 The episode received positive reviews from critics . Elements of the opening scene were lauded . Matt Roush of TV Guide praised Spacey 's self introduction as a Machiavellian politician in which he says " I have no patience for useless things . " Boston Globe 's Matthew Gilbert noted that " the first two episodes were expertly directed by David Fincher " and Spacey 's harmonious cadence such as those used in the first scene of this episode " makes even his character ’ s mercy killing of an injured dog — which he does by hand — seem a little less brutal . " Not only is Underwood described as Machiavellian , one critic from The New York Times notes that his belief in the omnipresence of dirt expressed as " Nobody ’ s a Boy Scout , not even a Boy Scout " harkens back to Willie Stark in All the King 's Men who said " There 's always something " . 
 The episode received positive reviews from critics . Elements of the opening scene <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> lauded . Matt Roush of TV Guide praised Spacey <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>self introduction as a Machiavellian politician in which he <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>says</mark></a> " I <a href='got' title='4'><mark>have</mark></a> no patience for useless things . " Boston Globe <a href='null_genetive' title='5'><mark>'s</mark></a>Matthew Gilbert noted that " the first two episodes <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> expertly directed by David Fincher " and Spacey <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>harmonious cadence such as those used in the first scene of this episode " <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>makes</mark></a> even his character ’ <a href='null_genetive' title='9'><mark>s</mark></a>mercy killing of an injured dog — which he <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>does</mark></a> by hand — seem a little less brutal . " Not only is Underwood described as Machiavellian , one critic from The New York Times <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>notes</mark></a> that his belief in the omnipresence of dirt expressed as " <a href='None' title='12'><mark>Nobody</mark></a> ’ s a Boy Scout , not even a Boy Scout " <a href='uninflect' title='13'><mark>harkens</mark></a> back to Willie Stark in All the King <a href='null_genetive' title='14'><mark>'s</mark></a>Men <a href='null_relcl' title='15'><mark>who</mark></a>said " <a href='dey_it' title='16'><mark>There</mark></a> 's always something " . 
The episode received positive reviews from critics . Elements of the opening scene was lauded . Matt Roush of t.v Guide praised Spacey  self introduction as a Machiavellian politician in which he say " I got no patience for useless things . " Boston Globe  Matthew Gilbert noted that " the first two episodes was expertly directed by David Fincher " and Spacey  harmonious cadence such as those used in the first scene of dis episode " make even his character ’  mercy killin of an injured dog — which he do by hand — seem alil less brutal . " Not only is Underwood described as Machiavellian , one critic from da New York Times note dat his belief in the omnipresence of dirt expressed as " Don't nobody ’ s a Boy Scout , not even a boi Scout " harken back to Willie Stark in All the King  Men said " It 's always something " .