House of Cards - Volume Four

A solid new crop of guest stars populates the fourth season of Netflix's "House of Cards" but then slowly fade into the background in subsequent episodes as pudgy, potbellied President Francis (what his wife calls him) "Frank" (what everybody else calls him) Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright, who is a series producer and directs several episodes) increase their Macbethian machinations within the White House.

This season, shot around Baltimore, has the country experience a gas crisis, a new terrorist threat from ISIS-esque ICO, the Islamic Caliphate Organization, and has the Underwoods face off with telegenic and social media-savvy Republican presidential nominee and New York Governor Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman).

Neve Campbell as Texas-based political consultant LeAnn Harvey is as shrewd and smartly dressed (stiletto city) as the first lady (whose tight, neutral-toned wardrobe is designed by Kemal Harris). Cecily Tyson is Doris Johnson, a retiring Congresswoman from Claire's home state of Texas. Ellen Burstyn has a strong turn as Claire's estranged and terminally ill mother Elizabeth Hale, knocking about the mansion on their family farm when her daughter returns as a carpetbagger.

"This house is just a hotel to you," mom says to Claire, reminding her daughter of her lifelong hatred for Frank, the "white trash that lives in the White House." But Claire counters that, "Texans are tenacious."

Real-life television anchors continue to add pseudo-credibility to the often-implausible situations, including Juan Williams and Gretchen Carlson (who has just filed real-life suit against FOX Network CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment -- perhaps she should include Frank as well?), plus excellent, natural work by Wolf Blitzer (his CNN channel is featured frequently). Gwen Ifill of PBS's "Washington Week" is also a credible actor moderating the (SPOILER!) first ever simultaneous presidential and vice presidential debate.

The season opening is a literal grabber -- a prisoner masturbating to journalist Lucas Goodwin's (Sebastian Arcelus) verbal porn.

"Damn you're good with words," the satisfied con says. He will be less on target at other skills later, too (NO SPOILER).

But several characters aren't so good with emotions. It's a monotone, grump-off between Claire and Chief of Staff Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly), each maintaining a static, seething yet quiet rage in each encounter and scene. Derek Cecil as Director of Communications Seth Grayson is more successful at the nuances of controlled public communicator and occasionally more bombastic human under pressure off-camera. The motley crew of emotional victims stumbles through the season and campaign.

(SEMI SPOILER) Claire reminds Francis that, "I've always been your running mate."

He replies with typical bombastic hyperbole: "I've been trying to win over people's hearts. We will now work with fear."

"Not escalation, obliteration."

He adds, "We don't submit to terror. We make the terror."

The four-disc set contains season four's 13 chapters, episodes 40-52, but no Blu-ray extras. Perhaps the producers are as tired as the Underwoods, or creator Beau Willimon, who will step away from series for its fifth scheduled season.

"House of Cards: The Complete Fourth Season"
Blu-ray Set
$34.99
https://www.netflix.com/title/70178217