There’s something about a political thriller. Only in this format can the intellectually inclined get their entertainment fix. While watching other genres on the boob tube are all about acting and taking in nice visuals, in the case of House of Cards it’s all about the subtle nuances, -the cadence and potency in the dialogue and the ever complicated way in which Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) operates.
Let’s be clear, there are a few misses with its plot, particularly the way the show tends to flesh out any characters who don’t have their surname in the title cards. However, that’s simply to set the show’s contrast between the middle-of-the-road empty shirts that infest our national houses of power and the truly brilliant political operatives who must be out there somewhere.
Watch House of Cards. Watch it because the first episode is free. Watch it if for no other reason than you’ll experience the genre at its dizzying heights. Watch it because this is American television drama at its finest.
I didn’t realize the first episode was available online for free. That’s really cool.
I watched the first 11 episodes over the weekend, but haven’t quite finished up the season. Really enjoying the show, but I agree with you 100% about the character development.
I also thought that the first episode was a little more crass than it needed to be; unnecessary cussing and sexual situations that didn’t really add to the story. As the series has gone on, though, those things seem to have ironed themselves out, and the cussing & sex seem to be related more to the story now.
Definitely not as good as The Newsroom, but much better than most other stuff on TV right now.
It’s hard to top Sorkin’s Newsroom. I mean, you know it’s Sorkin. I will say this, House of Cards is the first time I’ve ever seen any show much less a cable drama come anywhere close to The West Wing. In fact, I’d make the argument that the show completely tops The West Wing’s fifth and sixth seasons. I’m only five episodes in but that’s only because I don’t want the ride to end.