Sleeker and more dangerous than ever, the third season of Netflix’s “House Of Cards” is an impressive continuation of the show’s critically acclaimed story line. With multiple characters at their lowest points and new ones at their highest, the opening episodes of the series present a seemingly dim chance of success for the Underwoods.

When watching, viewers will instantly experience flashbacks of the empire of secrecy manufactured through the Underwoods. The show, which opens in the months following season two’s close, is just as absorbing as the previous episodes in the series. Like the house of cards that made this show so alluring, season three’s microscopic focus on the inner-workings of life on the beltway is more than worthwhile. Every chaotic moment spent watching, listening and binging on the machinery that is interlaced within “House Of Cards” is as rewarding as the next.

In the first six episodes, Frank Underwood’s newly appointed position to the presidency is met with great opposition. It seems the man elected into democratic office without any actual election is in a position of disappointment and abandonment. As his life begins to spiral out of control, viewers will grip the edges of their dented-in, binge watching seats to witness Frank’s haunting, yet charismatic, unleashing of a plan. Each moment with him will send viewers through a whirlwind of political discourse, mental un-doings and visible cracking. And, while his eerily processed demeanor, ability to influence decisions and vicious Machiavellian tones are still present, audiences will also see a certain amount of weakness and growing softness in the series’ first six episodes.

For Claire Underwood, viewers will notice an increasingly power-hungry political machine; Claire’s more stoic attributes taken over through open discontent. With her construction constantly altering, her vision of the future results in moments reminiscent of a Hilary Clinton-esque political move. But, like Frank, watchers will notice a weakened sense of self. While she too is in a new position of power both formally and as the wife of one of the most powerful men in America, Claire is noticeably unhinged from the get-go.

For the Underwoods, gloomy days may lie ahead, but for other characters, the empowerment of fortune is overly present. Fans of the show will firstly recognize Heather Dunbar, the prosecutor who spearheaded the impeachment of President Walker. She is now in the position of solicitor general and through this has gained increasing amounts of visibility and control over her surroundings. Her strategic planning and uncanny ability to gain public approval allow her to become a hunter among wolves.

Other power players also enter the story’s progression. Through the fictional reflection of Vladimir Putin the Russian Federation president, Viktor Petrov provides viewers with a Dracula-esque head of the Federation. With sunken eyes and a hollow soul, the former KGB operative exudes authority and is certainly one to watch.

The show opens with the Underwoods latest endeavors proving to be unsuccessful. Their inability to gain favor with those in the political realm and the populace is inherently placed in their undertones of political corruption and dictatorship themes of strength. The doubt that surrounds the pair only grows as the season progresses, and for a show based on a mastery of the political system, the new direction adds a dimension of manic swirling. It is as if season two had reached the show’s climax and this inevitable downfall is the next logical step. That being said, as deviously scintillating as the rise of Frank and Claire Underwood is to watch, their fall is just as enticing.