I didn’t go into House of Cards Season 4 with high expectations, as Season 3 didn’t impress me as much as the first two seasons. Although the plot developments were gripping in previous years, Season 3 acted almost as a “recovery season” to fill in the holes that viewers were left with after Frank Underwood had finally claimed the Oval Office.

Despite my skepticism, I was proven wrong about Season 4; it easily became the best season in the franchise so far. Though this is true for many reasons, it’s mainly due to the fantastic array of characters. With the addition of roles like Elizabeth Hale (Claire Underwood’s mother) and the reappearances of key characters like Tom Hammerschmidt and Lucas Goodwin from earlier seasons, Season 4 incorporates the most intriguing characters from earlier seasons, while still giving viewers new faces to follow. In addition, Season 4 also provides gripping multifaceted plot developments, leading to tension, conflict and emotion in every encounter, regardless of which character you choose to follow.

Season 4 of House of Cards also seems to have a different feel to it. For the first time in the entire series, the Underwoods begin their decline after years of transitioning from congressman and wife to president and first lady. They are no longer the favored candidates for the presidency. They are enemies of the ruthless Islamic Caliphate Organization (an imitation of ISIS). With the help of enemies that the couple made in the past, the Underwoods do not only have to fear for their power, but also for their lives.

The cinematography of Season 4 (and the franchise generally), the countless camera angles, soft lighting, and creativity in the editing process, continues to impress every year. But unlike previous seasons, the directors started to mimic CNN news reports and debates in order to help confused viewers understand what has happened, or what is about to happen. I find this a nice touch because politics can get a bit confusing at times, so having these news scenes can be beneficial.

Apart from the CNN reports, the directors continue to experiment with new camera angles, like a first-person view of Seth Grayson’s speeches to the press – paper in hand, the blurred heads of the press behind. However, if I am to be nit-picky, there were times where the lighting was a bit too dark for daytime viewing, or when the camera shook in motion shots, which was unappealing to my somewhat perfectionist eye.

So, if you haven’t started your binge-watching session yet, I highly recommend that you start soon. For those of you who haven’t even watched the show before, start ASAP. Even if the show seems like it’s simply about politics, it gets its appeal by exploring concepts of power, exploitation, fear, and murder to expose the dark side of “politics.” House of Cards Season 4 certainly carries on the legacy of this captivating and chilling series.