House of Cards (U.S. TV series)

House of Cards (U.S. TV series)
Title	House of Cards
Creator	Beau Willimon
Based on	House of Cards, Andrew Davies, Michael Dobbs
Starring	Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Corey Stoll, Michael Kelly, Sakina Jaffrey, Kristen Connolly, Constance Zimmer, Mahershala Ali, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Darrow, Sebastian Arcelus, Jayne Atkinson, Molly Parker, Derek Cecil, Paul Sparks, Boris McGiver, Elizabeth Marvel, Neve Campbell, Patricia Clarkson, Campbell Scott, Diane Lane, Greg Kinnear
Country	United States
Language	English
Num episodes	73
Network	Netflix
First aired	01 February 2013
Last aired	02 November 2018

House of Cards (U.S. TV series). An American political thriller television series developed by Beau Willimon, it is an adaptation of the BBC's eponymous 1990 British miniseries, which was based on the novel by Michael Dobbs. The series, produced by Media Rights Capital and released exclusively on Netflix, premiered in its entirety on February 1, 2013, pioneering the model of releasing full seasons for binge-watching. It follows the ruthless rise to power of Francis Underwood, a cunning U.S. Democratic Party congressman from South Carolina's 5th congressional district, and his equally ambitious wife, Claire Underwood, in the corridors of power in Washington, D.C..

Premise and setting

The narrative centers on Francis Underwood, the House Majority Whip, who is passed over for an appointment as United States Secretary of State by newly elected President Garrett Walker. In retaliation, Underwood and his wife Claire Underwood initiate a complex and manipulative long-game to achieve ultimate power, leveraging blackmail, political alliances, and murder. The primary setting is Washington, D.C., with key locations including the United States Capitol, the White House, and the Underwoods' townhouse in the District of Columbia. The story expands to include political machinations in their home state of South Carolina, media operations at the fictional Washington Herald (later the Slugline blog), and the influence of powerful corporate entities like Raymond Tusk's conglomerate.

Cast and characters

The ensemble is led by Kevin Spacey as the manipulative Francis Underwood and Robin Wright as his calculating wife, Claire Underwood. Key supporting players include Kate Mara as ambitious reporter Zoe Barnes, Corey Stoll as troubled congressman Peter Russo, and Michael Kelly as Underwood's loyal chief of staff, Doug Stamper. The political sphere features performances by Sakina Jaffrey as Linda Vasquez, Garrett Walker's White House Chief of Staff, and Jayne Atkinson as Catherine Durant, the United States Secretary of State. Later seasons introduced significant figures such as Molly Parker as presidential rival Heather Dunbar, Neve Campbell as Claire's confidante LeAnn Harvey, and Patricia Clarkson and Campbell Scott as influential power brokers Jane Davis and Mark Usher.

Production

Developed by Beau Willimon for Netflix, the series was produced by Media Rights Capital with executive producers including David Fincher, who directed the first two episodes, and Eric Roth. It was the first original online-only series to receive major Emmy Award nominations. Filming occurred primarily in Baltimore, Maryland, which stood in for Washington, D.C., with sets meticulously recreating interiors like the United States Capitol rotunda. The show's distinctive direct-address narration by Francis Underwood to the camera was a hallmark carried over from the original BBC series. Following allegations against Kevin Spacey in 2017, his character was written out, and the final season focused solely on Robin Wright's Claire Underwood.

Reception

The series received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its writing, production values, and performances by Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright. It holds a high rating on Rotten Tomatoes and was praised for its cynical, Shakespearian portrayal of American politics. The Netflix full-season release model was seen as revolutionary for the television industry. Criticism in later seasons focused on narrative plausibility and pacing. The controversy surrounding Kevin Spacey significantly impacted the final season's reception, though Robin Wright's performance was consistently lauded.

Cultural impact

*House of Cards* is widely credited with establishing Netflix as a major force in original programming, proving the viability of its binge-release model and paving the way for subsequent hits like Stranger Things and The Crown. Its cynical depiction of Washington, D.C., corruption influenced public discourse on politics during the 2010s. The series popularized the phrase "You are entitled to nothing," and its iconic direct address technique was widely imitated. It also spurred significant tourism to its filming locations in Baltimore, Maryland.

Awards and nominations

The series garnered numerous accolades, becoming the first original online series to win major Primetime Emmy Awards. Kevin Spacey won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2014, while Robin Wright won the same in the actress category in 2014. The show received 56 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning seven, including Outstanding Directing for David Fincher and Outstanding Casting. It also received multiple nominations from the Screen Actors Guild Awards, with Robin Wright winning for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series in 2014 and 2015.

Category:2010s American political thriller television series Category:Netflix original programming Category:Television series by Media Rights Capital