Season 1 was not the best season of 'House of Cards', and didn't see quite the show at its very best. There was a slight sense of finding its feet (understandable, most shows do when they first start), but all the episodes were still exceptionally well made, well acted with sharp writing, compelling storytelling that advanced all the time and had tension and emotion and the characterisation likewise.
Even if Season 1 was not 'House of Cards' at its very best and even better was to follow, all the episodes in the season were good to great (outstanding in the case of the previous episode, with the only disappointment being "Chapter 8", which was still good) and it was back when the show was great and not feeling like a completely different show. "Chapter 12" is another very good episode of the season, of which it is the penultimate episode, and the show. Compared to the outstanding previous episode it was a little disappointing but only in comparison, not because it was bad.
Allen Coulter directed this episode and the season's final episode "Chapter 13". This episode may not be the best-directed episode of the season, or of the show, but Coulter still acquits himself very well. Maybe not as cinematic as some of the previous or even the succeeding episodes or as dimensional, but the episode was clearly directed by somebody with a sure hand and that knew what he was doing.
"Chapter 12" does lack the emotion of the previous episode and didn't wrench the gut as much, something that set "Chapter 11" apart from all the previous episodes as it was the first episode of the season and show to properly do that for me. This episode not having as much of that is the main reason for it being a slight disappointment.
The reason for saying that it was slightly disappointing and not hugely is because everything else is done brilliantly. Visually, as ever "Chapter 12" looks slick and stylish, with lots of atmosphere and no trouble with cohesion, so there is nothing to complain about on that front. The music knew when to have presence and when to tone things down to let the dialogue and characters properly speak, with again some very clever sound quality.
Once again, there is plenty of sharpness, bite and probing thought in the writing. Again, Frank has the best lines but absolutely love in this episode the very meaning of blistering exchanges between him and Tusk. The story always engrosses and even though the pace is deliberate it never feels dull. Really love that things feel like the storytelling is advancing rather than going backwards or not moving at all. Likewise with the characters, have always found Frank fascinating, Claire gets meatier with each episode and Zoe is back to being interesting. Gillian gets her meatiest material yet with an edge of the seat confrontation with Claire and Tusk's interaction with Frank is a writing highlight. Have always loved too the character interaction. The acting never fails to be strong, with superb turns from Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright especially.
In conclusion, very good. 8/10
