The battle to be the best television drama has been going strong during past years and Netflix has come out as an unexpected contender with its original show, “House of Cards.”
Competing with shows like “Game of Thrones,” “Breaking Bad” and “Mad Men,” season two of “House of Cards” had to top its first season, which received high praise.
Netflix beat HBO and Showtime to the punch and brought Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his conniving ways to the small screen, according to an article by the Hollywood Reporter.
Adapted from a BBC show from the 90’s, as well as a book of the same name by Michael Dobbs, “House of Cards” looks at American politics from the perspective of senators, lobbyists and those trying to make a name for themselves in Washington D.C.
Politics has enough excitement and drama on its own, but the show’s writers including, Beau Willimon, have added excitement to the turmoil.
However, unlike TV series, audiences don’t have to wait a week to watch the next episode, as Netflix releases an entire season in one fell swoop. Clearly, something the show’s writers and producers took into account when creating it.
Season one of “House of Cards” thrilled audiences and caught the attention of award ceremonies like the Golden Globes and Prime-Time Emmys, which left people craving more.
When season two was released on Feb. 14, fans couldn’t help but fall in love with the series all over again.
“Chapter 14,” the season two opener, gave audiences just enough to reel them back in, while still keeping them on the edge of their sofas.
Though many people thought that Frank Underwood’s aspirations for rising to power in the U.S. government were over last season when he went from Democratic majority WHIP leader to becoming the vice president, season two provides even more scheming.
The deviousness, however, doesn’t only come from Vice President Underwood.
Claire Underwood, played by Robin Wright — this year’s Academy Award winner for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series Drama — even has her own sub-plot.
She manipulates and schemes on her own to fulfill the Underwoods’ goal to collectively be in power in their respective fields, a desire driven by an unquenchable thirst for power.
Interestingly enough, journalists play a big role in the series, either by leaking harmful or meticulously planned information or investigating the secret plots of politicians and lobbyists.
The fictional Washington Herald shows audiences how the press attempts to uncover truths in D.C., while being fed well-crafted lies that many assume to be true.
Many have criticized the show for being too unrealistic, but bending the truth has rarely kept an audience from disliking a show.
The most challenging aspect of watching “House of Cards” is holding back from marathon viewing both seasons all in one sitting.
For those who are skeptical of the show, give it a chance. I think you’ll find the show lives up to all the hype.
One of the BEST protrayal of Washington’s best passing through the Potomic Mist…enjoying the benefits of lobbyist, power hungry hang ons’, and seekers…junkets to golf, dinners, travels, offers of high paying so called jobs after retirement selling their influence, and screwing anyone that gets in their way to re-election with the most important objective of reaching a goal not for the American public, but how to advance their personal power and personal wealth! I have known several elected officials that began poor as a church mouse, and ended as a million aire. Isn’t it amazing just how smart these folks become after election, than before election!