Over its previous two seasons there's been an overreaching feel about House of Cards. The Underwoods, the most dastardly and diabolical couple since the Macbeths, could only kill so many people, destroy the careers of those who got in their way and put so many snooping investigative reporters out of work before audiences stopped caring. With the gobsmacking rise of the Trumpernator, however, it seems that the real world of American politics has lent the increasingly deadly screwball political shenanigans of the world of the Underwoods a certain relevance and veneer of credibility that was lacking in previous seasons.We still find Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) fighting to remain president and the show's creators have decided that it's time to let loose the ruthless ambitions of his wife Claire (Robin Wright) who has her sights set on political office, because well, when you're the first lady, what else is there really? This provides the opportunity for the show to reintroduce the world to the gasping delivery and put-upon visage of Neve Campbell who plays the role of Leeann Harvey, hired by Claire to run her campaign.With the first few episodes relying on the tension between the Underwoods as they battle each other, the burning question is whether they'll reunite for their full diabolical double act or whether their individual ambitions will break them apart. Without being a spoilsport let's just say that a convenient meeting between a forgotten character from a previous season and the hubris of her husband will allow Claire several episodes of clever manipulation of her own, equal if not more ruthless than those of Frank.The Underwoods' optimum state of being is overvaulting ambition and it's when they're singularly focused on increasing their power that the show flows most smoothly. Old friends and allies will be cast into the gutter, careers will be ripped to shreds and few tears will be shed as they, like the Teflon Donald Trump, bat away every seemingly insurmountable obstacle in their path. That's the basic pleasure of the show and one that creator Beau Willimon has exploited to the limit.When the Underwoods concoct their most cunning solution for holding on to their power at the end of this season, and with Willimon announcing that he's leaving the show, it will be interesting to see whether those left make a final call on just how long we can carry on revelling in the ruthlessness of the only fictional presidential couple named after a typewriter brand.For now, though, there's plenty of glossy production, slightly exaggerated acting and deliciously evil backstabbing...