Michael Dobbs, Beau Willimon
House of Cards - Seconda Stagione

PREMISE

This is the review of the second season, so it is already a spoiler in itself.

Moreover, talking about the second season without being vague is impossible, so if you haven't had the chance to watch this second season, don't read this review. Or if you do, at least don't bother me for revealing something you didn't want to know.

An immense brazier, flames glistening, fearless. A fire that burns vivid, with passion, without energy loss. This is a representation of the second season of "House of Cards".

The diabolical Frank Underwood is even more ruthless, and if in the first season he only wanted revenge on the President of the United States, guilty of not appointing him Secretary of State as promised during the election campaign, in this second act we'll see him activate an ingenious scheme aimed at taking his place.

In these thirteen episodes, we see the same cynical mechanisms from the first season, but without risking boredom or the "already seen": although the intrigues and processes for the race for power remain the same, the twists will leave you breathless and in awe.

The cards will be reshuffled; some main characters will leave in an unexpected way and with such rapidity that we won't have time to properly focus on what we've just seen. I'm talking about Zoe Barnes, a journalist protagonist in the first season, who is completely swept away at once, leaving a void which will be immediately filled by the murky political gears represented in the series.

Some of the secondary characters become the pivots of the plot, such as Remy Danton, Raymond Tusk, and new ones are introduced, ready to be engulfed by power and to sweep away those who obstruct them, like Jackie Sharp, played by Molly Parker.

And we'll also have a hi-tech note, due to Lucas Goodwin's investigations into Peter Russo's death, Frank Underwood's involvement in some shady political affairs in recent months, and he will be helped by Gavin Orsay, played by Jimmi Simpson, who in the last episodes will prove quite dangerous for Underwood and all American politics.

A magnifying glass will be introduced on the love, perversion, and submission story between Doug Stamper and Rachel Posner, which will end up putting both in danger.

And then remain the characters introduced like Claire Underwood, who this year, between revelations and political campaigns, will once again reveal her greatness but at the same time her fragility.

Kevin Spacey confirms his complete ease in the role of Frank Underwood, this year truly mythological in fueling that impetuous vortex that will sweep away the President of the United States, Garrett Walker, but at the same time, for the first time, we will see him in serious difficulties when facing unexpected situations.

It's everyone with everyone, and everyone against everyone, where it is not clear who is betraying whom, but in the end, one thing is certain: we will witness what we all knew would happen for two years:

Frank Underwood becomes the new President of the United States of America.

And the last minutes of the last episode are a gem to be framed, with the shameless politician entering and enjoying the Oval Office.

For many, this could also be a series finale, but there are still too many question marks, and now that the Underwoods are in the White House, they will have to deal with their past.

The second season was spectacular.

The third season could be totally epic!