Why ‘House Of Cards’ Is Really Doug Stamper’s Story

Decider has already binged the entire third season of Netflix’s House of Cards after it was released on Friday. For our complete coverage of the series, click here.

Warning: This article contains spoilers about Season Two and Three plot lines.

When Rachel wielded that stone at Doug Stamper’s skull in the final moments of Season Two, we were almost certain our favorite Chief of Staff wasn’t coming back. After seeing him bloodied, battered, and comatose, Doug’s story seemed inevitably cut short — another main character brutally offed to close a season of shocking deaths (RIP Zoe!). To our surprise, however, his recovery not only dominated the first episode of House of Cards‘ third season premiere, but his internal struggles, along with his physical ones, narrated the majority of the season itself.

The series returned last Friday, and House of Cards reuinited us with our favorite schemer and stalker (played brilliantly by Michael Kelly) to kick off a thirteen-episode run that marked the series’ deepest character analysis yet. While House of Cards is certainly about Frank Underwood’s ruthless demand for power, Doug has slowly but surely become the unexpected and subtle pillar of the series, as his involvement in Underwood’s life determines how well he runs the country and can successfully manipulate his environment. Certainly Underwood’s failing marriage to his equally power-hungry wife, Claire, affected his decision-making as Commander-in-Chief this season, but it’s clear that Doug’s absence from the White House directly correlated with the President’s ability to do what he does best: remain in control. Without Doug, Underwood was just an angry man with a botched plan rather than the tactical puppeteer of Washington politics we’re so familiar with. This is because Doug is the janitor, the fixer-upper, and the eyes in the back of Underwood’s head who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to protect his boss’ reputation.

In a twist from the previous two seasons, Doug is no longer on Underwood’s speed dial, and his plan to regain his top position is through typical political deceit. After making nice with Underwood’s biggest rival, the former solicitor general and current Democratic presidential candidate Heather Dunbar, Doug offers some juicy information: a page from Claire’s journal revealing the truth about her abortion (a major plot point in Season Two). Although she’s coy at first — touting her feminist ideals for why she won’t throw Claire under the bus — Dunbar sees Doug as a major player in her potential success at the Iowa caucus, and ultimately tells him to name his price. In a seamless move of defiance, Doug treks over to the Oval Office, journal in hand, and burns it to signify his loyalty to Underwood’s success in 2016.

Through his struggle to overcome pain, addiction, a broken heart, and his unofficial firing at the start of the season, Doug is forced to see himself for the first time as a man rather than Underwood’s lapdog. He falls off the wagon and gets back up. He patches up his relationship with his estranged brother. He acknowledges his love for Rachel and the problem she poses against the most central part of his life: work. And finally, he faces his biggest fear: seeing Underwood for the disloyal, power-obsessed monster he is. But he channels his AA mantra, and accepts what he cannot change about the man who built his career but ruined his personal life.

In thirteen episodes, we see a man come full circle and decide, after everything he’s experienced, that the only place he wants to be is by Underwood’s side. But Doug is no longer nobody; he’s invaluable to Underwood’s presidency, something that both Frank and Doug acknowledge for the first time as they’re finally seeing eye-to-eye in the same playing field, ready to take this next step as a team. And boy, Underwood is going to need his help next season. Not to spoil everything for you, but let’s just say Underwood has a PR disaster on his hands that could lose him re-election, which only the finesse of Doug Stamper can fix.

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Photos: Netflix/Everett Collection