, as this was the first time she’s openly addressed how she’d been made into the stony-hearted “pragmatist” (oh how they use that word to cover all manner of sins) that she is. She’s strangled any part of her that is soft, lest she have to actually feel the pain of being human.“There are two types of Vice Presidents, door mats and matadors, which do you think I intend to be?”I think he intends to fight that bull, that’s what I think. The bull was fighting back a bit in this chapter, though. Just when in looks as if now Vice President Underwood wins too often and is too much in control, the series throws an – albeit momentary – wrench in his plans. In truth, the congressional threat was rather easily sorted, and it actually presented Frank with an opportunity to flex his muscle and make a rather public show of strength. We assume his end game is the Presidency, so it’s about figuring out what kind of path he’s crafted for himself. How he intends to bring down an administration, tear apart the very home he lives in and yet remain intact at its center. The gift of the resistance to his plan is that, in the eyes of the nation, he came out looking like a man of action even more than the President did. The President can take the heat for advocating for an unpopular entitlement reform. Frank, if he spins it correctly and assuming all works out, can take the credit for preventing a freeze, and generally being a force to be reckoned with and cowboy badass.The most fascinating aspect of the episode was that the true threats were the ones that Frank is only minimally aware of. These dangers lurk in the shadows and may prove resistant to his iron control, because they are driven by parts of human nature that he does not understand. Lucas is heartbroken, desperate, and willing to do anything to avenge the loss of his short-term girlfriend. Frank pinned a medal on the man who raped his wife for the sake of politics. Christina seems to have abandoned thoughts of Russo for now, but that could change. Either way, her relationship with the President remains an unknown variable. The biggest live-wire of them all, however, is Rachel. That is because she doesn’t operate from calculation. She is raw and she is lonely. That makes her dangerous. The desire for deep human connection may be something that is simply beyond the scope of th Underwoods' understanding. Frank appreciates and can navigate greed and avarice, but not these far more complex and murky emotions.“Sing me a song…”Claire, for the first time in a long time I imagine, was doing a little singing herself this chapter. Each time I think I have you pinned-down Underwoods, you show me a new color; which is a good thing. This show is many things: Theatrical, skillful, heightened, glossy, satiric, occasionally given to dipping a toe into melodrama, darkly delicious, sometimes wrenching, and just plain fun. It is very rarely sentimental, though. See above, where just last episode I asserted that the Underwoods were unable to comprehend normal human emotions. Here they are, not only having them, but navigating them skillfully. Perhaps what they truly can’t fathom is a mess that they are incapable of cleaning up. It was especially fascinating to watch how Franks false sincerity threw Claire’s genuine – if steely – expression into sharp relief. She was colder than he, but far more truthful (if with a little adjustment of the facts.) In fact, the most striking moment in the episode was when she said, “I hate lying.” Suddenly, her total commitment to being fully, and unapologetically herself became clear. Claire is many things, but in she’s actually less disingenuous than most people. Frank, for his part, allowed his heart to rest for one brief moment on his sleeve when he left the vote to rush home to his wife. He may regret empowering Jackie that way one day, though…Meanwhile, Lucas’ story continues to be interesting, but in some ways the most problematic. The poor boy is woefully out of his depth.“Shake with your right hand, and hold a rock in your left.”It’s Frank’s policy to “avoid wars that you can’t win” so he must be feeling fairly confident that he can beat Tusk at his own game. The battlefield metaphor may not have been all that subtly realized, but it was appropriate enough. Alliances were formed as Claire enlisted the first lady’s support in her campaign, and Seth proved just how vulnerable she may be to exposure. A prisoner was taken, in the form Lucas, who basically leapt into piranha infested waters in meat suit. Enemy cooperation was coerced, as Gavin was put back in line upon pain of Cashew death! (Will you judge me if I had to look away when that poor guinea pig was being tormented? Ah, do what you must. The animals are the only one’s not acting like beasts.) I did enjoy the Dr. Evil moment as Gavin swung around in his big chair, with his little pig in hand. The real villain to emerge this week was Feng, though. I sense that he, far more than Trusk even, is not a man to be trifled with. I do hope at least one of these foes will show some teeth at some point. The Underwoods can be the smartest people in the room, but they can’t beif the show’s going to maintain a sense of dramatic tension. As to war, Frank’s willing to take on some collateral damage (I’m keeping the analogy going) but I’d like to see at least one shot fired that he wasn’t expecting.Oh, and Frank has likely never spoken truer words: "Don’t raise your flag for asinine cause, like slavery."“You have all the money; I have all the men with guns.” – Monopoly vs. Toy SoldiersIt’s funny; there was something about the Tusk/Underwood d-swinging contest this episode that did seem reminiscent of a child’s game. My toys are better! These men are made all the more dangerous by their petulance, though. They have real toys; they control the power – both metaphorically and literally in this case. Speaking of, the thematic analogy was a bit more deftly executed in this chapter. A slice of Americana, an opening baseball game, was interrupted by the very real, toxic, yes power, structures of the nation. The dream was disrupted, shattered by the reality. The little people, those just trying to stay cool to keep from killing one another, those who are fed a steady diet of baseball and apple pie fantasies, are just tiny pawns, irrelevant pieces on the board to be used by the big, sullen, babies playing with their lives – our lives. All in the name of unhinged ego and greed. Speaking of pawns! Claire took a feather from her husband’s cap and removed Christina from the First Lady - and then we assume the President’s - good graces. I suppose this was done in the name of isolating him to anyone’s council other than the Underwoods. Alienating her may come back to bite them, though. People who have less to lose are far harder to control. As to the press kowtowing to FBI intimidation, this episode served as a sad reminder of what the Fourth Estate is truly meant to do, and yet doesn’t. Of course, we do still have the hacker waiting in the wings…And Internet leaks are the name of the game these days when it comes to exposing Government corruption, not thoroughly researched news stories. Oh, the humanity.“Tonight, I don’t have to be President.”Careful what you wish for Mr. and Mrs. Walker. One issue I have with the Walker storyline is the idea that this couple could have risen this far, and yet remain so gullible. I suppose it is puppet Presidency to some degree, with Tusk as puppet master (far more of one than Frank anticipated, in fact). Yet, it seems odd that Tusk would be exercising that kind of control over the Congress, and fail to bring it to the President’s attention; particularly when he was trying reinsert himself at “the big table”, as Frank says. Why would he even bother with Underwood when he could just demonstrate his might to the President and land immediately back at his side?When the episode began, I thought, “Oh right, Republicans. Our characters have been so busy with the internal machinations and in-fighting that I’d almost forgotten that they have other, for more overt, enemies across the aisle. So did they, it seems.” Of course, it quickly became clear that the enemies remain internal. Remy is turning against Frank, Frank against Remy, Jackie certainly seems less than enthused about supporting the Underwoods, and I wouldn’t trust Remy’s big romantic gesture as far as I could throw it. As Frank and Claire handily dismantle the Walker marriage, and it becomes more and more clear that trust is the rarest of commodities, it strikes me once again that, for sociopathic self-promoters, Claire and Frank actually have a very solid marriage. They have are a united front and are the stronger for it. Claire wasn’t lying to Mrs. Walker when she said she and Frank were honest with one another. She was, however, misguiding her when she stressed that it was a good idea to force her husband to talk. I guess you don’t hate lying as long as it’s peppered with the truth, Claire. Quick side note: The sequence with Walker and Frank in the White House was one of the first moments where we really felt the surreal nature of their daily lives this series. Oh, and once again, acting the man-boy, a peevish Frank broke his own toy when he came face to face with someone who did not immediately buy his snake oil.“The tip of your iceberg is melting, Frank.”It’s really not, though. In fact, this chapter saw Frank pretty far ahead on the scoreboard. Until those final moments, that is. Linda’s out, and yet somehow they’re still friends. He was able to make progress with Feng and the bridge. The President has agreed to counseling. We’re just a bit past the midway point, and it feels as though Frank’s plan to dismantle the administration piece by piece, and rebuild it to his liking, is well underway. Will an infidelity defeat them? Doubtful. They’ll spin it, and what the Underwoods serve up will in all likelihood be bought and consumed. If there’s one thing they know how to do, it’s how to manipulate a situation to their advantage. “Dogs,” after all, “are so predictable.” The real question marks for them right now are Jackie – why is it that she doesn’t want to support Claire’s bill? – and Doug. Doug’s growing obsession with Rachel may make him unstable, and with the amount of dirt that man has…Frank doesn’t want him falling off the wagon and possibly becoming a liability. For one thing, who else can he really trust to do his dirty work? Linda’s sudden elimination felt a bit too easy, that job was a lot to give up over a momentary power struggle. However, Franks direct-to-camera address in this episode were some of the most entertaining we’ve seen. From “vomit-inducing b****” to “she played to win” in such a short span of time. Oh, our Frank, he so loves to get his way. What, oh what, will he do when and if he ever really, truly loses?“Eye’s ahead.”House of Cards often touches on the various dark and murky aspects of human nature, but for the most part, it steers clear of sentiment. Freddy’s slow walk away from his restaurant and a briefly imagined bright future may be the most heartbreaking moment on this series. Claire’s betrayal of Adam’s trust and Frank’s subsequent denial of his association with Freddy was the final cutting of the umbilical cord of their connection with others. It’s interesting; as the series progresses and the world of politics expands for the Underwoods their intimate connections become more and more limited. If there’d been anyone that we believed that Frank genuinely cared for, it’s Freddy, and Claire seemed to have a deeply felt affection for Adam. At the moment, I have mixed feelings about the fact that, in essence, every character outside of their universe of two has become “insignificant”. In a sense, we are seeing Washington, and the globe, through the eyes of the Underwoods. For to them, other people are little more than figures to be moved across a chess board and then discarded. Putting us in their mindset links us more intimately with these two central characters. On the other hand, might this series be a bit richer if the other characters were given some more dimensions?Side note: Robin Wright’s rapid-fire and subtly expressed emotional shift when Frank declared their marriage a thing not to be trifled with, nor understood by outsiders, was stunning. Her performance, as always, is simply breathtaking."I like you more than I should."If House of Cards were rolling out like a standard television season, then this chapter may feel a bit like filler. It's not so much that nothing happened, it's more that so much of what's happened feels like more of the same. The crisis in China heats up, as Remy and Jackie declare their sort of like for one another and Remy's loyalty is quickly tested. The President remains ineffectual, and mostly, we're waiting for Frank to deal the killing blow. The show is still well-constructed and highly entertaining, but one wonders if it's not lost some of the steam or at the very least gut-punching satire that it had last year.Mostly, it's all just felt too easy. Even players that seemed like they may have a significant role to play just sort of disappeared without too much ado. Lucas was handily dispatched and Christina just sort of floated away. Jackie has yet to really show her bite, but perhaps that is being reserved for next season..."I knew it meant nothing."Remy's short-lived attempt to create a legitimate dynamic was quickly overshadowed by his need to win at all costs, as he threatened Jackie only to quickly discover that she does not negotiate or break quite so easily. It's an interesting, and somewhat sad comment that the show seems to be making about relationships. Those who have, or are attempting to have, genuine connection are only made weak. The President and The First Lady look to be undone, in part, by seeking marriage counseling. Of course the Underwoods had this planned, but it is notable that a move to maintain a healthy bond would be this dangerous to their political lives. Even poor Doug is a slave to his love for Frank and driven near to madness by his craving for a real relationship with Rachel. In this world of theirs it seems you can have one or the other: an ally or a true lover. The Underwoods elected to make a life out of being unshakable comrades in arms and they'll take their loving where they can. Their dynamic is the core of the series, so it's fortunate that it's a fascinating one."I know all your moves now."It's been a long time coming, but the President has finally,seen through Frank's machinations. It's an interesting turn of events in that it leaves Frank at least slightly vulnerable, which is something that has been missing from the series to date. Zoe provided some measure of a threat, or at the very least a worthy and unknown element, in Season 1. I suppose Tusk has been the Underwoods central foe this year, but in general terms, every obstacle has been handily dealt with. This would make for a nice turn of events, but when the President threatens to parry with Frank now, we don't really take him all that seriously. We know to much about Walker; he is simply outmatched and outclassed.The Underwoods win, in part, because they are willing to compromise. They are certainly willing to sacrifice almost every portion of their humanity in order to achieve their goals. We only really see the cost of that compromise during Claire's rare, but glorious moments of vulnerability, though. Each time the woman in her breaks through, it's as if she can be saved, as if she may be able to course correct. She won't; we know that. She's tied her life to Frank's and he is a relentless and unseeing shark. It's that bit of hope that creates a dramatic pulse, though. In Frank's case, it's the small taste of fear that he may have, for once, overstepped his bounds.Season 2, Ep 13, Chapter 26:"Knock, knock."Well everything's coming up Rose Gardens and Oval Offices for the Underwoods. President Walker's about-face was inevitable. The Walkers must be the most easily manipulated people - much less political couple - on the planet. These characters also represent the show's biggest weakness. The Underwoods victory may have felt more surprising, or at least more hard won, had the Walkers represented a true challenge, but they didn't.At the end of the day, Tusk would have rather sunk his entire ship than remain in bed with them; which is also fairly hard to swallow. This is a series that is dealing in archetypes. It's painting a portrait of a poisonous political landscape in very broad strokes. That can make for an engaging piece of entertainment, and often it does. The danger is that the characters devolve into plot devices.The goal is to make a point about a democracy in which the votes - literally - don't count. In the rush to reach his goal, Frank renders people into little more than disposable plastic ware to eat his ribs with. Unfortunately, Beau Willimon has essentially done the same to his characters. They are there to serve an idea about politics, human nature, the corporate world, and a hopelessly broken America. That's all grand, but the thematic only really works if the narrative is equally strong. We need to believe in these people, we need to connect with them in order to feel a sense of weight when their lives are lost - literally in Doug's case - or figuratively in the case of the Walkers and just about anyone else who's had the misfortune to bump into the Underwoods' path. Nuance was sacrificed for the sake of nailing home a somewhat obvious point about a broken system of government, which ultimately dulled the stakes for the audience.House of Cards is still an engaging and remarkably well-produced series, and I'll look forward to seeing what Season 3 yields. Though in truth, with a bit less anticipation than I had headed into Season 2.

Roth Cornet is an Entertainment Editor for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @RothCornet and IGN at Roth-IGN