Starring: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Kate Mara, Michael Kelly, Kristen Connolly
Running Time: 780 minutes
Certificate: 18
Netflix’s initial foray into original programming is perhaps still its most successful – successive attempts HEMLOCK GROVE and the renewed ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT series have surely been met with more critical derision than the HOUSE OF CARDS remake released earlier this year. All three have taken advantage of Netflix’s new release model, where an entire series becomes available for viewing in one fell stroke, rather than the week-in, week-out viewing models of regular network programming. But that’s an argument for another day.
What this meant for HOUSE OF CARDS, all the way back in February of this year, was a ‘viewing binge’ by many subscribers – including this reviewer – taking in all thirteen episodes of the show in just a few days. In some ways, this actually made the often slow-pacing of the show irrelevant, and the content more easily digestible, as episodes more thin on plot and heavy on character could easily be swept aside by more plot-heavy episodes (or vice-versa, depending on what you’re after).
But before we get into that, let’s take a step back and remind ourselves what this is all about in the first place – HOUSE OF CARDS, a political drama, originally set in 1990s Britain and teleported by Netflix to a modern USA milieu. If you’ve had any exposure to this show at all, you’ll know by now that Kevin Spacey essentially owned Netflix for a brief period back in February (though Corey Stoll threatens to steal the limelight more than once, but more on that later) in his role as leading man Frank Underwood, the politician passed over for Secretary of State who decides to take his revenge on those who betrayed him – and hell hath no fury like a politician scorned.
The show is more than happy to take its time over the series, drawing out multiple subplots as Frank crosses paths with journalists, politicians and all manner of seedy characters, as he manipulates the world around him to his own benefit. There’s a strange pleasure to be had in seeing Frank’s various plans come to fruition, all unbeknownst to his colleagues. Of course, we know – mainly thanks to the show’s alternate framing device, whereupon Spacey regularly breaks the fourth wall to address the audience directly. At first it seems like a strange move but after an episode or two you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.
And yet, the powerhouse performance of Spacey is not the only one that HOUSE OF CARDS boasts; the majority of its superb cast – and yes, Corey Stoll in particular as troubled politician and alcoholic Peter Russo – deliver performances throughout the series that, combined with the beautifully cinematic production values, often put it on the same level as HBO’s top-notch programming. It’s not perfect – the writing falls down in parts, with a couple of episodes dropping the ball on the fine balance between character and plot – and yet, the very nature of Netflix’s release model almost makes up for this. As long as you have the time, Netflix has the quantity to allow you to gloss over these episodes and get back into the meat of the show.
HOUSE OF CARDS, ultimately, is a show for cynics – one which is unrelenting in its portrayal of politics, and offers no apologies to the personalities oft found within that sphere. It’s darkly humorous and yet tinged with a sadness that only the subtlety of Kevin Spacey’s performance could hope to bring to the role of Frank Underwood; one which is as complex as the political world which it encompasses. If you’re a Netflix subscriber already, you’ve no excuse for not watching this. And if you’re not – well, grab yourself a free trial and give this a watch. You won’t regret it.
HOUSE OF CARDS is released on DVD June 10th
