Ep 5. Chapter 5

Frank Underwood is not a man who takes kindly to setbacks. As Chapter 5 of House of Cards opens, the congressman is still reeling from his humiliating defeat in the previous episode, where his efforts to push through education reform in Congress were thwarted by party leadership. But as ever, Frank is nothing if not resilient, and he quickly begins plotting his next move.

This episode finds Frank and his loyal assistant Doug Stamper on a mission to secure the support of a powerful potential ally: billionaire businessman Raymond Tusk. Tusk, played with dry wit and an air of self-satisfied smugness by Gerald McRaney, is a close confidant of the president and a major financial backer of the Republican party. Frank believes that if he can get Tusk on his side, he can use the businessman's influence to push through his agenda and consolidate his power.

But Tusk proves to be a tough nut to crack. He's happy to take meetings with Frank and listen to his proposals, but he's also cagey and hard to read. Tusk's daughter, who works for him and shares some of her father's calculating nature, is also present at the meeting and provides a prickly presence that Frank has to contend with.

Meanwhile, Frank's wife Claire is also hard at work. She's been trying to get her own pet project, a clean water initiative for military veterans, off the ground, but has been facing resistance from military brass who see it as a waste of resources. In this episode, she continues to pursue the cause, but faces an obstacle when a high-level officer voice his opposition to the proposal in a public setting.

As the episode progresses, Frank's attempt to win over Tusk becomes more and more complicated. He employs various tactics, from schmoozing with the Tusk family at a party to digging up dirt on Tusk's business dealings, but nothing seems to work. The stakes are raised when Tusk proposes a lucrative business deal to the president, which Frank sees as a direct challenge to his own plans.

All of these various threads come together in a tense final scene, where Frank confronts Tusk in his office and lays all his cards on the table. The two men spar verbally, each trying to gain the upper hand, and the result is explosive and unexpected.

This installment of House of Cards further cements the show's status as a must-watch political drama. The tension between Frank and Tusk crackles onscreen, with both Kevin Spacey and Gerald McRaney delivering standout performances. Meanwhile, Robin Wright brings a quiet, steely determination to Claire that makes her just as fascinating a character as her husband. As always, the writing is razor-sharp and the direction stylish and dynamic. This is a show that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and Chapter 5 is no exception.