Chapter 40
- Episode aired Mar 4, 2016
- TV-MA
- 49m
Claire's absence causes problems for Frank on the campaign trail amid rumors of a marital rift. Claire tries to strike out on her own.Claire's absence causes problems for Frank on the campaign trail amid rumors of a marital rift. Claire tries to strike out on her own.Claire's absence causes problems for Frank on the campaign trail amid rumors of a marital rift. Claire tries to strike out on her own.
- Michael
- (as Aaron Robert Marcus)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRobin Wright, like her character Claire Underwood, is also from Dallas, Texas.
- GoofsWhen Frank and Clair meet at her Mom's house there is heavy rain in the background when the camera focuses on Frank and bright sunshine when camera is on Claire.
- Quotes
Elizabeth Hale: You know, when she got married, I was sure she would wake up in a year or two. I had no idea it was gonna take her 30.
Francis Underwood: Claire is the First Lady of the United States, and you still think she made the wrong choice.
Elizabeth Hale: Reduced to tabloid gossip? She might as well be living in that trailer park you come from.
Francis Underwood: Well, it was a peach farm. But you're right, I am still white trash. I just happen to be white trash that lives in the White House.
Am going to be another person that found the third season finale "Chapter 39" disappointing, while still finding it a solid, very well done episode. Part of me was expecting excellence and a finale that continued the near-back on form quality of the season's second part ("Chapter 33" onwards) and especially up to the level of its previous two episodes. Season 4's premiere "Chapter 40" though, while not a return to form for 'House of Cards', is a superior episode and is a promising start.
"Chapter 40" is a set-up episode essentially. Not building upon or advancing much from before, but introduces new things and setting them up for what is to come. It does this very well indeed. Do agree that there could have been more of the political intrigue and less of the personal lives, as the political intrigue is one of the show's main attractions and what sets it apart and all the previous seasons balanced the politics and personal lives better and more evenly.
There is so much that "Chapter 40" does well though. It has its usual slickness, class and stylishness visually, the early scenes are especially well shot and have a genuine unsettlement to them. The music matches the tone well. The writing has the right amount of bite and intensity, with some of the best lines coming from the newly introduced character of Claire's mother Elizabeth Hale. The story is absorbing and the character interaction, especially Claire and Elizabeth and Frank and Elizabeth, carries it. The newly introduced characters all make a positive impression, especially Elizabeth, and the return of Lucas is handled well. Will admit to not being the biggest of fans of Lucas in the first half of Season 2, but a lot of the problem was that all of the rest of the subplots in that season were much more interesting than his and some of his behaviour was frustrating.
Found all the acting to be very strong, Kevin Spacey shows how and why Frank is such a fascinating lead character and Robin Wright does wonderfully in showing Claire's icy demeanour. A quality also embodied in Ellen Burstyn's scene stealing turn as Elizabeth. Neve Campbell, again proving that she is more than a teen idol, is subtly menacing in her role.
Overall, very good and very promising start to Season 4. Makes one highly anticipating what is to come. 8/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Sep 19, 2019
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime49 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
- 2.00 : 1