House of Cards

The newest spin of political drama has manifested itself as House of Cards, a Netflix original series. Some people may have their doubts about the quality of a show produced by Netflix, as it is rather new to the production scene. Cast those doubts aside. House of Cards was wonderfully well done and visualized and I would recommend it to anybody who has a Netflix subscription and any interest in political sabotage.

House of Cards follows the story of the House Majority Whip, Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey), as he plots revenge on the president for casting him aside as the Secretary of State. Undoubtedly you now realize that this story is not one comprised of pleasantries, but rather of the seedy underbelly of politics. While the story has no feel good aspect to it, you can't help but be drawn in by the complexities of the plot, wondering how everything ties together, and once you know how, wondering how Francis could have made it all happen so well, or how he had the stomach to do so for that matter. Unfortunately, the season finale lacked the sense of urgency required for a truly gut-wrenching cliffhanger, but rather felt more like the end of any of the episodes found mid-season. If this is the price we pay for getting the entire season at once though, it can be forgiven.

The nature of the show requires that the acting is all rather serious, and the actors and actresses don't often outwardly behave anything other than serious. Fortunately, when they do have the opportunity to express something more than their somber attitudes, the impact is all the greater because we haven't seen these emotions very often. It has to be said that the impact of the show would not be the same if it was less serious, and the actors do an excellent job portraying the gravity of the scenarios they flesh out. It's also very pleasing to hear Kevin Spacey's Carolinan drawl and when it is punctuated by occasional bursts of rage it can be felt from the viewer's side of the screen. All in all, I was very invested in the characters these actors visualized, and often found myself muttering advice to them in anger or despair.

Occasionally, Underwood breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the audience. While this is at times useful to convey what exactly Underwood is feeling and expecting of the other characters, or to provide background information or clarification of the discussions being had, there are some times when it breaks the mood of the scene. I began to feel myself anticipating the times he would start addressing us, and every time I did that I became detached from the narrative, and couldn't fully reconnect and immerse myself in the show for several minutes. This is only a minor complaint, however, as the story, acting, and cinematography as a whole do an excellent job reeling you in and keeping you engrossed in the story this show has to tell.

For someone who is looking for a darker, more mature political drama, House of Cards will fit your bill perfectly. Be prepared for language and several sexually driven scenes throughout (but what would politics be without swearing and sleeping around?), but also be prepared for an engaging drama that will suck you into its world whether you like it or not. The entirety of the first season is available to watch instantly on Netflix.