Netflix House of Cards (2013)

Anyone else enjoying this? I have been gorging on it all day, and my! What a sumptuous banquet.

I am not through with it yet, but everything so far in these 10 episodes has been top notch. It pays homage to the original, without being a slave to it. Kevin Spacey nails it and the cinematography is fantastic.

I have 3 episodes left to see...

edited 1st Feb '13 6:10:59 PM by korpse_man

I don't have netflix but have questions about this. I was actually thinking of making a thread about American adaptions a week ago but then I encountered Internet problems.

For one thing is there anything as disturbing as Mattie screaming Daddy! While falling to her death?

I've not paid too much attention to Kevin Spacy. I know some people see him as one of the greatest actors of his generation, I'd put him a couple of rungs below that. But in the trailer he seemed really stale, it made me think watching him so much could get really boring.

Also is he a Republican or a Democrat? I see problems with both tbh, it would have been better to make him a Republican at a time when they were in power.

Edit: Sorry if this seems really negative. I will admit to being slightly disinclined towards liking the show, but probably not as much as I come across here.

edited 1st Feb '13 8:06:16 PM by C0mraid

Am I a good man or a bad man?

House of Cards? Remake. That's all you need to know. You want the real deal, watch the original starring Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Cards_(UK_TV_series)

Spacey is a good actor, don't get me wrong, but Richardson could act him out of his socks by just raising one reptilian eyelid.

This is that I've been seeing mentions of where they released the entire thing exclusively on there all in one day and the idea that it's there for people take in all at once, right?

Turns out if you live in the US, UK or Canada. You can see the premier for free. Click here.

Its an adult series no question. And the 'undertone' like the relationship in the original is there. But the series takes a different path with it.

As for Spacey he makes sure the character has enough depth and he makes it work. He's a democrat in this.

If you compare Spacey to Richardson. Spacey loses. Richardson makes acting seem so effortless and has affablyevil nailed down. But spacey works well with the material and it plays to his strengths.

One thing i didn't like about the new series was when Francis was Breaking the Fourth Wall. In the original he always did it at times when he was alone or times when it felt naturally to for him to speak with his viewer co-conspirators. In the new one he sometimes does it when he is doing a public speech!

Yes. The idea is we have become a generation who prefer to watch multiple episodes at a time.

Is he still married? The relationship with Dianne Fletcher's Mrs Urqhart — and the wife had with Mattie — retained? That was probably more chilling that Francis's deal with Mattie. Probably the most disturbing part of the series was how feeble she'd make FU, and how she was basically his pimp, his Lady Macbeth, and his ultimate executioner.

So I take it that Kate Mara doesn't get dropped off any buildings, then? Mara's pretty dead on casting for Susannah Harker, though. Capable of being worldly and driven, yet hideously naive and vulnerable. Does FU still poison annoying Irish lobbyists?

Incidentally, Dianne Fletcher is one of the most impressive drag actors I've ever seen. Not that you'd know that from watching the original series.

More or less annoying that the billionty shots of rats? In retrospect, that was probably an embarrassing literal incision. It's a rat race, geddit? A RAT RACE! MARGARET THATCHER!

edited 3rd Feb '13 5:44:43 AM by Nicknacks

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She's in it. The lovely Robin Wright Playing Against Type. In the original she was the power behind Urqhart (The chilling moment she suggest he should run for prime minister and puts her hand on his shoulder) She's more of a equal here. She has her own Machiavellian plot regarding a clean water charity she runs. She knows of the affair and allows it.

The series is ongoing and the nature of american politics means they can stretch out FU's quest for the top job. she has yet to confront him with the information.

He murders a congressman by car carbon monoxide gassing.

I had completely forgotten about the rats! Ruddy awful 90's symbolism...

In the original the asides fit better, he did it moments when he was alone (In the toilet, back seat of his limo etc) in the new one he does he when when people he is conspiring against are in the same room or he is making a public speech. Its jarring.

edited 3rd Feb '13 6:22:05 AM by korpse_man

Even on the commentary the producer, screenwriter and Ian Richardson mocked the rats. The director, who copped the blame, wasn't there though.

Another question; Does this take any elements from the other two miniseries? I'd doubt they'd properly adapt The Final Cut, obviously To Play the King wouldn't work.

Re Urqhart's relationships: Adult or not, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite so disturbing in that way on an American TV. Twin Peaks might come the closest actually, HBO fail in that regard. Don't get me wrong, in some ways HBO type stuff really pushes boundaries, but in other ways it's never touched films or some British TV. (Just watched an episode of Cracker.)

edited 3rd Feb '13 9:05:50 AM by C0mraid

Am I a good man or a bad man?

The nature of those shows mainly being about Urquhart consolidating or strengthening his power. Means they are not at that stage yet. However the sub-plot of his wife having an affair is included

edited 3rd Feb '13 11:10:24 AM by korpse_man

The White Wedding two-parter has one of the most fucked up reveals I've ever seen. Why won't Daddy abuse me!? It's the twist from House Of Cards taken to overpowering extremes. Still largely believable though, terrifyingly enough.

That, and the absolutely horrific motivations in The Big Crunch and Men Should Weep. That was sick.

White Ghost was kind of rubbish though. I don't know what it was trying to say about colonialism.

edited 5th Feb '13 5:31:05 AM by Nicknacks

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From the one review I've read about it, it sounds interesting, but like most things I see on Netflix, I probably won't actually watch it for awhile.

My PM box is always open to anyone who wants to talk/vent.

While I don't doubt it's well-acted, you have to wonder how relevant this story is. For one, it's been told already, and what do you get from rehashing it in Washington? Politically, I am very cynical but not drawn to paranoid theories like many Americans. It seems plausible to them that our leaders are snake-headed aliens. Myself, I think of politicians as sort of clerks who rubber-stamp laws written by big companies. So House of Cards should be altered to reflect the times. And if you're going to do that then why call it House of Cards, really.

I'm a skeptical squirrel

Wow... surprising to see that this show has gotten so little love on this site. Definitely thought this thread would've been bigger as well, especially given how Frank Underwood's character basically hits almost all the requirements for being a chessmaster, gambit-er, or whatever have you. But to bring this thread back from the dead...

I've started watching this on Netflix due to a recommendation from a friend, and I must say it is quite the series. I'm only on the end of the 4th episode so far, so I've yet to see any of the ending or it's twists. Now, I know this might lead to some spoilers or something, so please don't blurt out anything big if so, but does Underwood ever actually construct anything creative while in office? Cause from what I've caught so far, he seems to do nothing but actions to promote his own agenda, and doesn't even care if he ends up wrecking something good in the process. So... does he ever contribute anything positive at the end?

Just get past Episode 6. You'll see.

The series is quite good and I can't wait till the next season comes out. I watched the UK version last month at the suggestion of a friend and decided to put the US version on my list of shows worth taking a look at. Interesting story: my Dad(he manages a retail store) actually sold some of his furniture as props to the people working on the set.

edited 19th Aug '13 4:24:50 PM by Stevron

Sony fan here.

I'm so ready for season 2. Underwood 2014!

edited 26th Jan '14 4:30:54 PM by SpaceWolf

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This starts back up, in two weeks.

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That soon!?

I thought this couldn't hold a candle to the British version. I'm actually fairly annoyed that the show didn't have the heart to follow through on the original ending, and only went halfway. In the original, Kate Mara's character also dies. Urquhart chucks her off a building while she's screaming for her "Daddy".

I can see why that ending didn't fly. Or her.

I also think the actress who plays the wife is miscast here, but that's probably because I'm too familiar with the original. She's more manly there, and more the power behind the throne. That version of Urquhart is, in many ways, quite a weak man.

edited 1st Feb '14 8:37:03 AM by Nicknacks

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I still have yet to watch the British version, but I know a few things. Anyway, given that he's just risen to Vice President, therefore extending the length of the plot, I don't think that the plot of the first miniseries is fully covered. Correct me, if I'm wrong.

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It's basically been covered, with a few alterations.

I think they're substituting the American President for another character that appears in To Play The King (i.e. the sequel).

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Ah, okay.

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I just watched the first episode of season 2.

holy shit

He threw her in front of a fucking train!

And the monologue at the end. I had fucking chills. The credits started rolling and I was absolutely terrified.

Well, this was a trainwreck.

*ahem* Could not resist.

Loved the Visual Pun at the end.

"You can reply to this Message!"

Just finished the new season. The lack of a monologue in the Oval Office at the end made for a nice "give me more!" moment.

"Urge to thump... rising." -Fighteer

So far I've finished five episodes of Season 2 and I'm liking it even better than the first season.

edited 23rd Feb '14 9:49:06 AM by Stevron

Sony fan here.

Finished the second season last week.

Hail to the President! Hail to the Chief!

And let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that)