HOUSE OF CARDS (season 1)
House of Cards is an American political drama
series set in present day Washington, D.C.,
It is the story of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey),
a Democrat from South Carolina's
5th congressional district and the House Majority Whip who, after getting passed over for
appointment to Secretary of State, decides to exact his revenge on
those who betrayed him. The series also stars Robin Wright, Kate Mara, and Corey Stoll in
lead roles.
Underwood helped to secure the election of President Garret Walker on the
premise that he would be appointed Secretary of State. As you may know
politicians are probably the biggest liars on the planet save for sales people
who will tell you anything in order to get what they need from you therefore it
comes as no surprise when the president turns around and chooses to nominate
Senator Michael Kern instead. Underwood is informed that he is needed in the
House of Representatives in order to continue furthering the agenda of the
administration. He doesn’t take this well and proceeds to come up with an
intricate plan that will blind side towards the eventual conclusion of this
first season. You think he’s after the Secretary of State position, NO siree
he’s got bigger fish to fry.
He sets out to
disgrace his enemies and like an elaborate game of chess he picks them off one
by one starting with Kern, whose only crime was to be nominated in his stead. In his role as
Underwood, Spacey adopts a southern drawl peppered with an underhanded stinging
sarcasm. He is the quintessential Southern gentleman with a mean streak barely
visible beneath the calm façade he presents to the outside world. When you want
to get something done in Washington, you don’t call the ‘ghostbusters,’ you
call Underwood. His wife Claire brilliantly played by Robin Wright is cold and
unassuming; she is the perfect politician’s wife. She stands by her man and is
not above giving him a helping hand in his schemes so long as it serves her own
interests. They have what I’d like to call a laissez faire kind of marriage and
unlike most couples they have no secrets. Theirs’ is a union of convenience
devoid of passion, yet they share a strange kind of love where each accepts the
other’s limitations and they allow themselves occasional ‘away games’ from
their matrimonial bed.
Underwood’s right
hand man and confidant, is his chief of staff Doug Stamper (Corey Stoll).
Stamper does most of the dirty work. Another player in this gripping drama is
Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) an ambitious political reporter who gets in way over her
head when she starts trading insider information with Underwood to gain more
recognition in the Washington
Herald. Things get even more complicated when she begins to
have an affair with him.
At only 13 episodes,
the first season of House of Cards is a smashing success with a second season
already in the pipeline. It’s thrilling. The performances are brilliant. It’s
one show you truly do not want to pass up.
Move over West Wing there is a new sheriff in
town and his name is Kevin Spacey, he’s locked and loaded and ready to school
you in underhanded political machinations that make up the Capitol Hill.
Verdict : An intelligent compelling drama that
will have you begging for more.
