We are watching the fourth season of House of Cards, and it’s all about scary Russians. Before that, we watched Blacklist, and it was all about scary Russians. Putin has achieved his most cherished goal. Russians are important, scary, and central to every conversation.
It’s a crazy dumb goal, especially if you need to crash your country’s economy and kill many people to achieve it. But it’s been achieved.
Is season 4 worth it? I don’t like series that drag on forever without substantial development, and after watching the first episode, it seemed like more of the same…
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I’m in the middle of season 3 and I have got to hand it to them. The makers of the series made me feel sorry for the Putin-figure for having to deal with these crazy ass Underwoods who have burned him in public twice for exactly zero political gain.
That’s an accomplishment of sorts…
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I gave up on the series midway through season 2 because I just found it impossible to believe the Underwoods were the only competent sociopaths in this universe who’ve considered the existence of other sociopaths. If we assume a sociopath percentage of 1-4%, and that Congress is like America (big assumptions I know), there’s at least 5-21 sociopaths holding elected office right now.
My father: “It’s so realistic. I’ve learned so much about politics from watching this show.”
Me: “It’s as much of a fantasy and as realistic as The West Wing.”
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I agree, it’s not at all realistic. In 2016 they show Russians punish Americans by refusing to sell oil and gas. As if Saudis didn’t exist and Russians could afford not to sell oil and gas.
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In season 4 it gets even worse! I’m now completely on the side of the Putin fellow. Imagine that!
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Maybe watch Broadchurch. It has no scary Russians in it, but it is about the scary people living in a small town with nothing to do. Then again, it’s about the investigation of a child’s murder, so maybe as a new parent that would be too hard to watch. I found it very difficult myself, and I took a critical/distant approach to it. Anyway – it’s brilliant if you think you can stand watching something like that.
I do like Blacklist an awful lot. Mainly, James Spader has a fantastic character and he plays him so well. House of Cards I can take or leave. I think we’re seven episodes in to season 4 and I don’t really care that much if we finish it. I suppose we will, but I’m not inspired to binge it.
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A conservative literary critic and college professor
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