Season 3 of House Cards premieres this Friday, Feb. 27th, and if you're like the rest of us you're probably a little fuzzy on the details of last season. And we don't blame you, seeing as the show has almost as many characters as a Russian novel and as many plot twists as a telenovela. So to make sure that your failed memory doesn't squander away this glorious binge-watching opportunity, here's a quick refresher on all the shenanigans that happened in Season 2.
How Season 2 Left Off:
Frank is now President and closes out the last scene by doing his signature double-tap move.
How Did This Happen?
So how did Frank became President anyway? Frank wraps up his long and beautiful scheme by making everyone believe that President Walker was allowing money from China to be funneled into a Democratic Super PAC (foreign campaign donations are illegal). Of course, Walker actually had no idea but is forced to resign under threat of impeachment. Naive and sad as ever, Walker still thinks of Frank as a friend and has no idea that Frank was basically playing the Iago to his Othello.
The Frank vs. Tusk Battle
Frank knows that Raymond Tusk, an influential multi-billionaire businessman, and President Walker are BFFs and he is not too thrilled with that bromance. So when he realizes that Tusk and Xander Fang, a corrupt Chinese businessman, are backchanneling money through casinos, he sees his opening to take down Tusk. And we have to say, out of all the adversaries Frank has faced, Tusk is definitely the strongest contender. A series of boxing matches play out between them, resulting in scandalous photos of Claire being leaked and Frank's favorite BBQ joint being shut down. The long battle ends with Tusk ultimately doing what Frank wants by testifying before a Congressional Committee that Walker knew about the money laundering scheme (which is a lie), resulting in Walker being forced to resign.
Claire Turns A Little Bit More Human
Our favorite Ice Queen who looks better in workout clothes than most people look in ball gowns, got into a lot of controversy this season. It all started when Claire encounters General Dalton McGinnis, a man who raped her in college, at a military awards ceremony. Later on, Claire publicly admits that she had an abortion (which is true), but lies and says it was the result of McGinnis raping her. Consequently, she starts sexual assault legislation and effectively uses Megan Hennessey, a woman who was also assaulted by McGinnis as a means to an end. The combination of Hennessey trying to commit suicide and First Lady Patricia Walker thanking Claire for being such a good friend (remember, Claire helped bring about her husband's downfall), makes Claire contemplate the moral implications of her actions. We even see what looks like regret and guilt pass over her beautifully composed face at the end of the season.
What's The Status On Doug?
Doug Stamper, my favorite character and basically a messed-up version of Leo McGary, is most likely dead. Doug got pretty weird this season when he became obsessed with Rachel and creeped her out by making her read Charles Dickens to him in the car. Rachel, if you need a refresher, is the prostitute that Frank paid to trick Peter Russo in Season 1. Now she's a liability and can possibly be used to link Frank to Russo's death. To keep her under the radar (and to stop Rachel from seeing her new lover) Doug decides to move Rachel to a new location. At this point, Rachel is already weirded out by Doug and attacks him with a rock as she tries to flee. She leaves his body and drives away in his car. Frank has no idea this has happened.
Questions We Have For Next Season
How is that ménage à trois going to play out? Remember Edward Meechum, the bodyguard that Frank and Claire casually had a threesome with? We wonder how that storyline is going to come to a head and if it will be unearthed as a weapon by one of Frank's many enemies.
We're also curious about what Remy Danton and Jackie Sharp will be up to this season. Jackie is Frank's successor as House Whip and Remy is a lobbyist and Frank's former employee. They begin a romantic relationship together in Season 2 and both have a type of frenemy relationship with Frank, to put it simply. But going up against Frank has gotten them nowhere so far. But as two incredibly smart and ruthless people, together they could be a worthy opponent for Frank next season.
