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House of Cards to Return For Third Season in February

house of cards season 3

Ross Miller | The Verge

House of Cards, Netflix’s first breakout success, is coming back for a third season. Netflix today announced the premiere date: February 27th, 2015.

The 13-episode second season of House of Cards debuted this past Valentine’s Day, February 14th, and was reportedly finished by over half a million people in the first weekend — and by at least one person (me) in the first 12 hours.

The Season 3 release date announcement was made by the House of Cards official Twitter account, which teased a perfectly chilling video of the “First Couple” entering Air Force One.

Now we just have to come up with something to fill the time until February 27th. I’ll mostly be wondering how they’ll manage to match the near-perfect first episode of Season 2, which featured my personal favorite twist of the entire series thus far.

These HBO Shows Are Coming To Amazon Prime

Great news television fans that happen to have Amazon Prime! HBO has agreed to an exclusive, multi-year deal that will bring their programming to the aforementioned Amazon streaming video service.

As of May 21, Amazon Prime will feature every season of:

  • The Sopranos
  • The Wire 
  • Deadwood
  • Rome
  • Six Feet Under
  • Eastbound & Down
  • Enlightened
  • Flight of the Conchords

Additionally, these shows will become available over the next few years:

  • Girls
  • The Newsroom
  • Veep

They’ll also have several comedy specials from Bill Maher, Louis CK, Lewis Black and Ellen DeGeneres, along with these miniseries:

  • Angels in America
  • Band of Brothers
  • John Adams
  • The Pacific 
  • Parade’s End

Other shows will only have a few seasons available, such as:

  • Boardwalk Empire
  • Treme
  • True Blood

Now, you’re probably wondering (like me) about Game of Thrones, which is arguably HBO’s most valuable show right now. They conveniently left the fantasy series out of the statement, even when listing the shows that will be eventually be available as time goes on (Girls, Veep, etc.)

It’s an odd choice when you consider how quick people are these days to simply pirating these shows online, and it would appear that HBO GO is essentially teaming up with Amazon in this case, so why not provide this value to the service? It’s like they don’t want to actually defeat Netflix…

Maybe I’m being too harsh, though. It’s possible that HBO simply doesn’t want to commit to gambling such a profitable show until they’re more confident in the value of Amazon Prime’s subscribers, which is absolutely fair.

Will this make you want to get Amazon Prime? (I already have it, so I’m biased)

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Netflix Is Raising Its Prices

I’ve refrained from talking about this since the news broke out that Netflix will, in fact, be increasing their subscription rate for the first time in years. I was waiting to form an opinion that was slightly less negative, so here it is.

The standard price has been $7.99/month since 2010, and that of course encompasses unlimited streaming of hundreds (if not thousands) of TV shows and movies with no commercials.

It’s an incredible value, and I’m actually pretty surprised the company has waited this long to start pressing their huge customer base for more cash. My theory is that they’ve waited to make sure enough people are addicted to their service, thus making this decision more profitable in that fewer people will cancel their subscription over a price increase.

The increase in question will raise the monthly rate by one or two dollars, so hovering around $9.99 a month or more. They’ve tried this in Ireland, and it has apparently worked well there for Netflix.

Reed Hastings (CEO of Netflix) argues that the price increase is crucial if they want to continue developing original content, such as House of Cards and Orange is the New Black, their biggest streaming hits in terms of in-house production. It’s easy to assume, however, that this was their game plan all along.

And I don’t have a problem with that at all. In my eyes, Netflix has consistently provided a great service at a steady price, and this is an essential move for them in order to stay afloat and continue giving us a great library of streaming media. This is especially true now that other streaming companies are providing tough competition, including Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, Vudu and HBO Go.

But what do you think? Is Netflix making the right move here, or is this leading us down a slippery slope of customers getting gouged for money? We learned in the 80s that cable companies were absolutely capable of this…

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Review: ‘House Of Cards,’ Season 2

One heartbeat away from the presidency and not a single vote cast in my name. Democracy is so overrated…

Frank Underwood (played by the talented Kevin Spacey) utters these words in episode two of the second season of House of Cards, a political thriller that took us all by surprise. While being sworn in for winning the vice presidency after a full season of political  scheming involving lies, betrayals and even murder, Underwood sets his sights on the road ahead.

Season 2 starts with an episode that literally stuns. I obviously can’t spoil the decisive action and unexpected plot movement that sets the tone for this season, but I can almost guarantee that fans of the show will undoubtedly be hooked.

My laments about the first season were few but potent. One too many episodes were imbalanced scripts compared to the ones surrounding them, as they failed to deliver the same heart-pounding storytelling on a consistent basis.

A few episodes in, I can safely say that this has been somewhat remedied. Now that the characters are settling comfortably within their roles on Capitol Hill and beyond, we’re finally done with exposition and ready to fully sink our teeth into the motivations and struggles that plague these complicated faces.

Robin Wright in particular provides new material to her cold character, especially when confronting past turmoil in episode two. We also see a new side of Frank Underwood when it comes to the complex passion and love he has for Claire. It’s not rooted in anything apparently sexual, but it still contains the same mad devotion and loyalty you would expect from an honest-to-god romance.

Their dynamic alone is enough of a reason to tune in, but then you enter the subtle paradigms and nuances that litter the script, especially with new faces joining the cast in the form of Jackie, Frank’s hopeful replacement for Majority Whip. She is already shaping to be the next Frank Underwood in terms of her ruthlessness and ability to manipulate anyone, no matter how close they are to her.

What truly works for the script this time around is that it’s not choosing to rely too heavily on the sub-plot surrounding the conspiracy and suspicion around Frank Underwood. It’s there, and people are still catching on slowly, but the titular house of cards still feels pretty secure early in the season, which will be necessary if the script hopes to contain itself as we watch Frank Underwood continue his rise to power in the most corrupt way possible.

House of Cards Season 2? Definitely worth watching if you were at least amused at the first season. I would even go as far as to say that critics of the previous episodes may find something here that was missing before, as many good shows tend to mature for the better as they enter their second round.

And House of Cards is no exception.

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Why Can’t We Subscribe to Our Favorite Shows?

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With Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, iTunes, and Amazon all battling it out to achieve the monopoly on streaming entertainment, one question is constantly on my mind: When will the bubble burst?

Yes, Netflix is king when it comes to sheer numbers, boasting a large catalog and subscription base. Still, we all know Netflix doesn’t satisfy everyone’s needs. I can’t be the only one who finds it unbearable to wait up to a year for a season to be released on Netflix, if at all.

So, I also have Hulu, which allows me to keep tabs on ongoing seasons, again, if they even have it.

I also have Amazon because there are just some shows that I can’t access anywhere else on demand (legally), plus Amazon now has the sole rights to many Viacom programs such as Spongebob Squarepants (which, let’s face it, is the most important).

Do you see the problem I have here? By the end of all this, I’m still paying more money to watch my favorite shows that may or may not be available. I might as well return to classic cable, even though that costs hundreds.

Well, I have a possible solution that I believe the streaming giants will eventually fall into. You see, Netflix is already packing their storehouse with original content in an attempt to take in more profits, and it’s working for now.

But we don’t just want new shows, at least not yet. Instead of the streaming giants becoming streaming networks where only certain shows fall into them (which we absolutely don’t want), why can’t we simply subscribe to programs we want to watch in a limited fashion?

Amazon and iTunes have already used this format for movies, allowing us to rent full movies for a fraction of the price. Why can’t we rent shows? After all, I am far less likely to revisit a show after I’ve seen it once, especially if it is bound to be syndicated on Netflix within a year.

If we could subscribe to a show’s season, we could essentially pick and choose which shows we want to watch throughout the regular TV season. Don’t we do this already? By October or November, I’ve already settled into what shows I’m keeping up with and don’t have the time or patience to catch up on something I completely missed.

Yes, Vudu, Amazon, and iTunes let you pick and choose already, but you can’t rent a TV show. Instead, you have to buy the entire season in some cases. My idea combines the pick/choose mentality with a subscription.

Think of it as a “My 5” plan made famous by cell phone carriers. You pick 5 shows you want to watch full seasons of as they develop. If you fall behind, that’s okay because after the season is over, you are able to watch the remaining episodes just once before they disappear.

That’s where I want this whole streaming business to go, anyways. It empowers the consumer and provides valuable insights and data to the networks. Sure, the logistics are lost on me, as every network in the world is at each others’ throats right now, but don’t expect that to last forever. Eventually, something’s going to move.

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Review: ‘Arrested Development,’ Season 4

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I’ll be doing two separate reviews of the new season, starting with a review of the season premiere, “Flight of the Phoenix.”

So, is it worth watching?

The answer to that question actually has very little to do with the actual episode. It really depends on the viewer, of which there are two main types:

The longtime fans: these are the ones that have been through it all. They know all of the inside jokes, have obsessed over the show for years, and are to this day still mad about the show’s “abrupt cancellation” (as the new episode describes it).

A lot of these longtime fans seemed to really dislike “Flight of the Phoenix,” and the entire 4th season in general. I had one friend who referred to the whole thing as garbage. Other longtime fans said that the new episodes just weren’t as good, and they were disappointed.

I’m only speculating, but I believe this has more to do with them than the actual quality of the new season. For the past seven years, Arrested Development has evolved from being a hidden gem to a mainstream meme. I think this has led to fatigue.

A lot of people who have stuck with the show from the beginning have been expecting the worst because they are honestly sick of the show’s rise to popularity that made this new season happen in the first place. I had one friend even admit that his disdain of the new season comes from the fact that this new season was made for the new fans of the show (hence, it’s on Netflix), ignoring the longtime fans who discovered the show in the first place.

Some longtime fans have been a little more forgiving, claiming that the new season, while not as good as the previous, is okay. They were a little more apprehensive going into the new season, but they still gave it a chance.

Which leads me to,

The newer fans: I’m one of these. See, the show came out when I was in high school, so I was too young to know what it is or appreciate it. I was more into Scrubs and Family Guy, to be honest.

Like many people, I didn’t discover the show until much later after the series finale. In 2010, one of my friends let me borrow the first two seasons, insisting that this was “the best show ever.” I was immediately hooked and have been watching the series on repeat via Netflix ever since.

When I first heard about the new season, I was ecstatic. I couldn’t wait to see more of the Bluth gang, so I was pretty confused when a lot of other people were acting like they just found out they have a cavity.

The longtime fans, and even some of the newer fans, were being incredibly pessimistic about the new season, and I think it’s because to them, this show represents more than entertainment. They feel like they have a certain ownership over the show, being the early adopters, and us newer fans sort of swooped in.

I get that to a point, but I feel bad for those who went into the 4th season with such abysmal expectations, because I thoroughly enjoyed “Flight of the Phoenix.”

It was different, for sure, and the timeline of the story was a little difficult to follow at times. But it delivered. Everything I love about the show is still here: the clever writing, easter eggs, perfect delivery, and hilarious story were all present and accounted for.

I was especially surprised by how well the characters fit back into their previous roles. The first episode focused primarily on Michael, and what he’s been up to since the end of Season 3. It was depressing at times, but still lighthearted. The chemistry between the characters has always been the show’s strong point, and I saw that on full display.

Speaking of which, most of the cast showed up in the premiere, including the Bluth parents, Buster, Gob, George Michael, Maeby, and even Barry. But I was glad that they decided to gently bring back Tobias and Lindsey, who are apparently showing up in the second episode. Seriously, Tobias should just have his own show already.

The cameos were amazing, save for Seth Rogen trying to portray  a young George Sr. That just didn’t work, especially when you have Kristen Wiig flawlessly capturing young Lucille. The Workaholics gang was even there, too, which was hysterical.

Is the new season worth watching? Absolutely. It has everything that made fans like me fall in love with it in the first place, and it is still ahead of its time 10 years after the pilot.

If you’re on the fence about diving into the new season, I definitely recommend you give it a chance. Worst-case scenario, you will have made a huge mistake. 

 

Are Hulu and Netflix the New ABC and NBC?


Image Courtesy of digitaltrends.com

Or Fox and CBS? Or CW and AMC? Okay, I’m going too far obviously, but my point is that the two streaming giants are making noticeable strides in becoming “real” networks, whatever that means.

Like pretty much every other millennial, I prefer Hulu to broadcast television and Netflix to renting movies. As a result, I’ve noticed Hulu and Netflix have been pushing original series that can only be seen on their platform (in the states at least).

When I first noticed this a couple of years ago, I presumed that they would only be able to afford miniseries with forgettable actors and web series, but they are proving me wrong with the release of these new shows that actually have a lot of recognizable talent.

Hulu, for example, is releasing three big shows this year. The first is an animated comedy series about superheroes who quit their jobs called The Awesomes. If the show has one thing going for it, it’s that Seth Meyers of SNL is the head writer and the teaser is pretty funny.

The next is a show Hulu is doing in partnership with BBC called The Wrong Mans. Family and friends of mine know that I am a huge fan of British television (if you haven’t watched Skins or Misfits, you are missing out), so this one is at the top of my to-do list. This is a dark comedy, of course, about friends who stumble upon a criminal conspiracy. The best part? It has James Corden. Check out the trailer.

They’re also coming out with a documentary about sports mascots. Read that sentence again.

Netflix is being even more ambitious with the release of Season 4 of Arrested Development this spring, which is really catering to their fan base (the connection being that Netflix users watch Arrested Development ALOT, myself included). They are also coming out with 5 other shows to debut this spring, such as Lilyhammers, House of Cards, Hemlock Grove, and Orange is the New Black.

Like I said, Hulu and Netflix are serious about original programming, hence they are pouring huge sums of money into this investment. Even Amazon Instant is joining in on the action with their own programming.

So, what does this mean? Will Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon eclipse the traditional format of broadcast television?

I say follow the money. Right now, the money is behind CBS, Fox, ABC, NBC, etc. Unless streaming platforms gain the lobbying support of investors, major networks won’t go away, and streaming will be the next cable. It’s like how FX, TBS, AMC, and Comedy Central will never actually kill CBS. They’ll just be better.

Keep in mind, however, that the majority of shows being consumed on streaming platforms is produced by cable, with Hulu being the exception, just barely. Though the major networks have American Idol and The Big Bang Theory, streaming and cable have Breaking Bad.

So the future ultimately rests on the tastes of the masses. God help us.

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