House of cards: what to make of the mess?

One of the consequences of Kevin Spacey’s wrongdoings is that he got himself fired from Netflix’s House of cards. This consequence is what I’m going to use as a coat rack to hang this article upon. Let’s start with a critique.

House of cards wasn’t very good anymore.

I wrote about this problem before: any story is about the road travelled. Once the destination is reached the story is over. That’s why TV-shows like the Walking dead keep on putting our heroes in danger.

The destination in House of cards was the presidency. After that the show became: keeping the presidency. You might have an interesting sidetrack or two like America/Russia relations but a show should never lose track of the main destination.

So House of cards season one and two was about getting the presidency. Season three was about getting re-elected. But by then the nasty deeds Frank Underwood had committed along the way should have come to haunt him. Instead the seasons after opted for all kinds of shenanigans (even getting him shot –more about that later). It started dragging – the show runners had lost track of the destination. In fact, I believe, they bypassed the destination.

In this sense the firing of the main character/actor/star might be a blessing in disguise.

Bring on the first lady.

Regardless of whether or not you liked Hillary Clinton or not; the fact that she lost the presidential race begs the question: did she lose because she is a woman?

Now, I don’t really believe this. But still this element of gender (and male dominance) is something the show could 'play around with'. The notion that a woman can never become president unless a man 'allows' her (by dying or something).

In House of cards it was always Claire Underwood who, like a lady Macbeth, urged her husband on behind the scenes. She was the one who wanted the main prize –willing to suggest anything to get it. She was, in fact, the one pulling his strings.
So with Frank Underwood gone Claire gets her moment to shine. Which could become bittersweet when the sins of her husband come to haunt her (a woman taken down by a man).

Just watch the original.

I am one of the last people who, sometimes, buys DVD’s. Last week I bought the original House of cards series. I can tell you right off: this BBC production is superior to the American version in almost every way.

Apart from the ring-knocking.

The main reason being that the United Kingdom still has a king or queen who can get in the way. So ensuring the presidency (or becoming prime minister) isn’t the endgame: one could still become king.

Our ‘Urquhart’ doesn’t become king. But he’d be damned if he doesn’t become the longest reigning prime minister in British history.

Three seasons, that’s all it took to tell this tale. And, to be honest, the third season is the weakest of the bunch. But it does build up to the inevitable finale that every viewer wants. It is truly that perfect (if, not, a bit expected).

Basically the American House of cards went on after season three (the final season) of the original show ended. And, for me, it didn’t pan out – it didn’t work. Now that Frank Underwood is gone it might. With Claire at the reigns the next season of House of cards might continue fresh where the original British version stopped.

A blessing in disguise?

Sometimes, something can be a blessing in disguise. With Spacey out of the picture House of cards is now focussed solely on the character of Claire Underwood. A female powerhouse. But how long can she hold on until the sins of her husband (and her own) bring her down?