House Of Cards - Season One

  

House of Cards is an American political drama series developed and produced by Beau Willimon. It is an adaptation of a previous BBC miniseries of the same name, which is based on the novel by Michael Dobbs. The entire first season, 13 episodes, premiered on February 1, 2013, on the streaming service Netflix. A second season of 13 episodes is currently in production.

Set in present day Washington, D.C., House of Cards 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.

On July 18, 2013, Netflix earned the first Primetime Emmy Award nominations for original online only web television for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2013. House of Cards received nine of Netflix's fourteen total nominations. Among those nine nominations were Outstanding Drama Series for the first season of House of Cards, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Kevin Spacey, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Robin Wright, and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for David Fincher.

 

Robin Wright does her best slow burn as Spacey's Stepford-like ice princess of a wife. Wright is the only actress I have ever seen who is more powerful when she says absolutely NOTHING. Thankfully the producers recognized that in her skill set. I am impressed and terrified by her all at the same time. She is the strong foundation upon which the Congressman's hope's and dreams rest upon. I am still trying to figure out if these two have sex or if they have a convenient 'arrangement'. In fact this production is noteworthy by giving us Spacey, who's character is NOT a horndog politician.

 

 

We also have Corey Stoll's fellow Congressman who Spacey controls but who may be finding his heart when he hits rock bottom after a drunk driving arrest. His affair with his mistress/secretary is touching and believable. I can see how she would be drawn to this con man/man child because at his heart he WANTS to be better but may not have the courage. Stoll (Law and Order) shines. I would have voted for him even knowing about his sordid social life.

 

 

Kate Mara is another girl from the talented Mara family. Here she plays an aggressively opportunistic reporter who goes from the Metro desk to the front page in a whirlwind because of a series of major stories that she breaks for her Newspaper. Of course she has a source and that source is Spacey who is using her to advance his agenda. And what is that? Political revenge or political suicide? From the rapidity that we see fortunes rise and fall in the span of an hour goes to show you just how vicious and cutthroat the whole damn process can be. It's America in it's purest form. The eagle shouldn't be the national animal - it should be the shark.

 

 

Can I go back to how amazing Kevin Spacey is as the smartest congressman you will ever meet. His sugary Southern sweetness is the perfect decision to go with in the creation of this character. It's everything you love about Spacey the actor. Butter would not melt in his mouth. Spacey's soaring talent makes the whole production sing. If you hate him you best stay away. His touch is in every scene and line of dialog.

 

The writing is so dense that it makes Alan Sorkin look like "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown'. This is one of the shows that gets my full attention. Things move so fast that you have to pay attention. This is not a show for when one is multitasking. It deserves your full attention. There are at least a dozen character arcs to follow and each seems to have been written to have a beginning, middle and end or at least I get that impression because each person is so fully realized. I believed it. I bought it like I was expected to. Smart TV by smart people. Doesn't anyone else find that kind of discovery exhilarating?

 

I hoped you noticed that neat trick that Spacey does by breaking the 'fourth wall' and talking directly to the audience. It really adds dimension to his character when we see him thinking one thing while saying something completely different.

Only 13 episodes in season one. I will let you know how I feel half way through but I think I have found me another winner.