The Netflix original series, “House of Cards” suffers from story fatigue in its third season.

Although the new season lacks the excitement of previous ones, the show has not collapsed yet. Season three brings a shift in tone for the series.

By the end of season two, the main character, Frank Underwood, had cheated and schemed his way into executive power, so the show needed a major change in tone. The new season has a blander tempo than it used to, however.Kevin Spacey portrays Frank Underwood, a manipulative, clever, and borderline malicious U.S. congressman who stops at nothing for executive power.

Underwood used brilliant tactics and brutal ambition in the first two seasons to win votes and support. This season, his focus is on maintaining power and he is usually on the defensive in his political actions, which is not as exciting to watch.

Both Underwood and his wife, Claire, played by Robin Wright, captivate viewers with their backstabbing behavior. The duo exploited political laws and used fear to manipulate others in order to climb their way to the top.Underwood breaks the fourth wall of TV by speaking directly to the audience, making the show unique in a good way.

The show’s mix of current events and realistic fiction depicts a believable scenario of the current United States government.

Spacey and Wright have won numerous awards, including a Golden Globe Award for best actor and a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress, for their performances in the first two seasons of the show, respectively. Their acting in the new season is even more gripping and intriguing than before, but the storyline of this season comes across as dull.

The previous excitement of the show has been replaced with educated political banter. Spacey and Wright’s performances in this season are the only reason the show sustained my attention.

The drama starts this season off very boring with focus on character development. It begins to get more entertaining when it shifts to foreign policy and introduces the Russian president, a shady and clever leader similar to Frank. Season three has yet to reach the dark, dramatic heights that defined seasons one and two, but it is also more intelligent and detailed than the previous seasons.

One thing I dislike about the new season is the development of dark and deviant characters who become more emotionally involved. For example, Doug and Remy, who were previously calculating operators, now show signs of remorse and regret. The characters in this season seemed more human and less devious than what the audience has come to expect and enjoy. The story still takes many dramatic turns in this new season.

Now that Frank has become president, the show focuses on him maintaining power, which is less exciting than his previous ascent. However, the show keeps the audience on their toes with many close calls that Frank just barely slithers out of.

Many characters have come and gone in the world of the Underwoods, but one in particular had an interesting plotline in this season. Douglas Stamper, played by Michael Kelly, was almost killed in the end of season two.

Kelly had to keep his character’s return this season a secret from the press because last season left viewers unsure if his character was still alive. The season’s end for him involved what might be the darkest part of the show so far.

The new season kept my attention with dramatic unveilings and plot twists. The acting and writing of the show make it a must see, even though the plot gets a little slow this season.

Season three of “House of Cards,” was released on Feb. 27