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| Kevin Spacey plays the wicked Congressman Frank Underwood in the political drama series "House of Cards" shown in Netflix. |
Frank Underwood is the anti-hero in what I believe is the best political drama series to date—House of Cards—that offers a backstage pass to the halls of the United States Congress, its working environs and the portrayal of Washington D.C. as a melting pot of people good and bad.
House of Cards’ fluid storytelling can be credited to both concept and good direction—it’s as if the production team plans to drop a bombshell in every episode, a thing they managed to achieve. Each episode—from the beginning until the very end of its first season—offers a gripping tale of influence, interests, ambition, revenge and one’s thirst for power. The themes tackled by House of Cards can be very vague ideas to an ordinary person, but as the story unfolds, the audience can understand how these fuel the ineffable desire to wield power and influence and stay on the top.
Congressman Underwood, a Democrat, is the complete representation of that. He just doesn’t want to be seen; he wanted to be significant. After being backstabbed by the President who failed his promise to make him Secretary of State, Frank plots revenge to the administration he helped elect. In doing so, he gets the nod and help of his equally ambitious wife Claire, who heads the non-profit organization called Clean Water Initiative.
As the show suggests, politicians like Frank (played by the great Kevin Spacey) can be covered by good imaging and well-thought public relations strategy. Through this, politicians are fashioned as god-like individuals to make them appear clean, fresh and appealing to the public that elects them to public office. How they managed to get on top or how they struggle to stay there remains unblemished and kept away from the public’s keen scrutiny.
This is how Frank Underwood fashions himself, laying his cards one step at a time without tarnishing his unstained reputation. He sits as House Majority Whip—enough reason to explain his insurmountable amount of influence. As he lays down his cards, he utilizes this influence to advance his own interests and personal ambitions.
More often than not, politics can be like that. As writer James Poniewozik puts it, you are either eating flesh, or you are on the menu.
Watching the first season of House of Cards is truly entertaining. Watching it makes you a part of a wicked world, and as Frank Underwood talks to you straight to the camera, you can’t help but be a part of his wicked ways to not just be part of the circle of the powerful but be the most significant of them all. You knew, but hates to admit, that he definitely won you over.
Louie.
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| The Second Season of House of Cards will be released February 14, 2014. |
