By Isaac Piecuch ’14 | Staff Writer

I feel I ought to begin this review with an apology to Frank Underwood. So well realized is his character, so tangible is his menacing, manipulative form of politics, that a fictitious politician genuinely intimidates me. So for any critiques you may not appreciate, Frank, I’m sorry. Please don’t destroy me.

Anyways, on to the second season of “House of Cards”. The season maintains a marathon pace that absorbs viewers, characterized by a blistering premier that leaves you breathless. Still, though, the season is unable to reach the high pedigree set by the last season due to a distinct lack of engaging storylines and an ambiguous endgame scheme.

The season’s definite highpoint is the premier. It’s an exhilarating whirlwind of events. The show immediately picks up on the threads of the previous season. It’s interesting how quickly the show wraps up what seemed to be major threats to Frank, but this is ultimately a good thing; annoying threads from the first season, for the most part, don’t overstay their welcome. There is a certain character who is doomed from the start and refuses to fade away until halfway through the season, but this is forgivable.

The show’s greatest aspect remains the incredible acting by its leads. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright still dominate the screen with Emmy deserving performances. Their portrayals of Frank and Claire Underwood are nuanced, believable, and (perhaps most importantly) menacing. Spacey’s Frank comes to life with a set of quirks and tendencies. He may be the only actor capable of making Frank’s seemingly divine ability to manipulate believable. In other, less talented hands, the protagonists most basic skill may have been ridiculous.

The show soars when Spacey and Wright are on screen together. They are the only TV couple who seemingly never have sex yet are completely devoted to each other. They are united by their deviousness, and maintain a complete honesty to self and each other that embraces rather than hides their darker side. When Frank and Claire scheme with each other at their townhouse window, casually smoking a cigarette, their camaraderie humanizes the show. You almost forget that they’re probably planning someone’s political destruction.

The dialogue is sharp when not nonsensical. Frank’s fourth-wall breaking monologues remain fantastic. “You thought I forgot about you, didn’t you?” he asks to viewers in the premier, and one can’t help but feel goose bumps. There are a lot of loaded conversations. Comments dripping with malice are delivered with an off-putting passivity. Claire’s assurance that “I’m willing to watch your baby wither and die… but we don’t want that, do we?” is a particularly awesome display of cruelty.

Still, the dialogue sometimes strays into the realm of jargon. The show creates a smokescreen of political intricacy, throwing out terms like “Super-PAC” and “Back channeling.” This convoluted speech is meant to confuse viewers, and hides some jumps in logic. When characters inexplicably play into Frank’s hand, it’s far easier to blame it on Frank’s wizardry than try to understand why in the world a politician would behave as such.

Also, this season lacks truly compelling storylines. There’s nothing nearly as heartbreaking as the Russo story. Instead, we have a political tango with China, a “why-are-you-doing-this” sexual assault bill, and a former hooker who is dull as can be. The side-stories aren’t as compelling as they could be.

The season also suffers from an unclear endgame. We know Frank wants power… but what exactly does that mean? What is all the political maneuvering and scheming for? For most of the season, we don’t know what specifically Frank is working towards, and this takes away from the shows sense of urgency.

Despite some shortcomings, “House of Cards” remains an incredible political thriller. The acting is great, dialogue is generally sharp, and it tells an interesting main story. If I were Frank Underwood, I’d probably be able to easily manipulate you into this show. But I’m not, and the best I can give is a hearty recommendation. Check this show out; you won’t regret it.

Grade: B