History Trivia / HouseOfCardsUS

* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The presidency of UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump caused many accusations that the show suddenly seemed completely irrelevant, with its depiction of an overtly evil president suddenly seeming downright quaint next to the real thing.

* TroubledProduction: Filming on Season 6 was interrupted by Anthony Rapp's accusation that Creator/KevinSpacey had molested him 30 years earlier. Netflix quickly announced that this would be the show's final season (though this was always the plan anyway), and shortly afterward shut down production indefinitely as similar stories about Spacey came pouring in. He was then sent for an unspecified "evaluation and treatment," throwing further doubt on whether the season would be completed. And then ''eight'' crew members came forward with accounts of Spacey's predatory behavior which made them deeply uncomfortable around him. Spacey was fired a week later.

* RoleEndingMisdemeanor: More like ''Show''-Ending Misdemeanor. Following actor Creator/AnthonyRapp's allegation against Creator/KevinSpacey that he sexually assaulted him when he was 14, Netflix first announced that the show will conclude with season six. They then suspended production on said season and fired Spacey after more accusations of sexual harassment and assault came out, including, most damningly, some from the set of the show itself.

* TroubledProduction: Filming on Season 6 was interrupted by Creator/AnthonyRapp's accusation that Creator/KevinSpacey had molested him 30 years earlier. Netflix quickly announced that this would be the show's final season (though this was always the plan anyway), and shortly afterward shut down production indefinitely as similar stories about Spacey came pouring in. He was then sent for an unspecified "evaluation and treatment," throwing further doubt on whether the season would be completed. And then ''eight'' crew members came forward with accounts of Spacey's predatory behavior which made them deeply uncomfortable around him. Spacey was fired a week later.

* RealLife/MeanCharacterNiceActor: Contrast Creator/RobinWright or Creator/MichaelKelly with their characters. It's very jarring.

* NamesTheSame: Rather bizarrely, Doug Stamper is the ''only'' character to have the same last name as their British counterpart (Tim Stamper). Similarly, Francis Underwood is the only character to have the same first name as his British counterpart (Francis Urquhart), and Claire also always addresses him as "Francis"; everyone else addresses him as "Frank" because a Southern gentleman named Francis would insist that you call him 'Frank', and a British aristocrat would faint at the idea.

* RoleEndingMisdemeanor: More like ''Show''-Ending Misdemeanor. Following after actor Creator/AnthonyRapp's allegation against Creator/KevinSpacey that he sexually assaulted him when he was 14, Netflix first announced that the show will conclude with season six, then suspended production on said season.

* TroubledProduction: Filming on Season 6 was interrupted by Creator/AnthonyRapp's accusation that Creator/KevinSpacey had molested him 30 years earlier. Netflix quickly announced that this would be the show's final season (though this was always the plan anyway), and shortly afterward shut down production indefinitely as similar stories about Spacey came pouring in. He was then sent for an unspecified "evaluation and treatment," throwing further doubt on whether the season would be completed. And then ''eight'' crew members came forward with accounts of Spacey's predatory behavior which made them deeply uncomfortable around him. Finally, Spacey was fired a week after the whole thing started, with Netflix still refusing to give up on somehow continuing the show.

** Creator/KevinSpacey has been an executive producer for the show for its entire run. Creator/RobinWright also became an executive producer beginning in season 4.

** Paul Sparks' (Thomas Yates) real life wife Annie Parisse appears as a mother on the Iowa campaign trail.

* StarMakingRole: Creator/KateMara was far from obscure prior to the show, having appeared in a number of critically acclaimed dramas like ''Film/BrokebackMountain'', ''Film/WeAreMarshall'', and ''Film/OneHundredAndTwentySevenHours'' and from her recurring roles on ''Series/TwentyFour'' and ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryMurderHouse''. Additionally, she was well-known for being Creator/RooneyMara's sister. But it was her role as Zoe Barnes that truly put her on the map. Too bad she barely made it past one season.

* TroubledProduction: Filming on Season 6 was interrupted by Creator/AnthonyRapp's accusation that Creator/KevinSpacey had molested him 30 years earlier. Netflix quickly announced that this would be the show's final season (though this was always the plan anyway), and shortly afterward shut down production indefinitely as similar stories about Spacey came pouring in. He was then sent for an unspecified "evaluation and treatment," throwing further doubt on whether the season would be completed. And then ''eight'' crew members came forward with accounts of Spacey's predatory behavior which made them deeply uncomfortable around him.

* TroubledProduction: Filming on Season 6 was interrupted by Creator/AnthonyRapp's accusation that Creator/KevinSpacey had molested him 30 years earlier. Netflix quickly announced that this would be the show's final season (though this was always the plan anyway), and shortly afterward shut down production indefinitely as similar stories about Spacey came pouring in. He was then sent for an unspecified "evaluation and treatment," throwing further doubt on whether the season would be completed.

* RoleEndingMisdemeanor: More like ''Show''-Ending Misdemeanor. Following after actor Creator/AnthonyRapp's allegation against Creator/KevinSpacey that he sexually assaulted him when he was 14, Netflix announced that the show will conclude with season six.

* AsHimself: Several prominent American cable news personalities appear as themselves commenting on Underwood's actions including Sean Hannity, [[Series/TheRachelMaddowShow Rachel Maddow]], and Creator/StephenColbert (in a final appearance in character)

** Kevin Spacey has been an executive producer for the show for its entire run. Robin Wright also became an executive producer beginning in season 4.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Contrast Robin Wright or Michael Kelly with their characters. It's very jarring.

* RoleEndingMisdemeanor: More like ''Show''-Ending Misdemeanor. Following after actor Anthony Rapp's allegation against Kevin Spacey that he sexually assaulted him when he was 14, Netflix announced that the show will conclude with season six.

* StarMakingRole:
** Kate Mara was far from obscure prior to the show, having appeared in a number of critically acclaimed dramas like ''Film/BrokebackMountain'', ''Film/WeAreMarshall'', and ''Film/OneHundredAndTwentySevenHours'' and from her recurring roles on ''Series/TwentyFour'' and ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryMurderHouse''. Additionally, she was well-known for being Creator/RooneyMara's sister. But it was her role as Zoe Barnes that truly put her on the map. Too bad she barely made it past one season.
* TroubledProduction: Filming on Season 6 was interrupted by Anthony Rapp's accusation that Kevin Spacey had molested him 30 years earlier. Netflix quickly announced that this would be the show's final season (though this was always the plan anyway), and shortly afterward shut down production indefinitely as similar stories about Spacey came pouring in. He was then sent for an unspecified "evaluation and treatment," throwing further doubt on whether the season would be completed.
* UnintentionalPeriodPiece: The presidency of Donald Trump caused many accusations that the show suddenly seemed completely irrelevant, with its depiction of an overtly evil president suddenly seeming downright quaint next to the real thing.

** In addition to playing Claire, Creator/RobinWright has directed seven episodes of the show[[note]]Chapter 23 in season 2; chapters 35 and 38 in season 3; and chapters 42, 43, 48, and 49 in season 4[[/note]].

* [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor Show Ending Misdemeanor]]: Following after actor Anthony Rapp's allegation against Kevin Spacey that he sexually assaulted him when he was 14, Netflix announced that the show will conclude with season six.

* MeanCharacterNiceActor: Contrast Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, or Michael Kelly with their characters. It's very jarring.

* ActorAllusion:
** Let's be honest, when Claire is chewed out for running through the cemetery, you half expected the old woman to start shouting [[Film/ThePrincessBride "BOO! BOO! BOO!"]] at her.
** [[Series/VeronicaMars Leonard Lobo]] Seems to have moved his casino business from California to Missouri...and added money laundering to his record, too.

* DirectedByCastMember: In addition to playing Claire, Creator/RobinWright has directed seven episodes of the show[[note]]Chapter 23 in season 2; chapters 35 and 38 in season 3; and chapters 42, 43, 48, and 49 in season 4[[/note]].

* OneOfUs: Frank is an avid fan of video games, specifically first person shooters, that he plays at night to help relax. He also has a collection of ''GearsOfWar'' action figures, stolen from Peter Russo's son, that he keeps in his office desk and uses as props to intimidate a pair of junior congressmen to supporting the Watershed bill. The first thing he notices when he visits Peter Russo's condo is his son's [=PSVita=] lying on the coffee table. Frank picks it up like a kid on Christmas morning and even asks Peter what games he has for it before finally setting it down.

* FakeRussian: Danish Lars Mikkelsen as Russian President Viktor Petrov.

* [[AuthorExistenceFailure Actor Existence Failure]]: Elizabeth Norment, who played Nancy Kaufberger, died between seasons 2 and 3.

* FakeNationality:
** Fake Hispanic: Indian-American Sakina Jaffrey as Hispanic-American Linda Vasquez.
** FakeAmerican: English Jayne Atkinson as Catherine Durant; Swedish-American Joel Kinnaman as Will Conway.
** FakeRussian: Danish Lars Mikkelsen as Russian President Viktor Petrov.
** FakeBrit: Irish Dominique [=McElligot=] as English Hannah Conway.

* ActorAllusion: Let's be honest, when Claire is chewed out for running through the cemetery, you half expected the old woman to start shouting [[Film/ThePrincessBride "BOO! BOO! BOO!"]] at her.

* DirectedByCastMember: Robin Wright is a recurring director for seasons 3 and 4, in addition to Claire.

** FakeAmerican: English Jayne Atkinson as American Catherine Durant; Swedish Joel Kinnaman as Will Conway.

* Anagrams
** The name "Peter Russo" is an anagram for "pressure to," which is central to Underwood's purpose for Russo. Underwood wanted the VP spot, but the problem was the VP was still occupying that position. Knowing the VP was former Governor of Pennsylvania, Underwood expertly crafted a house of cards candidate for the Governor race (Russo), with the sole purpose of collapsing Russo's life through overwhelming pressure from drugs, alcohol and fast women. Pressure was also applied to the VP to feel like an outsider as VP, but to generate nostalgia for the old days he loved as Governor. When Russo imploded, by design, Underwood simply convinced the VP to run for Governor because his people needed him.

* StarMakingRole: Kate Mara was far from obscure prior to the show, having appeared in a number of critically acclaimed dramas like ''Film/BrokebackMountain'', ''Film/WeAreMarshall'', and ''Film/OneHundredAndTwentySevenHours'' and from her recurring roles on ''Series/TwentyFour'' and ''Series/AmericanHorrorStoryMurderHouse''. Additionally, she was well-known for being Creator/RooneyMara's sister. But it was her role as Zoe Barnes that truly put her on the map. Too bad she barely made it past one season.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** Frank Underwood was [[Film/TheUsualSuspects Keyser Soze]] the whole time!
** Claire Underwood is Robin Wright, who was [[Film/ForrestGump Jenny]] and [[Film/ThePrincessBride Buttercup]].
** Turns out that [[Literature/GenerationKill Colonel Ferrando]] was Francis' bodyguard, and [[Literature/GenerationKill Captain Patterson]] is his right-hand man.
** Raymond Tusk not only takes cues from Warren Buffett, but also from Gerald [=McRaney=]'s performance as George Hearst in ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'': both Tusk and Hearst are fantastically wealthy businessmen who use political corruption and strongarm tactics to advance their empires. While at first they seem to be surprisingly down-to-earth and humble, they are actually ruthless and maniacally greedy.
*** There are at least three actors shared with ''Deadwood'': Gerald [=McRaney=] (Raymond Tusk), Molly Parker (Jackie Sharp), and Creator/KimDickens (Kate Baldwin).
** Creator/KimDickens ([[Series/{{Deadwood}} Joanie Stubbs]] / [[Series/{{Treme}} Janette Desautel]]) is now an intrepid reporter.
** The teachers union is represented by [[Series/TheSopranos Mikey Palmice]].
** [[Series/PersonOfInterest Agent Hersh]] is DaEditor of The Washington Herald.
*** The series has ''over ninety'' actors in common with ''Series/PersonOfInterest''.
*** OnlySoManyEquityMembers: East Coast regular casting isn't as robust as West Coast, so overlap is to be expected. Still awesome though.
** [[Series/{{Sherlock}} Charles Augustus Magnussen]] is President of Russia.
** [[Series/BoardwalkEmpire Mickey Doyle]] is hired to write a panegyric book about the President's policies
** Before Heather Dunbar became one of Frank's toughest opponents, she tried to make [[Series/ThirtyRock Liz Lemon join her fight club]].
** [[Franchise/{{Scream}} Sidney]] [[Creator/NeveCampbell Prescott]] is [=LeeAnn=] Harvey.
** Claire's mother [[Film/RequiemForADream used to have a heavy diet pill addiction problem]].
** RoboCop (the 2014 one) is New York governor who's also a Republican candidate for 2016 presidential election.

** Before Heather Dunbar became one of Frank's toughest opponents, she tried to make [[Series/ThirtyRock Liz Lemon]] join her fight club.

** FakeBrit: Irish Dominique [=McElligot=]] as English Hannah Conway.