House of Cards (2013)

:

Season 5
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 1, 2013
Season #: 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 222 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 121 out of 222
  2. Mixed: 47 out of 222
  3. Negative: 54 out of 222
Watch Now

Where To Watch

Stream On
Stream On

Review this tv show

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling

User Reviews

view
per page
  1. wakeboardjake
    Jun 1, 2017
    2
    It hurts me to give a negative review to a show I've loved for years. But this season was distasteful and wretchedly boring. Couple good instances get muddied with overdrawn monologues that seemingly go forever with no real point. And the ending... wow... well in my opinion it lacked everything that characterized this show for it's four past seasons. So disappointing...
  2. NotAmerican
    May 31, 2017
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I wrote that rapidly, I hope you appreciate nonetheless.

    A FEW SPOILERS! Nothing big.

    If you thought season 3 and 4 were disastrous, season 5 will make you want to commit seppuku.
    Where to start is the real question... The plot perhaps, or the characters, or the general story ? I don't know. It feels to me nothing was executed correctly. And it probably wasn't planned correctly either by the looks of it.

    Let's get this stuff done quickly. Destroying this monstruosity will not be a grave problem. We'll start with the orchestra of characters, and I do not say this lightly; there are way too many characters. Half of them female replicates of the male characters. By which I mean, if there's a male that plays both sides, you are bound to find a female that plays both sides. I don't remember their names even though I watched the 13 episodes today. They are terribly boring. I found myself carving things in the corner of my keyboard with a swiss knife for 3/4 of an episode.

    Let's jump on the plot. Oh dear lord, what an epic failure. If you asked me to resume that trainwreck to you, I wouldn't know where to start. There also it looks as if they tried to fit 3 seasons into one. There is 4 presidential swearing-ins in this season just so you get an estimation of size of the crash.

    There's at least a dozen sub-plots, for 13 episodes mind you, and 3-4 main plots. Plots that end nowhere. Conway, the Republican just disappears into thin air. The old journalist investigates Zoe Barnes to no avail. The audience already knowing what happened to Zoe and it renders this plot useless and not interesting to watch. And it's that for the entire season. There's no end. Frankly, I don't even know how long the 13 episode last in the story's timeline.. 4 months, 2 years. I have no clue.

    One part that particularly irritated me was the irrealistic portrayal of international affairs. I am willing to accept the incredible armor plot around Francis becoming President so easily, but seriously, in the portrayal of international politics, there is no reason to write it with this level of retardation. Maybe they should've spared a dollar in costume and hired a geopolitician to reinforce the international politics aspect of things. Seriously, to me, it seems the writers filled their script with stuff they heard on CNN. By the way, real news people doing interviews with fake characters for TV is a growing, and worrying trend.

    Next step: the cynicism. I won't waste a lot of lines on the portrayal of the "Russian president who isn't Vladimir Putin because he has a beard now." One more caricature and he would be eating caviar while sleeping with whores in a bath filled with vodka. Francis or Claire, or Putin with a beard don't do things because they believe in them - NO ! - they do things because it serves their sociopathic egos. Only american pessimism can create such flawed characters. There's no point in watching a show where everyone is Machiavelli. All they want is the big chair and they're willing to do anything to get the big chair, so what happens ? They all do the same things.

    Gynocracy. Do I need to say more ? It's her turn, now, boys! Let Claire be the sociopathic President, it's only fair ! One thing came constantly to mind: "Go back to the Kitchen." How Francis is capable of **** his way to the presidency and how he becomes a literal cuckold gay man once he's finally at the top is beyond me. They finally transfer at the end of season 5. Claire becomes the main character and frankly, I couldn't care less.
    Breaking Bad with Skyler making the meth. That's how it feels now.    … Expand
  3. max1c
    Jun 1, 2017
    3
    I have never been more disappointed in anything this much in my life. This was literally the worst thing I have watched in my life. Specifically the ending. This show used to be the epitome of beautiful writing, acting, composition, and elegance. Now, it is all ruined.
  4. NikolayG
    Jun 9, 2017
    0
    Horrendous. A great show comes crashing down in Season 5. It goes in too many directions, unfocused - there's this leak and that leak; threads start only to be dropped - there's the opposing candidate whose story just gets dropped - and then, in the final episode, the BIG secret comes out and it is so preposterously stupid that it absolutely destroys the show, it goes against character soHorrendous. A great show comes crashing down in Season 5. It goes in too many directions, unfocused - there's this leak and that leak; threads start only to be dropped - there's the opposing candidate whose story just gets dropped - and then, in the final episode, the BIG secret comes out and it is so preposterously stupid that it absolutely destroys the show, it goes against character so completely that you can't believe in Frank Underwood as a character any longer. What a waste of time!

    For the past few years TV has been better than the movies, but I notice that lately that trend has come to a screeching halt. Now basically everything stinks. The only things that are done well - for what they are on their own terms - are big action or super hero movies in the theater. Dramas - political or otherwise - are basically down the toilet.    … Expand
  5. mintlo
    Jun 4, 2017
    0
    This show jumped the shark after season 2. I prefer the British version of the show - they wrapped it up nicely in 3 seasons. This show couldn't even stay good as long as Dexter did. Perhaps we'll see President Underwood move to Montana and become a lumberjack.
  6. sylvain_rivier
    Jul 7, 2017
    0
    I liked a lot the 4 first season, I cannot even finish the 5th. Boring, boring, boring. The magic is broken.
    This tv show is lasting way too much, the should have stopped before it's too late.
    I have 2-3 episodes to watch to complete 5th season, I'm not even sure I will.

    R.I.P. House of Cards
  7. dave89791
    Sep 1, 2017
    3
    Confusing, silly, boring - I should have looked here before getting into season 5 - my mistake

    Definitely the weakest season of the series - only if the next one gets good reviews here will I consider watching it

    That said, I'd still take having FU in charge than DT...
  8. streetspirit
    Jun 11, 2017
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A once good show has literally jumped the shark.

    SPOILERS

    We waste ten episodes on a drawn out election which will literally test your patience. And then all of a sudden, the characters disappear.

    Frank pushes the Secretary of State down the stairs and that's it. It's never mentioned again. Is she dead? In a coma? Has anyone thought of investigating what happened to her?

    And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Claire poisons Tom, screws him and watches him die with him inside her.

    There's a bunch of other characters doing horrible things but you'll be too confused about their motivation to care. They're all just as corrupt as Frank and Claire.

    Don't get me wrong, parts of it are very watchable, but it should do considering its huge budget. Do not think for one moment that this equals quality.

    The show will return but they really ought to wrap it all up with one more season. A huge disappointment.    … Expand
  9. sr4151_
    Jun 5, 2017
    6
    Having only watched half of the season, I am bored. Maybe if this were the second season, it would get higher reviews. The problem is... the writing has deteriorated and the show seems to have no direction. We have seen the Underwoods move all the way up the ladder. Now, we are supposed to be afraid of them losing their power... But, that just doesn't feel very real after what we have seenHaving only watched half of the season, I am bored. Maybe if this were the second season, it would get higher reviews. The problem is... the writing has deteriorated and the show seems to have no direction. We have seen the Underwoods move all the way up the ladder. Now, we are supposed to be afraid of them losing their power... But, that just doesn't feel very real after what we have seen them pull off before (e.g. killing multiple people and getting away with it). Other characters are just not very well developed (except a few like Doug and Leanne). Since this isn't season 2, but season 5, I just can't stand watching more of the same (especially, when there are so many better, fresher shows out there).
    *Will edit when and if I finish watching this season...    … Expand
  10. Rajiwo
    Jul 15, 2017
    4
    After a surprisingly disappointing third season and a failed attempt to come back in the fourth, House of Cards ended up being its own cartoon. It lost all of its charm: the seriousness, the revelations, the writing, the coherent characters, and its biggest asset, its credibility.
    Season five is more 'watchable' than the previous two, but it became a more of a HoC comic rather than what    After a surprisingly disappointing third season and a failed attempt to come back in the fourth, House of Cards ended up being its own cartoon. It lost all of its charm: the seriousness, the revelations, the writing, the coherent characters, and its biggest asset, its credibility.
    Season five is more 'watchable' than the previous two, but it became a more of a HoC comic rather than what we all loved. Writers were more interested in staying out of America's political debate, by making Frank a character beyond good and evil, than to stay true to the show's essence.
    I got to the point to which I'm just watching to know how it ends. That makes it more better than a 3, but can't get it much further.
    Farewell.    … Expand
  11. kjatafoxhound
    Jun 25, 2017
    2
    La razón de ser de esta serie era ver al gran Kevin Spacey hablando a cámara y haciendo de todo para lograr más poder mientras nos contaba como se regodeaba en su crapulencia y lo listo que era.

    Primero se cargaron los monólogos a cámara casi por completo durante varias temporadas. Luego se perdieron en narrativas absurdas sin peso. Luego incluso le restaron importancia al protagonista    La razón de ser de esta serie era ver al gran Kevin Spacey hablando a cámara y haciendo de todo para lograr más poder mientras nos contaba como se regodeaba en su crapulencia y lo listo que era.

    Primero se cargaron los monólogos a cámara casi por completo durante varias temporadas.
    Luego se perdieron en narrativas absurdas sin peso. Luego incluso le restaron importancia al protagonista de la serie y pretendieron hacer un dueto (no me interesa Claire con su eterna cara de víbora malfo...) Hacia el final de esta temporada han dado otro bandazo absurdo y da la impresión de que no tienen ni idea de cómo seguir. Me temo un desenlace estúpido a más no poder.
    Mi puntuación va por traicionar los propios pilares de la serie. Me parece de muy mal gusto.    … Expand
  12. Ededed
    Nov 4, 2017
    3
    I give this a three because it was interesting at the beginning. Seasons 3 and 4 deserve a goose egg and 5 gets a 2 just because Clair seems to be able to advance her own agenda now. The British version of this show only lasted 3 seasons and the padding added to this US version pales as compared to the original. Hope they finally get to the end game in the next season because my attentionI give this a three because it was interesting at the beginning. Seasons 3 and 4 deserve a goose egg and 5 gets a 2 just because Clair seems to be able to advance her own agenda now. The British version of this show only lasted 3 seasons and the padding added to this US version pales as compared to the original. Hope they finally get to the end game in the next season because my attention to these broken and increasingly unbelievable characters will not last much longer.

    Addendum - Netflix just announced season 6 will be the last. Seems my opinion was also shared by others and they are pulling the plug (3 seasons too late).

    A day later Netflix has suspended production on this show. Maybe it’s all for the best, but it’d been nice to see their version of the end game and see if America wised up and threw these nasty people in jail. It is alleged Spacey created a toxic work environment on the set. Tired of spoiled actors who talk a pc game but are among the most perverted people on the planet. Not surprised as this has been going on for decades without any attention until now. How does it feel to be held to the same pc standard as the rest of us?    … Expand
  13. JPenguinEsq
    Jun 8, 2017
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It was so so bad. I was looking forward to watching it for weeks. It jumped the shark about 5 times in the last few episodes with killing people off, and I was just hate-watching it by the end just to get through it..

    I agree with some of the other viewers about "what were the actors thinking?" They're intelligent - couldn't they see how lame the scripts were?

    It was so stupid.
    He pushes his Secretary of the State down the stairs....ok...so what happened to her? Did she die? Does she have a broken neck? Is she in a coma? Amnesia? A sprained ankle?

    We don't know because they just blew it off. President physically assaults his secretary of state who's about to testify against him....and they literally just leave that thread hanging and it's never brought up again.

    Then Claire. The annoying ice queen.

    So, in the last three episodes: they kill off Tom, Lela, the secretary of state (maybe), the gay personal trainer who for some reason gets maniacally obsessed with Frank......am i missing anyone?

    It started out promising. It became almost a spoof of itself at the end it was so awful. Trying to recapture that excitement from the Zoe Barnes murder episode but failing miserably over and over and over again.

    Was so bad I could care less if it comes back for a sixth season.

    The writers did a really lazy hack job on a pretty great show...    … Expand
  14. Jgo77
    Jun 6, 2017
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I have enjoyed most of this show however season 5 was such a waste. They basically blew off the article left at the end of season 4 then wasted the first 8 episodes on Conway losing the election when that could have been solved in 1 or 2 episodes. There were also too many characters and some were just a waste of time. Also I know its tv but the show became increasingly unrealistic.… Expand
  15. sunzoomspark
    Jun 4, 2017
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Mild spoilers may follow.

    First, in regards to the previous seasons: I thought seasons 1 and 2 were quite well done, 3 dipped in quality and 4 was somewhat better but both were still fairly decent. I'm not very judgmental about TV seasons dipping in quality from the first ones because I come to expect it - as long as the next seasons keep up in some way, I'm alright with it.

    That said, this season of House of Cards was pretty miserable and a noticeable decline in quality. Character development was really absurd and dull, the subplots go nowhere, the main plot's final twist was so stupidly orchestrated you wonder why you ever thought Frank was intelligent. Frank and Clair's political advancement/rise in power this season pretty much relies on having a lot of blind trust from allies, receiving convenient dirt on their enemies, and pulling off murders as if the threat of being caught did not exist.

    For whatever reason, the suspense of the Underwoods falling from grace is pretty nonexistent in this season, but the reasons that they're able to get away with their dirty play has become baffling. The republican ticket is taken down by a couple of hot-headed audio clips, which is nothing compared to what the Underwoods have on their plate. No longer do the Underwoods seem all that cunning so much as everyone around them seems idiotic or hopelessly devoted (with the exception of Doug Stamper, this is pretty baffling).

    I liked this show because it was fun watching Frank (and Clair) tenaciously and wittily claw their way to the top against formidable odds, but this season settles for a bunch of cheap plot points to keep them there. The last 5 minutes of the final episode were probably the best 5 minutes of the whole season simply because I think that was where the show logically should have ended up, but the ends very much do not justify the means in this case. This series is unfortunately showing that it's being dragged out far too long.    … Expand
  16. chidime
    Jun 1, 2017
    5
    What a shame. It's really sad that this great TV show has become such a convoluted mess. This was one of the most disjointed seasons of anything I've ever watched. Maybe the new showrunners thought the gaps in story-telling would work as a cinematic artform but it just made the entire show confusing as hell. Instead of genius, it left the story filled with plotholes. Then there were theWhat a shame. It's really sad that this great TV show has become such a convoluted mess. This was one of the most disjointed seasons of anything I've ever watched. Maybe the new showrunners thought the gaps in story-telling would work as a cinematic artform but it just made the entire show confusing as hell. Instead of genius, it left the story filled with plotholes. Then there were the lazy storylines. I'm still left trying to understand how a person would become comatose from being pushed to the floor. Then there was the buildup to nothing: After Claire and Frank had promised to reign chaos on the country and after their proclamation of the WH being 'their house' the best the show could come up with was taking the election to Congress. I think the new showrunners need to be fired. They have shown they cannot handle this show and the direction they seem to be trying to take it just isn't working. When the show isn't slow, it's disjointed. And when it's not disjointed, it's confusing and teeming with plotholes. I hope they get back to basics next season cos this was such a disappointment.

    5/10    … Expand
  17. Jacketrooper
    Jun 4, 2017
    0
    The show is a parody of itself now. There's nothing new or interesting happening this season you wouldn't be able to guess in seconds. Writing is like a soap opera now thanks to talented people leaving the show. HoC is mostly the **** Netflix peddles to developing countries now for some quick cash. Masses outside U.S China, Russia or Turkey loves this crap up because they cannot tell theThe show is a parody of itself now. There's nothing new or interesting happening this season you wouldn't be able to guess in seconds. Writing is like a soap opera now thanks to talented people leaving the show. HoC is mostly the **** Netflix peddles to developing countries now for some quick cash. Masses outside U.S China, Russia or Turkey loves this crap up because they cannot tell the difference of quality of material and they're the bandwagon that drives the show now: international viewers because they heard about it later and idiots.

    Watch at your own peril. You have been warned.    … Expand
  18. familyguy
    Jun 16, 2017
    2
    The worst season so far, full of loophole and unnecessary plot. Time jump just make audience more confusing about the story. A lot of scene wont have enough time to explain what Fran's plant is about. And for god sake enough with feminist already it just make the show more stupid
  19. ishadow
    May 30, 2017
    5
    This review will be short, because it's hard to write anything about it without spoilers.
    First 4 season are great or at least good at times.
    Fifth season is a mess. It starts rather good, but it's downhill from that. - Plot is chaotic, - character actions are illogical and plain stupid at times, - There's no brilliance the show once had. - There's just too many loopholes in the    This review will be short, because it's hard to write anything about it without spoilers.
    First 4 season are great or at least good at times.
    Fifth season is a mess. It starts rather good, but it's downhill from that.
    - Plot is chaotic,
    - character actions are illogical and plain stupid at times,
    - There's no brilliance the show once had.
    - There's just too many loopholes in the plot,
    - Too many characters are seen this season,
    - Old characters aren't developed,
    - New characters are boring,

    The main flow is that show can't focus on anything. It just jumps to new problem without resolving old ones in satisfactory way.

    I still have 3 episodes left, but I just don't have strength to watch it now, and I don't know if I still want to. I'm pretty much bored with this show.
    And it's really a shame that once great series got such a bad fifth season.

    Where was quality control? What actors were thinking? I just don't believe that Kevin Spacey was OK with everything he had to do in this season. Or he just didn't care anymore? Probably the latter, I pretty much don't care anymore. If there will be 6th season, I won't get Netflix subscription just to watch it, like I did for this season.

    Well, this review is actually pointless. If you're a fan, you will watch it anyway. If you don't watched House of Cards yet, you should at least watch brilliant first seasons.

    I'm just really disappointed.    … Expand
  20. Iserlohn14
    Jun 3, 2017
    0
    A chilling story of how a repulsive, criminal woman, whose equally vile husband is a former President, manages to lie and scheme her way into office. Thank goodness here in reality we live in a timeline that escaped this fate!
  21. joeyjojo
    Jun 4, 2017
    10
    I don't understand all of the negative reviews for this show! I've been watching the series since day one and this season rivals the first and second in terms of quality and substance. By the end of the season you'll be on the edge of your seat wondering who's working for who or who will turn on Frank next. The fact that this season limited the Russian influence and tastefully alludes toI don't understand all of the negative reviews for this show! I've been watching the series since day one and this season rivals the first and second in terms of quality and substance. By the end of the season you'll be on the edge of your seat wondering who's working for who or who will turn on Frank next. The fact that this season limited the Russian influence and tastefully alludes to certain modern political events makes this a very strong 13 episodes and I highly recommend fans of the show to continue watching and for newcomers to start from the beginning and enjoy the turmoil that is the Underwood path to power.… Expand
  22. GoldenAgeOfTele
    May 30, 2017
    9
    This season of House of Cards is possibly my favorite (10 episodes in so far).
    Is it based in a believable reality? No, not particularly. As usual, the Underwoods are consistently streets ahead of their incompetent colleagues and challengers; each one too eager to turn tail once Frank's southern drawl turns to a bulldog growl, giving Spacey plenty of opportunities for 4th wall breaks    This season of House of Cards is possibly my favorite (10 episodes in so far).
    Is it based in a believable reality? No, not particularly. As usual, the Underwoods are consistently streets ahead of their incompetent colleagues and challengers; each one too eager to turn tail once Frank's southern drawl turns to a bulldog growl, giving Spacey plenty of opportunities for 4th wall breaks dripping with arrogance, condescension, and sarcasm.

    In season 5, House of Cards has realized its best incarnation: a cruel, spiteful, lecherous, self-righteous, unapologetic soap set against a political backdrop. If you revel in seeing soulless monsters crush their lessers with a wry smile and a firm handshake, if you find a certain schadenfreude in watching villains succeed and succeed constantly, or if you just need to vicariously feed your personal megalomania, this season will not disappoint. However, if you live in a sunshine and rainbows utopia where everybody gets a trophy, no voice goes uncoddled, and any disagreement can be won with uncompromising indignancy: feel free to enjoy Master of None instead.    … Expand
  23. Prosmooth
    Jun 3, 2017
    5
    The entire thing just feels silly now. So does real life in America in 2017 though. I'm not sure if this is the dumbest and soapiest House of Cards season ever--or its most brilliant. So, I'm giving it a 5 down the middle. I rolled my eyes and laughed a lot during the season--but I do the same thing every morning when Kim Jong Orange decides to tweet something stupid to the planet. It'sThe entire thing just feels silly now. So does real life in America in 2017 though. I'm not sure if this is the dumbest and soapiest House of Cards season ever--or its most brilliant. So, I'm giving it a 5 down the middle. I rolled my eyes and laughed a lot during the season--but I do the same thing every morning when Kim Jong Orange decides to tweet something stupid to the planet. It's fun to watch, I give it that.… Expand
  24. jim_taltontish
    Jun 29, 2017
    8
    Loved the first three seasons, hated season four, but this was a huge improvement over last season. Not sure where the hate is coming from, and I was about to give up on this show after the boring Stamper storyline last year. The season finale was unpredictable and satisfying. Chaos reigns and deception prevails. The chess is back. Bring on season six, please!
  25. JorgeLestre
    Jun 6, 2017
    8
    House of Cards is still smart and the best at its game but the thing is... until when will the Underwood's get away with everything? We don't want the formula getting repetitive here!
  26. CharlieBrown8
    Jun 6, 2017
    10
    I don't get the negative reviews. This season is as strong as the first one, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The acting and storytelling is superb, and the fact that it gets a bit darker and even more cynical this time around only underscores its relevance. This is what "political science" fiction has to look like!
  27. alejandro970
    Jul 30, 2017
    8
    For some reason this season is not as absorbing as previous ones., altough the dose of intrigue of last chapters makes it worth the effort and develops expectations for another season.
  28. Felindie
    Jul 15, 2019
    7
    Season five is good in general, but it's clear that at this point is hard to make the plot believable.
  29. Ripandread
    Feb 16, 2018
    2
    Sorry for the “thumbs down” review but “House of Cards” hasn’t been the same since Season # 3.

    What started out as an excellently written and acted show now features so many sub-plot lines that it reminds me of a cheesy soap opera. Now that Kevin Spacey has been fired from the show because of claims of inappropriate sexual misbehavior, "House of Cards" should be cancelled altogether.    Sorry for the “thumbs down” review but “House of Cards” hasn’t been the same since Season # 3.

    What started out as an excellently written and acted show now features so many sub-plot lines that it reminds me of a cheesy soap opera. Now that Kevin Spacey has been fired from the show because of claims of inappropriate sexual misbehavior, "House of Cards" should be cancelled altogether. Yet the producers plan to air another season featuring Robin Wright as the lead. Let's see how that plays out.

    It seems that when Zoe Barnes was pushed in front of a speeding train, several of the shows more creative writers went with her.

    Perhaps it is time Netflix pulls the plug on this show after Season #6.    … Expand
  30. SrPepe
    Mar 3, 2018
    7
    Por alguna razón, esta temporada no es tan absorbente como las anteriores, aunque la dosis de intriga de los últimos capítulos hace que valga la pena el esfuerzo y desarrolla expectativas para otra temporada.
  31. KelvinSelimor
    Jul 30, 2021
    10
    House of Cards. Season 5. Trust no one. These words can be used to characterize the whole season. Season 5 turned out to be the most dynamic. The election race, the lifting of corpses from the graves, knives in the back and much more. Every Francis can betray you. Colleague, old friend and even beloved wife.
  32. PrettyGood
    Sep 13, 2017
    5
    The fifth season on the series disappoints big time. A brilliant show in its first seasons to become a mess like this is a shame. Predictable stories and too close to reality. Robin Wright still shines, while Kevin Spacey plays it safe with his over-dramatic Frank Underwood.
  33. imaroacateran
    May 10, 2022
    1
    My patience was wearing thin by the end of season 4, but season 5 made me lose what little remained. It's just the underwoods doing stupid crimes and getting in stupid fights on loop. The shock value of their criminality has long since worn off and the incompetence of their opposition is more painfully annoying with each episode.

Awards & Rankings

36
#36 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
62
#62 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Slate
    Reviewed by: Katy Waldman
    Jun 1, 2017
    80
    The bleakest (yet somehow still extremely fun to watch) season of the show yet.
    Read full review
  2. Time
    Reviewed by: Daniel D'Addario
    Jun 1, 2017
    40
    Underwood isn't Nixonian or Clintonian (pick your villain); he's a flat character for whom recognition is its own reward. This may make the show a surprisingly good fit for our times. But onscreen as in life, the desire for fame alone is insufficient motivation to compel viewers to stay tuned.
    Read full review
  3. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    May 31, 2017
    40
    Five seasons in, House of Cards still trades in predictable scripting that recycles the same themes time and again. Even now we’re made to contend with an endless march of one-note side characters and expedient problem-solving via criminality, a set of moves that lost their ability to entice and shock some time ago.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »