Frank may have dismissed Claire’s (Robin Wright) proposed joint run for the presidency, but episode 4 begins with Frank (Kevin Spacey) talking to Seth Grayson (Derek Cecil and Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) about the logistics of having Claire on the ballot.
The show starts off with Claire and Frank in a battle of the egos, with their staff serving as messengers. After Doug offers Leann Harvey (Neve Campbell) a job, Claire sends a clear message by writing a divorce speech. But that’s not the point of this episode.
While rallying at a university, Frank tells his young supporters that he will go outside and speak to those with opposing views, in order to find out what he can do better. As Frank walks by protestors yelling “Blunderwood,” a gun is shot by what looks like Lucas Goodwin (Sebastian Arcelus) — Frank is hit and Meechum (Nathan Darrow) is dead, but not before firing a killshot at the assailant.
Vice President Blythe (Reed Birney) becomes acting president, while Claire flies back to Washington and her mother speaks bluntly about Frank: “I hope he dies.”
After Claire learns that Lucas was the shooter, she confronts Doug, who tells her that she was the bigger threat at the time. Doug requests Claire’s help convincing the Vice President about Russia-related dealings. Claire meets with Blythe and works with him to land the plane in China.
This move by Claire shows that while she’s clearly affected by Frank’s existing state, she’s not beyond letting her thoughts be heard. Was she simply helping Blythe? Does she have an agenda in making Blythe change Frank’s strategy? Or is there a bigger strategy at play?
