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In case you actually have a life and didn't spend your entire weekend stuck to your television set binge-watching season 4 of House of Cards, the information about what happens to everyone's favorite Machiavellian politician is now out there. The new season of Frank Underwood's shenanigans had the show returning to form after bland season 3 -- and here are 7 highlights, with spoilers!
1. Claire and Frank Battling Each Other
By the end of season 3, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) left the White House after realizing her husband, Frank (Kevin Spacey) wasn't including her in his government plans. The new season starts with Claire firmly standing her ground to become her own woman in U.S. politics, including her attempt at getting a Congress seat.
In the meantime, a hurt Frank tries to stop her in every step of the way, and she returns the favor in kind. Frank supports another candidate for the Congress seat Claire wants and she publicizes a photo of his father in KKK attire. The back and forth between them is amazing, as the two know each other better than anyone else in the world, so they know how to destroy the other.
Sure, it's unhealthy, but it's also great television.
2. The Assassination Attempt
Taking a leaf off Scandal's book, Frank Underwood is the victim of an assassination attempt during this season. Lucas Goodwin (Sebastian Arcelus), who was investigating Frank's reign of terror until he was locked up on a made-up account of cyberterrorism a couple of seasons, is released from prison under the witness protection program; he tries to get everyone on board with the fact that Underwood's an evil murderer, but nobody believes him.
His answer? Lucas takes a shot at Frank during a campaign event, leaving his liver half destroyed and killing Edward Meechum (Nathan Darrow) in the process.
3. Frank's Hallucinations
After the attempt on his life, Frank's bed-ridden and on the edge of death for weeks, never waking up. The meds make him hallucinate with everything he's done to reach the Oval Office, and that includes not only his many issues with Claire, but also his past victims.
In numerous scenes throughout Frank's convalescence, he sees Peter Russo (Corey Stoll) and Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), the two people he's killed to get ahead since the show started. There's even a creepy threesome-like scene, though it's nothing like the one between Frank, Claire and Meechum.
4. Frank and Claire Reconcile
When Frank's bed-ridden, Claire takes the time to solve an international conflict of Russian proportions, giving room to Netflix's own Vladimir Putin, Viktor Petrov (Lars Mikkelsen). She basically manages to solve a worldwide energetic crisis and, once Frank wakes up, he's grateful and asks her to get back with him.
Things have changed, however: they no longer work together to get Frank into places, she's got to be in positions of power as well. Through their usual ruses, they even manage to get Claire on the Democratic ticket as Frank's VP.
5. The Conways
Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman) is the Republican candidate for President, and therefore Frank's most direct rival once Claire rejoins his team. A handsome, pro-gun veteran and Governor of New York, Conway's a perfect candidate, and he has a beautiful wife, Hannah (Dominique McElligott) and two adorable children.
They're that couple you sort of hate for being so perfect, really.
However, once the show gets a bit closer to them, it becomes clear that they're fairly ruthless playing politics. Though younger and with a different profile than the Underwoods, they're the most similar thing to them we've seen so far: a power couple in the making.
Could they become the next Frank and Claire in the years to come? Will, a narcissist, certainly seems to have a bit of the Machiavellian flair that makes Frank who he is. We'll have to wait and see.
6. The Metaphorical House of Cards Begins to Crumble
Yes, House of Cards is a great show, but considering how much damage Frank has left on his way to success and how many people's lives he's ruined, it's absurd that he's gotten off this easily. This begins to change in season 4.
Throughout the whole season, Tom Hammerschmidt (Boris McGiver), Zoe Barnes' former boss, collected information regarding the rise of Frank Underwood. Some of his biggest enemies came out to testify against him, including Jackie Sharp (Molly Parker) and Remy Danton (Mahershala Ali) as well as former President Garrett Walker (Michael Gill).
Finally, on the last episode of the season, an exposé on the Underwoods comes out in what seems to be the end of this powerful and terrifying couple and House of Cards' version of Breaking Bad's iconic episode "Ozymandias," where the evil idol falls on the weight of his sins.
Frank and Claire won't go down as easily, though.
7. Claire Acknowledges the Camera
Many have gotten annoyed of Frank Underwood breaking the fourth wall time and again, but he's the only character who ever does that on the show (and on Netflix's defense, he does it so much less now). His wife and literal partner in crime, Claire, is probably among the hardest-to-read characters on television history, so she's not one to share her thoughts into the camera.
However, in the very last shot of season 4, Frank talks to the camera, saying they won't give up on the Oval ... and Claire stares into the camera as well, acknowledging its presence for the first time.
It's a truly chilling moment, comparable only to that first time Frank stood over the Oval Office and tapped his ring twice on the Resolute desk at the end of season 2.
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