House of Cards Season 4 starts abruptly with Lucas Goodwin (Sebastian Arcelus) in prison trying to lure names out of his cellmate about the Armenian mob. He’s working for the government and is released under a new identity on parole. In the first three episodes, his character goes through extreme measures to get face time with Heather Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel), only to be dismissed by the presidential candidate.
As for Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), he’s got his hands full with his election, marriage, and disloyal staff members. Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) is back at Frank’s side, which has left his press secretary Seth Grayson (Derek Cecil) feeling left out. He tells Dunbar’s employee about Claire (Robin Wright) and Frank’s marital spat, which makes headlines while Claire is in Dallas visiting her childhood home.
Claire’s presence in Dallas is not for familial support or a break from politics. In fact, it’s the exact opposite: she wants to run for office in her hometown and hires Leann Harvey (Neve Campbell) to handle her political ambitions. In a mutually beneficial move, Frank and Claire make a statement that addresses rumors about their marriage by outing her mother’s secret cancer diagnosis.
Episodes 1 to 3 show the cat-and-mouse game that Frank and Claire play to get what they want, constantly chipping away at their marriage and ensuring the other fails. Frank obliterates Claire’s ambition for office by publicly backing the daughter of a Civil Rights leader, Celia Jones (LisaGay Hamilton), while Claire has an image of Frank’s father with a KKK member plastered on a billboard in South Carolina.
Seth’s betrayal doesn’t end at leaking information about Frank and Claire’s marital spat — he leaks another troubling image and places the blame on Meechum (Nathan Darrow). Frank doesn’t fall for it and ultimately learns Claire was behind the KKK image leak.
What does she want? To be his partner in marriage and in the campaign. Claire Underwood wants to be on Frank’s presidential ballot as Vice President. She makes a compelling case: they make a formidable team and her approval ratings are higher.
Episode 3 ends with Frank dismissing Claire’s proposal and she tells him that he cannot win without her. Claire’s sharp rise in ambition echoes Season 1, when Frank doesn’t get Secretary of State and eyes the presidency.
Will Frank put Claire on his ballot? Onwards to episode 4!
