House of Cards Review *Spoiler Alert*

House of Cards is an Original Netflix Series

In the series, House of Cards, narrator and protagonist Frank Underwood plays a very strategic, albeit manipulative, House Whip for the Democratic Party. As viewers, we follow Frank’s life and watch him systematically take down every obstacle which stands between him and his rise to power. Ultimately, he hopes to become the president and indeed, in the last episode of the second season, he is sworn in as the President of the United States.

The show is captivating in part by the sheer cunning and ruthlessness of Frank. He is so cordial to everyone he meets, and yet the viewers know just how deceptive and manipulative he really is. Frank can also be quite surprising at times. Just when you think you have him figured out, he’ll murder a reporter and a Congressman and then turn around and offer to take the blame for the president’s criminal charges. Frank’s wife, Claire, is also very cunning and manipulative though she wears her callousness on her sleeve. In one episode she tells a pregnant employee, whose insurance she cut off, that she’d be willing to let her baby wither and die inside her. And yet, sometimes Frank and Clair show signs of weakness and emotion, reminding us that they, too, are human. Thus, one of the strong points of the show is its captivating and dynamic characters.

Kevin Spacey plays Frank Underwood

Still, perhaps the most interesting aspect of the show is its exposure of how decisions are made in Congress and in the White House. Throughout season one, Frank often sets the media agenda by carefully controlling what information gets leaked. In several episodes, viewers also see Frank control what legislation fails or gets passed through Congress, based solely on his personal agenda. Viewers also catch a glimpse of how strong the influence of corporate lobbyists can be, and consequently how money directs everyone’s decisions (though Frank purports to love power more than money).

Personally, I’ve enjoyed the show because I spent a summer interning in D.C. and it’s interesting to see D.C. life played out in a drama. I’ve been shocked at how well the show depicts D.C. culture. Yet the show also saddens me because I know that corporations really do have too much influence over Congress, and in fact, poor decisions are made which benefit certain individuals or corporations but are detrimental to the American people. Nevertheless, it’s a captivating series and I’d recommend the show to anyone regardless of whether or not they follow politics. Like many others, my eyes will be peeled for season three!

If I haven’t spoiled too much and you’re interested in watching the show, check out the trailer for season one!