House of Cards: A Quick Refresher That Will Prepare You For Season 4

What, you thought Rachel Posner killed him? So did we. He doesn't exactly get a new lease on life, though. Doug struggles with alcoholism and gets practically shut out of the White House, even though Frank had promised him the chief of staff position he'd wanted so badly.

Naturally, Doug is a little peeved that Rachel tried to kill him, and the Underwoods are angry he lost control of the situation. About midway through the season, Doug is told that Rachel is dead, so he gives up on finding her. Then there's a breakthrough and Doug develops an elaborate murder plan. It all becomes too much for him when Rachel begs for her life, but after letting her go, Doug realizes she's a risk he just can't take. Cue the shovel scene.

At last, Frank meets someone who gives him a run for his money: Russian President Petrov, who is like a Xerox of Vladimir Putin. The guy kicks things off by practically forcing Claire to make out with him at a state dinner, and the stakes only escalate in foreign-policy negotiations.

As their different political agendas cause a rift, Claire and Frank resolve to start a new chapter of their relationship by saying "I do" again. Oh, and Claire dyes her hair brown because that's the natural color she had when she met Frank. Clearly, she's getting desperate for his fleeting affection.

Let's take a trip back to real life in the early 2000s, when President George W. Bush had serious approval-rating problems. Well, Frank's position is even worse. He doesn't have a mandate to lead because he didn't actually win a presidential election. And yet he's trying to ditch Social Security and Medicare and drain FEMA's disaster relief funds to fund his lofty jobs program. To sell "America Works," Frank tells the entire nation on live TV that they're "entitled to nothing."

The House leadership confront Frank and explain that they won't support his candidacy, but Frank still thinks he's electable. In a manipulative move, Frank tells the country he won't run, only to run anyway. Scenes reminiscent of former President Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign show Frank wooing voters and donors anywhere he possibly can. You've gotta give the man some credit: despite whatever he's going through, he's still oozing with charm.

Claire is not a happy first lady and yearns for a job of more substance — something that can help her own political career. She pushes Frank to make her the US ambassador to the United Nations, only for the Russian president to force her out. Soon, she falls into a deep depression. What happened to the woman who could bring you so much happiness with her evil glare? Where did her confidence disappear to? These are the questions you'll ask for the remainder of the season.

Claire has been questioning her and Frank's relationship and his attraction to her (perhaps even to women in general) for a while now. The campaign trail is paved with good intentions, but Claire has deep-rooted issues that come out at the worst possible time. Claire realizes she's taken the backseat for most of her marriage, lowering her expectations and containing her ambitions to be the wife Frank needs.

Finally, when he needs her the most, she's all like, "You can take this first lady nonsense and shove it, Frank." Then she just walks out of the White House. We're just left dangling with this moment in the season finale.