HouseOfCards4

Kevin Spacey returns as Frank Underwood in the fourth season of Netflix's "House of Cards."

(David Giesbrecht/Netflix)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If "House of Cards" lost you with its uneven third season, by all means, find your way back to the upcoming fourth. That's because the writers and producers have found their way back to the wonderfully twisted path that made this Netflix series so addictive, so intriguing, so much cutthroat fun.

REVIEW

House of Cards

What: The political drama fields its fourth season.

When: Friday, March 4.

Where: Netflix

It's almost as if the erratic third season served as a wake-up call for the "House of Cards" team. There is a razor-sharp focus, as well as a renewed sense of purpose, in the six new episodes Netflix made available to critics in advance of the fourth-season premiere on Friday, March 4.

Having finally schemed, connived, plotted and doubled-crossed his way into the Oval Office, President Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) found himself dealing with constant problems, annoyances and frustrations. Natural enough, perhaps, but, once inside the White House, ol' Frank seemed to lose a bit of his edge.

He was not so much the irresistible force storming the center. Frank had become the center, where he was constantly buffeted by the forces around him. Reflecting this new state of political affairs, the once-mesmerizing narrative became plagued with, yes, problems, annoyances and frustrations . . . until . . . until the riveting final moments of the third season.

Turns out that was one giant reset button. When we left Frank and his equally dangerous First Lady, Claire (Robin Wright), they had put some shocking cards on the table. Frank told Claire that he was "beyond caring," and that without him she was nothing. Claire replied by telling Frank that she was leaving him.

It was a stunning moment that set up a fourth-season dynamic with enough firepower to re-energize the online streaming service's acclaimed drama. Frank finally has an opponent worthy of him: Claire. Who cares about the matchup between Frank and the ever-posturing Russian leader? Here's your real heavyweight bout.

Masters of the underhanded, the Underwoods were partners in slime. Once united by greed, obsessive self-interest and an unbridled lust for power, they begin the fourth season as bitter enemies.

"I think I want to be alone," Franks tells an aide during the fourth-season opener. And he never before has seemed so alone, so solitary, so isolated. And he has never seemed more dangerous.

For her part, Claire never has seemed so determined to pursue her own ambitions. Imagine that halfway through the play, Lady Macbeth decided to leave the king, spitting out her hatred and seeking her own crown.

And that works, since "House of Cards," at its best, is part political thriller, part "Dallas"-like soap opera, part Shakespearean tragedy.

Frank needs Claire, but only because he's on the campaign trail. And he's trailing badly in the polls. He needs the appearance of a united front. He needs to force the First Lady to toe the company line, so to speak.

The great thing about the Underwoods is that each believes the other is underestimating the opponent. Maybe each is right.

To make her dark dreams come true, Claire seeks out the help of Texas-based political consultant Leann Harvey (Neve Campbell). The fourth season gets a further jolt from the commanding presences of Ellen Burstyn, cast as Claire's mother, and Cicely Tyson, playing a longtime member of Congress from Texas. To say that each makes the most of her screen time would be an extreme exercise in understatement.

Claire's mother tells her that she is stronger than Frank. That's the whole question, now isn't it? Claire might be stronger. But is she craftier, more sly, more manipulative? Those are the compelling questions hanging over this fourth season.

They must underestimate each other, but you shouldn't be underestimating the Underwoods. "House of Cards" is not only back, it's back on track.