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"Editor's Note: Beware of spoilers. This is part three of Mashable's three-part review of season two. Part three covers episodes 8 to 13. Read part one and part two.\nIt's not what you'd anticipate a U.S. vice-president saying, even if just in private: \"Come and visit me when I'm in prison,\" Frank Underwood told his equally conniving wife Claire, when she asked what she could do to thwart exposure of their corruption.  \nMore vulnerable than ever in the final six episodes of House of Cards' sophomore season, the Underwoods are coping with the threat of their downfall with dark humor, a surprising sexual outlet, as well as intensified plans to use enemies and allies as political scapegoats.  \nSee also: 'House of Cards' Review: Truth Hurts For the Good Guys\nBills, pills and chills. Those three words sum up the major moments in the Netflix series' chapters 21 to 26. Beautifully \u2014 and at times shockingly \u2014 the pace quickens in House of Cards' final four episodes after journalist Ayla Sayyad's digging unearths skeletons from Frank and other key characters' pasts. Her investigation leads to interrogations, and exposes the season-defining scandal about whether foreign money was traded for political favors.\nWe see Frank and Claire like never before. Frank is scared. Claire cries. And yet, their brief show of fragile emotions only serves to refuel their retaliatory spirits.\n\"When you're fresh meat, kill and throw them something fresher,\" Frank said, breaking the fourth wall to address Netflix viewers about his ruthless impending strategy. \n\nKevin Spacey (middle) and Robin Wright once again impress as Frank and Claire Underwood.Image:  Nathaniel Bell/NetflixHouse of Cards' season two thrives, just as ABC's Scandal does, when tackling timely multi-episode arcs. Showrunners have weaved in cyber spying, government shutdowns, right of asylum and \u2014 to no one's surprise \u2014 political malfeasance.\nFor example, reporter Lucas Goodwin was imprisoned for cyberterrorism. However, his subplot continued when hacker Gavin Orsay worked with the FBI and someone in the White House to use Lucas' cyberterrorism efforts to obtain phone history of AT&amp;T customers. \nSee also: 'House of Cards' Review: Season 2 Starts Off With a Bloody Surprise\nThe cyber storyline hints at the National Security Agency's real-life, top-secret PRISM electronic-surveillance program, which was revealed by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. \nTrue-to-life scenarios such as this keep viewers captivated, while still remaining grounded in some semblance of reality.\n\nSmall-business owner Freddy Armstrong (Reg E. Cathey) gets caught in the crosshairs of a political battle.Image: Nathaniel Bell/NetflixAmid those realistic narratives, writers have been careful not to bog down storytelling with too much political lingo. They also remember to include tales of personal demons that confront the stellar supporting cast.\nBBQ maestro Freddy Armstrong, owner of the restaurant that Frank frequents, is just one of many bystanders who find themselves caught in the crosshairs of the vice-president's messy war against billionaire investor Raymond Tusk, as both bigwigs work to cover their criminal tracks.   \nThe Frank vs. Raymond conflict sends everyone around them scrambling for safety and power in a bid to avoid becoming the next fall guy \u00E0 la Claire's former secret lover Adam Galloway.\nAs in every great political thriller, loyalties are put under the microscope, resulting in power shifts that exacerbate the insecurities of those feeling slighted. \nFormer alcoholic and Frank's chief of staff Doug Stamper questions his diminishing influence when the vice-president begins to rely more frequently on his press secretary Seth Grayson. Inexperienced House Majority Whip Jacqueline Sharp feels the heat from Claire and military sexual-abuse mouthpiece Megan Hennessey. Meanwhile, lobbyist Remy Danton, who finds it difficult to follow Raymond's commands amid the former's love fest with Jacqueline, upsets Raymond so much so that he breaks a bird's neck in frustration. \n\nWhat will become of Rachel Posner, the accomplice in Congressman Peter Russo's death in season one?Image: Nathaniel Bell/NetflixAll the while, President Garrett Walker struggles with reviving his stagnant marriage with therapy (and pills), as his White House staffers Linda Vasquez and Christina Gallagher fall victim to Frank and Claire's oh-so-clever manipulation. \nAs the season progresses, it's easy for any attentive viewer to predict Frank and Claire's end goal: to replace Garrett and Patricia Walker as president and first lady. \nTougher to guess, however, is whose lives will be destroyed or benefitted along the way, and whether the Underwoods will get what they want \u2014 like they always do.\nWe won't spoil the final outcome, but the ending leaves some burning questions, which lea into the show's already announced season three. Will the Underwoods' merciless power trips come back to haunt them, as journalists continue seeking the truth? What will cyber expert Gavin do with his database of phone records? Will security guard Edward Meechum's intimate actions blow up in his face? What will become of ex-prostitute Rachel Posner, the accomplice in Congressman Peter Russo's death in season one? \nSeason two's finale and these unanswered questions will have viewers wishing season three would arrive next weekend \u2014 instead of next year \u2014 for another round of binge-watching. \nUntil then, let the butchery ... sink in.\nBONUS: Stack the Deck With 'House of Cards' Playing Cards\n\n\n\nHouse of (Playing) Cards\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nImage: Bob Al-Greene, Mashable\n\n\n\n\n"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/02/17/house-of-cards-review-season-2-part-3/>