In general, it's very weird how seemlessly Diane has returned to the LG fold and basically been enabling them, considering she was ready to go to war with them herself like, 10 minutes before she noticed what Alicia was up to.

Yes, but the question is, did the Feds know Will wouldn't talk beforehand? If they didn't (and I'm not sure why the would), they might have recorded anyway, in hopes that he would say something. If he didn't, hey, we still got the video.

Well, a grand jury's only real question to answer is "Are these facts fishy enough to warrant a trial?" That shot of Will and Moody is. Will may very well be able to prove in court that they weren't conspiring, but that's a question for the finder of fact.

Yes, but it wasn't even that far- it was something like "We have to pull out all the stops on Election Day," which 9 people out of 10 wouldn't think anything of, but one Fixer like Moody would take as code.

Yeah, every time I use the "old men whining at each other" line, someone brings up C-SPAN, without mentioning that a vanishingly small amount of people watch C-SPAN for fun. I'm a huge political junkie, and I don't watch it.

Well, it's fine for Doug to not be making a rational decision because he wants to have a Pants Party with Rachel. That happens. But you would think that Frank would be a little more clear-eyed.

To go back to the UK one (probably too much, but whatever), there was certainly an expositional element to the monologues, but it was more about 1) the politician's insatiable desire to make people like him and 2) Urquhart convincing himself that he was doing the right thing. Neither one seems to really fit here,…

"but Spacey doesn’t use them to come on to the audience or win anyone over"

I wonder how much of the holding back was direction. Frankly, the whole movie was kind of somber and restrained, at least for the story of an alien who can fly and shoot eye lasers.

Spacey as Luthor had the biggest consensus among comic book fans this side of Patrick Stewart as Professor X.

I really think the shift was completed last episode in the teaser- Samberg's reading of "What are you talking about, buddy?" was just a perfect straight man execution, but with genuine affection. I think a lot of weaker shows would've 1) used a different line to make Samberg carry the comedy, or 2) Let Samberg read…

Right- and I mean, I don't expect HoC to know all the ins and outs of criminal law, that's not the story its trying to tell. But I do expect the characters to hold on to some basic intelligence, even when it would be easier for the showrunners if they didn't.

Well, of course, those things are opinions, so it's hard to see how they're "just not true". I'm glad you're enjoying it, but as far as Season 2 goes, I think Frank's scheme meandered quite a bit in the middle and was never really clever to begin with, and all of the characters save the Underwoods have seriously…

Not really, and for the same reason showrunners shouldn't emulate it- it's not really compelling drama. Besides, a show that has the Vice President throw a girl in front of a train doesn't really get to use the "Boring, But Accurate" defense.

He's not much more. As much as he was built up as the power behind the throne, he pretty much walks dick first into each and every one of Frank's schemes.

I'm not sure about that- based on the original series and simple plot mechanics, she probably had to either die or take Frank out pretty soon. But I agree with your conclusion. My bigger problem is that the series just became a bunch of old men whining at each other about China.

Yeah! I think that was my big problem with it- there was no suspense, because the outcome was never in doubt.

Or to the AUSA, especially given that the threat of cyber terror would almost certainly quash those confidentiality agreements.

I have a serious problem with how the Lucas story ends. Maybe it's just because it's so bleak, but I honestly think the show has to twist a little too much to make it work. The thing is, Lucas can point the AUSA and his editor right to the hacker, and if someone gets him talking, god only knows what he'd say- but no…

I guess I knew this before, but man, George Lucas defines "funny" in a way that I do not.