Warning: This story contains spoilers.
“House of Cards” wouldn’t be Netflix’s most compulsively watchable series if it didn’t deliver narrative shocks on a regular basis, and Season 3 was no different than the first two. Spoiler alert: We have gathered 10 of the most surprising story developments.
Doug Stamper is alive
After being bludgeoned and left for dead by Rachel Posner (Rachel Brosnahan), Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) was literally resurrected. Despite his best efforts, he was not allowed back into Frank Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey) circle until he found Rachel, the only person left who could link Frank to the murder of Congressman Peter Russo in Season 1.
Claire’s appointment as a UN ambassador
Clearly thinking that it was payback time for the decades she campaigned for her husband, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) decided being first lady wasn’t enough for her. She wanted an appointment that would serve as a steppingstone to a political career.
Something like an ambassadorship at the United Nations. When Congress voted against her, Claire asked Frank to make the appointment anyway. Despite her overwhelming lack of qualifications.
Petrov’s kiss
During a state dinner at the White House, Russian President Viktor Petrov (Lars Mikkelsen) got everyone drunk on very rare vodka from the homeland and asked to dance with Claire. Frank was taken aback when Petrov brazenly kissed the first lady at the conclusion of the dance. Let’s just say it was the kiss of death.
Doug’s betrayal
When Heather Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel) declared her presidential candidacy, Doug, feeling shut out by the Underwood administration, went to work for her, offering her his vast array of contacts and some damning personal information — in particular, proof that Claire lied on national television about having an abortion.
Suicide in Russia
Claire screwed up big-time when she went to Russia with Frank on a diplomatic mission to free Michael Corrigan (Christian Camargo), an American prisoner and gay rights activist who went to jail to protest the Russian treatment of homosexuals. When Claire camped out in Corrigan’s cell to try to get him to read a statement that would secure his release but exonerate Petrov, he refused.
While Claire was sleeping, he hung himself from the window of his cell with Claire’s scarf. At a press conference, Claire blamed the entire incident on Petrov, leading to a huge, irreparable argument with Frank on Air Force One.
Jackie Sharp endorses Dunbar
Frank thought he had orchestrated the perfect re-election campaign. In exchange for information about possible challengers, he promised Jackie Sharp (Molly Parker) a spot on his ticket. She told him Heather Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel) would run against him.
He then wanted Jackie to run as a third potential candidate who would divide women voters and then jump over to his side. When Frank hung her out to dry during a debate in Iowa, Sharp switched sides and endorsed Dunbar.
Claire ‘resigns’
Petrov tells Frank that he must remove his wife from her UN ambassador post if the United States is to have any kind of diplomatic relationship with Russia. Frank sees all the mistakes Claire has made and summons her for a sit-down. Claire agrees to step down in order to focus on his re-election.
Dunbar threatens Claire
Claire freaks out when Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) tells Frank that Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel) knows about the abortion lie. And she blows up when Frank tells her that he has made the penitent Stamper his new chief of staff. Frank tells Dunbar he will put her in her grave.
Doug kills Rachel Posner
Using the FBI’s resources, Doug finally tracks down Rachel (Brosnahan) to a small town in New Mexico. Rachel has been doing menial jobs and saving enough money to pay for a new passport and Social Security as “Cassie Lockhart.” One night as she leaves work, Doug is waiting for her in his van. He kidnaps her and drives to a windblown field in the middle of nowhere, where he digs a grave.
Rachel skillfully talks Doug out of killing her, saying that “Rachel Posner” doesn’t exist anymore. He lets her go, giving her a bottle of water and telling her the nearest town is 20 miles away. After getting in his van and driving in the other direction, Doug stops. If he doesn’t eliminate Rachel, he will never completely win Frank’s trust again. Doug makes a U-turn, in search of Rachel. She sees the approaching van over her shoulder. And then the camera cuts to Doug covering the last of Rachel with dirt.
Claire leaves Frank
Claire and Frank have another, even more explosive argument about the post-election state of their marriage. She was under the impression that they would have more of a partnership once he was in the Oval Office. He fires back that she should be satisfied with her life as first lady and the office of the presidency has only one chair and it belongs to him. Claire refuses all campaign appearances after that, abandoning him on the night of the Iowa caucuses.
Although he wins, Frank cannot savor his victory. Flying back to Washington the next morning, he asks Claire to make an appearance with him. She refuses, buttoning her coat and simply telling him, “I’m leaving you.” She walks out of the White House.