House of Cards (TV Series) Chapter 45 (2016) User Reviews

Strong episode with several ethical dilemmas

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 8 November 2020]

Claire meets Petrov in Germany to try and work out a deal in Frank's absence whilst Doug stays by his side.

This is a very good episode that gives some solid examples of characters having to make morale choices for the sake of their careers. Some are willing to compromise, others are not, whilst others take full advantage of situations for their own benefit.

As with much of the events portrayed in House Of Cards, you have to suspend disbelief for the sake of entertainment. I have never watched it with the aim of determining what real world politics are like. This for me it is fictional entertainment and being outrageous is fine as long as it's done in a clever and entertaining way, which this is.

There are plenty of great moments to admire: Doug Stamper and the ethical dilemma he gives the Secretary for Health; Heather Dunbar and her choice between what is morally and strategically right; Claire and her face-off with Petrov and I haven't even mentioned the disturbing dream sequence.

The cinematography and editing is as exceptionally good as always. The sequence with Claire walking into the White House is beautifully done and as she lays down on the sofa in front of her bed it feels like a scene from a classic painting. The symmetry, colours and lighting are all stunning.

Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Lars Mikklesen and Elizabeth Marvel are the standout performers and as much as Frank is a detestable character it was a relief to see Kevin Spacey back at centre stage briefly at the end.

Selling the Fiction of Morally Upright Player

[writetopcat · 8/10 · 4 March 2016]

I am watching episode 45 now and just saw the exchange between Doug Stamper and the Secretary of Health. She sent him an email with a picture of a family. She tells him she wanted him to see the picture of the man and his family who got bumped off the liver recipient list in order for the President to receive a liver. Stamper tells her to delete it off her server and she says she already has done so. But she says, she just wanted him to see the man and the family who got bumped. The family which is now missing their husband and father.

What hit me about the scene is this: any appointee to a position that high would not do that. they would not call the chief of staff to lay a guilt trip on him with their crisis of conscience. If they were of a mind to do that, they would not be in that position, and they certainly would not retain it long. They are all great at rationalizing doing things like that. They don't have crises of conscience like she did. If she were the sort of person to have a crisis of conscience like she did in that scene, she never would have been given that position in the first place.

They wrote it this way in order to sell the idea that politicians really do believe in equality. They want us to believe that there are some up at the top who really believe the crap they tell us they believe. If it were a Republican administration they might not have written that way.

The kid with the gun?

[juan_ice · 8/10 · 29 March 2016]

Who was that kind who took the gun out of the class cabinet? Was that a memory from Frank's past or was it something that happened concurrently?

This series is really messing with your head, and I think it is one of the most dangerous shows on television (after FOX news). Politicians that kill with their own bare hands are now less shocking than betrayal, treason, and blackmail. It is interesting also to see how this affects the political climate and behavior, if at all.

My prediction for the Underwoods is that they will eventually, like all those who are good at being powerful, secure a comfortable retirement in their Gaffney estate, have glowing biographies written about them, just like in real life.

Another decent episode.

[TouchTheGarlicProduction · 6/10 · 4 March 2016]

The season started out with potential, and for the first four, every one was better than the last. After the big climax in the fourth, we've now had two episodes in a row that advance the story and are well made but don't feel eventful. They don't feel hollow in the same way that much of the third season did, but you feel like they're only part of an episode. As a part of the larger story, they're fine, but you don't feel the same sense of fulfilment as you do with other shows, like Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones.

Much like the last episode, it had some very interesting scenes, some more peripheral scenes, and was generally made well. There was a very Hannibalesque hallucination sequence during Frank's surgery. There was a great scene between Claire and Petrov. Stamper had a good dilemma. It's a quality show. The episode just doesn't feel... complete.

"I said you were nothing, in the Oval, without me. It's the other way around"

[TheLittleSongbird · 7/10 · 22 October 2019]

It is the sixth episode of Season 4 and already the season has been an improvement over Season 3. Actually liked Season 3, don't get me wrong, even the more controversial episodes while finding faults with them. Whereas that season was much better in its second half, apart from the last episode not as good as it could have been, this season was never less than very good from the very start, a few reservations aside, and the fourth episode was incredible.

While not considering it a bad episode at all, for me it was pretty decent though patchy, "Chapter 45" was a disappointment compared to the previous two episodes (especially "Chapter 43", the incredible episode referred to) which had more intensity, more going on and felt more consistent. To me, it is one of Season 4's weaker episodes, despite being rated higher than most of the previous ones, and the weakest 'House of Cards' episode since "Chapter 32".

There are many great things. It is a very well made episode, with top-notch production values in particularly the photography providing a lot of unsettlement in the hallucinations. The music complements well without being intrusive and the direction has the right amount of tension when needed while not making things too rushed. The dialogue is taut and is thought-provoking though the cynical edge made more of an impression generally in previous (and some succeeding) episodes. All of the performances are first rate with no exception.

"Chapter 45" does have impressive moments in the story. The Zoe and Russo hallucinatory dream sequence was quite chilling and made for one of the most eerie scenes on the whole of 'House of Cards'. The battle of the titans chemistry between Claire and Petrov provided a good deal of tension, Heather Dunbar is the most interesting she's been in a while and Doug's storyline here is better than any of his material in Season 3, which was still interesting but there is much less of a dragged out feel here. What happens at least advances what happened before in the season, rather than being filler.

However, the story is not always eventful and could have done with more consistent momentum and less of a story with moments of brilliance but didn't always feel complete.

Some of it bordered on silly as well, really didn't buy how such a powerful character who showed frequently before to be even more malevolent and ruthless than Frank (something that one may consider nigh on difficult a feat to achieve) became the weaker one when initially being the dominant one without much warning too easily.

Concluding, decent but not 'House of Cards' or Season 4 at their best. 7/10

Ghosts sequence saves the episode

[helgis-63120 · 7/10 · 15 June 2019]

I don't know what I've found more ridiculous in the script - Russian President "on his knees" afraid of thousands of Russians protesting on the Red Square or POTUS Underwood, Kennedy or whoever not being on the top of the list for the liver transplant... But the scenes with the ghosts of Zoe and Russo rank among the very best in the history of American television, I dare say. The whole ghosts sequence was artsy, poetic and poignant, truly fascinating to watch. And you get the bonus of seeing Kate Mara and Corey Stoll in the series again.

First big downhill in writing

[obaris-49777 · 7/10 · 11 March 2021]

House of cards has been one of the best dramas I have seen so far. Mixing dark psychological triller elements to a solid drama. Even this episode was full of 10/10 moments.

For example Frank's hallucinational dreams were portrayed superbly and the tension towards the meeting in Germany. I was on the edge of my seat seeing Pedrov talking to Claire. And suddenly when I was built up to believe that Claire had zero chance in persuading him, suddenly Pedrov was persuaded by a woman who he despises. The series has had problems in writing before and Claire as a character isn't a failure, not by a long shot. Robin's acting is superb. But the character should be built up to be believable. Claire has been portrayed as an amateur in politics which she is. She made big mistakes in UN but she craves for more power which is very believable. I hate to admit this but I am afraid to see a very good show to fall at least this soon before the last season.

Things Go Beyond Belief

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 8 March 2016]

Claire takes over as President (or so she thinks) and goes to Germany for a summit with Petrov. She has to hustle this up because there's a chance Frank is going to survive. A liver donor has been found and it begins to look good. Now what is going to be interesting is when Claire and Frank meet again. Before the surgery, Frank has more of those startling dreams. Doug works his magic to deny a person who is justified to receive a liver transplant which is his right. Meanwhile, their blackmail continues, as Dunbar is targeted by the Justice Department. Claire squares off with Petrov and he tell her off for her overstepping her bounds. As the episode concludes, two of the most despicable people in the history of film are seen facing each other.

Claire is history's greatest monster!

[mrwb77 · 7/10 · 11 January 2023]

It's an entertaining episode. I just find Claire despicable! Manipulating the acting president, getting involved in government business that she has no right to.

What the Russian president says is totally accurate. Then she puts on the tough girl stance and suddenly he's signing the deal. This story line makes no sense anyway! Russia is a massive oil producer and high prices are great for their finances!

Leaving her husbands death bed and whilst he's having an operation. It's just disgusting. I get they need to do something with her character but come on?

This show generally puts the Democrat's in an awful light. Corrupt, murderous and incompetent! Maybe sub consciously people associated Claire with HRC... Trump V Underwood now that would be a box office season!