House of Cards

I finally finished the second of two seasons of this Netflix Original show.  It’s based on a British show I have no patience or inclination to watch, as someday – like all other mortals – I won’t be alive any longer.  In fact, I’m not getting any younger.  Is anyone?  Anyhow.

It’s January 20, and US President Garrett Walker (Michael Gill) is being sworn in.   Behind the scenes, House Majority Whip (D-SC) Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) eagerly awaits the post of Secretary of State, his reward for doing so much to get Walker into the Oval Office.

Not so fast, Frank.  It seems the President has other plans.  Nope, no cabinet posts at all.  “We think you’ll do better right where you are.”  Huh?   Naturally, Frank is not happy.  Naturally, Frank plots his revenge.  Naturally, Frank does not tell the President about these plans.

Early on, he befriends an ambitious-but-cute Washington Post reporter, Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), feeding her inside stories in between naughty time in her cramped and decrepit DC apartment, much to the jealousy of fellow reporter Lucas Goodwin (Sebastian Arcelus).  Did I mention that the NY bitch from “Boston Legal”, Constance Zimmer, is here too?  She is.  Sorry, no transvestite Uncle Ruckus here.

His wife Claire (Robin Wright, Forrest Gump’s slutty GF) does a good Lady MacBeth here, sharing his intrigue.  Short of sleeping with her twin brother – does she even have one? – she’s just shy of Cersei Lannister for sheer evil, the perfect companion for Frank.  And while he’s nailing Zoe, she’s got her own action with pretentious B&W artsy photographer Adam Galloway (Ben Daniels). 

Season 1 focuses mainly on Frank’s attempt to get a messed up, alcoholic cokehead Rep. from PA, Peter Russo (Corey Stoll, who will be in TWO new movies coming out, but looking exactly the same) elected governor of Pennsylvania.   Predictably, that goes down in flames, but it gets the VP to slide in as the PA Governor and Frank can thus take over as VP, just an embarrassing resignation-to-avoid-impeachment away from the top spot.

Season 2 focuses on an old chum of the President’s, Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney), a wealthy businessman from Missouri with big business in China - he even speaks Mandarin.  Never quite friends, it doesn’t take long for Tusk and Frank to start bumping ugly and pissing at each other.  After receiving a nonstop barrage of horrendous advice from Frank, which gets him impeached, the President finally suspects that Frank is up to something – too late.  D’oh!

Not since Iago from Shakespeare’s Othello do we have a villain so deliciously evil as Frank Underwood – yes, that includes Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish (Aiden Gillen) from “Game of Cards”, err… “House of Thrones”….err… “Game of Thrones.” 

Fourth Wall.   Here’s the real brilliance of this show:  Frank likes to talk to the audience.  He faces the camera and shares secrets with us.   It’s even better than Michael Weston’s (Jeffrey Donovan) voice-over narration in “Burn Notice”.   No one else does this, mind you, just Frank.  (Freddy faces the camera: “if they only knew I just went around to Safeway and bought these ribs, then sell them as my own.”)   No matter how evil Frank is, because we’re in on it with him, how can we help but like him?  We’re part of the conspiracy!  D’oh! 

Someone commented on the Net that the series was implausible, as Frank is a little TOO competent.  Even Reagan wasn’t this diabolical, was he?  Nixon?  Clinton?  Can we think of ANY of our Presidents who can compare with him?  Hmm, perhaps not.  Maybe that's a good thing...

But does it really matter?  We know dragons don’t exist, and that doesn’t stop us from watching “Game of Thrones”.  So sink your teeth into it and enjoy.   And wait for Season 3….