All the previous episodes of Season 4 from personal opinion were decent or more, with "Chapter 43" and "Chapter 46" outstanding. Although those that disliked "Chapter 29" and "Chapter 32", and can understand why because they did have their problems and lesser episodes of the period back when 'House of Cards' was good and brilliant even at its best, will disagree, to me up to this point there wasn't a bad episode.
"Chapter 48" didn't make me feel any different. Consider it actually one of the better episodes of Season 4 and much better than the previous episode, which was still very well done with a lot of terrific things but let down by the problematic Yates subplot. While it is excellent in pretty much every aspect, with only Yates not being very interesting and the odd far fetched part being close to complaints (and even the latter is more of a nit-pick) it is a must watch for one scene alone.
That scene being, as aforementioned by others, the scene between Frank and Will Conway, which is a masterclass of writing and is both funny and unsettling. One of those scenes, like Frank's imagining the duel in front of former presidents' portraits in "Chapter 46", that is reminiscent of classic 'House of Cards'. Conway is already an interesting character and spars with Frank with wit and tension. Also shining in "Chapter 48" is Catherine, especially when she turns it back on Frank in a genius move he himself used on Claire harkening back to the season's first half.
Frank's reaction to Conway's apology demand is classic Frank, as is his talking to the camera moment (so happy that that has come back) that is a contender for the episode's best line and one of Frank's best lines in a while. The writing is both entertaining and thought-provoking and, like "Chapter 46", the story here has the political edge and intrigue worthy of the show at its best.
Kevin Spacey gives the performance of the episode, with Joel Kinnaman and Jayne Atkinson close behind. Can't fault the photography or directing either.
Altogether, excellent episode. 9/10