House of Cards — Series 6: Episode 8/Chapter 73/Finale — The Review

13th January, 2019.

OK … you’ve possibly guessed that I like showing off, haven’t you … ?

You haven’t … ?

Well, OK, here’s a statement …

I like looking more capable than I am.

Which can be nightmarish: especially playing backgammon.

I’m OK at the game.

But do try and show off, playing what’s called a back game … is where I usually trip up … 

I’ve long since learnt to shut up about computers: there’s WAY more knowledgeable people out there than me.

Although, saying that … ?

I’ve long like showing off what I CAN do with my favourite operating system.

Granted, I’m not going to developing, or compile — build — software.

But, if nothing else?

I know how to use the Terminal to erase awkward files.

AND know how to hook two Macs up to the same router, logging into, and operating, one from the other.

Damn if I could explain it, though … 

But at least I can do it.

So that, in this case?

I can wipe an external hard drive, with my MacPro: the older model observant will see behind me.

And get on with doing what I’m doing on my main iMac.

Thankfully?   I’ve enough on my electricity metre to keep this lot going, for now.



And plenty of ventilation.

Otherwise … ?

Otherwise, police helicopters, the oh-so-wonderful ones with infrared sensors?

Would be wondering exactly what I’m growing in a one bedroom flat!

~≈¥≈~

At any rate, that’s not what I was going to tell you about.

No.

Nope.

I’ve been watching telly, again … 

Yep: I’ve caught the last episode of series six of House of Cards.

The last one of the entire series.

That’s something of a git … 

I want to see how Clear Hale-Underwood gets out of this … 

~≈¥≈~

Episode 8 — Chapter 73 — opens with President Hale (Robin Wright) — as the former President Underwood is now styling herself — announcing a new era of government transparency … 

Whilst siblings Bill and Annette Shepherd (Greg Kinnear and Diane Lane) vie with each other for control of the family fortune, they both agree that Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) … is their man in the White House.

The pair hope the unstable former Chief of Staff could do anything: especially as it seems he killed Frank Underwood.

To a vulnerable President, several months pregnant …

Little realising this President … has a nasty side … 

A nasty side that sees Claire Hale-Underwood fatally stabbing Doug Stamper to death: in the Oval Office, itself: and, right at the end of the episode … ?

Staring at the camera — at us — as the camera fades to. Black on quite an episode.

~≈¥≈~

Now … 

I’ll make a confession, if I may?

Chapter 73 was a very good conclusion to both this last ever season of House of Cards … and to the show itself.

About my only complaint?

Is possibly the obvious: that the show would have ended very differently, had Kevin Spacey not

ended up in a sexual scandal.

I get the impression that it would’ve been Frank Underwood on the floor of the Oval Office, rather than Doug Stamper.

Which is what happens in the original UK version of the show: Frances Urquhart kills Stamper, then gets killed by his wife, Elizabeth: at least on her orders.

That’s what annoys me about the Spacey affair: he’s ruined a good TV show, being involved in a scandal*.

Combine that?   With one or two patchy episodes, this season … ?

And the show has gone out sparkling: rather than being the full on fire works display it could have been.

Equally, though … ?



The cast, crew and writers have done a very good job, over all … 



And, although I know the US version of the series is following — very broadly! — the UK version, I have to admit … 

I’d like to see more: I’d like to see how Claire Underwood gets out of this …

*        Although, obviously, my sympathies are with those who he’s assaulted.