Table of Contents
House Of Cards
Adaptation
It is based on Michael Dobbs' novel and is an adaptation of the BBC miniseries of the same name.1)
Premiere
The thirteen-episode first season launched on the streaming service Netflix on February 1, 2013.2)
Next Seasons
Seasons of thirteen episodes were released on February 14, 2014, February 27, 2015, and March 4, 2016. Netflix has a fifth season, which was released on May 30, 2017. It has 6 seasons.3)
About
House of Cards is set in 2010s Washington, D.C., and follows Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), a Democrat from South Carolina's 5th congressional district and House Majority Whip. After being turned up for appointment as Secretary of State, he devises a complex plot to gain greater authority, with the help of his wife, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright).4)
Themes
The series focuses on themes of brutal pragmatism, manipulation, and power.5)
Awards
House of Cards has gotten favorable reviews and nominations for various awards. It has garnered 33 Primetime Emmy Award nominations to date, including Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor (Spacey), and Outstanding Lead Actress (Wright).6)
Web TV Series
It is the first major Emmy nomination for an original online-only web television series.7)
Golden Globe
The program also received eight Golden Globe nominations, with Wright taking home the award for Best Actress - Television Series Drama in 2014 and Spacey taking home the award for Best Actor - Television Series Drama in 2015.8)
House Of Cards 1990
House of Cards is based on a BBC drama of the same name that aired in 1990. However, it was just a four-episode series, maybe because British political intrigue isn't nearly as convoluted and is usually resolved over a cup of tea.9)
Michael Dobbs
The UK House of Cards was adapted from a novel by Michael Dobbs, who was Margaret Thatcher's chief of staff from 1986 to 1987 and the Conservative Party's deputy chairman from 1994 to 1995.10)
Political Backstabbing
Willimon engaged Jay Carson, an old college classmate and current political strategist who had previously worked with Michael Bloomberg, Howard Dean, and the Clintons, to really nail the political backstabbing.11)
Woody Allen
Kevin Spacey used House of Cards as his… calling card in an attempt to persuade Woody Allen, whom he dearly loved, to collaborate with him. He mailed Allen a Netflix subscription with the comment, “I'm not sure whether you've seen my work, but you might want to watch this series”. Allen said that he would love to collaborate with him on a project. There's more political wrangling going on.12)
Preparing For The Role
Kevin Spacey spoke with Kevin McCarthy, the Republican House Majority Whip from California, to better grasp Frank Underwood's stance.13)
Location
Although the majority of the episode takes place in Washington, DC, the White House is a replica on a studio in Joppa, Maryland.14)
Kevin Spacey Injury
Kevin Spacey injured his hand while carrying a burning flag while filming advertising stills. In episode nine of the third season, he “conveniently” burnt his palm with coffee and had to wear a bandage to cover it up.15)