For those of you who have watched the series Damages starring Glenn Close then you’ll see the similarities between her character and Kevin Spacey’s Francis Underwood in House of Cards. He is brilliant and ruthless which is a deadly combination for anyone who gets in his way. In combination with his equally determined and drop dead gorgeous wife Claire (played by Robin Wright) they are a strong pair. Instead of taking place in a courtroom like Damages this happens on Capitol Hill in the political arena. Back door deals, corruption, sex, greed, and everything happening in the shadows.
The series turned some heads recently with its Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series as it not a network series rather is one that is available only on Netflix. Lead actors Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright also were nominated along with director David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club). Watch it and you’ll realize that it is full value for the nominations.
Chapter 1: Francis Underwood (played by Kevin Spacey) feels stabbed in the back when the newly elected President (played by Michael Gill) goes back on a promise to him to make him Secretary of State. Realizing he is further away from prize than he wants to be so he goes on the offensive.
Chapter 2: Francis cosies up to a young female reporter at the Herald, Zoe Barnes (played by Kate Mara). Claire makes a tough decision at work.
Chapter 3: Francis has to leave the negotiations with the teachers’ union in order to deal with something in his home district. Zoe has to deal with being the new hot journalist.
Chapter 4: Representative Peter Russo (played by Corey Stoll) has to make the difficult choice between career and family. Zoe is offered the job of being the White House correspondent.
Chapter 5: Francis’s fight with the teachers’ union keeps going hot and heavy. His fight compromises what Claire is trying to do at work.
Chapter 6: Claire is thrown by Steve’s (played by Chance Kelly) deathbed confession. Francis goes hard at the teachers’ union.
Chapter 7: Peter has to face up to his past. Doug Stamper (played by Michael Kelly) tries to hush up a secret.
Chapter 8: Francis and Claire travel to his alma mater to celebrate them naming the library after him. Peter returns to his home town of Philadelphia to see if he can mend fences with voters.
Chapter 9: Peter and Vice President Matthews (played by Dan Ziskie) hit the campaign trail together. Claire begins to think that she has to look out for herself.
Chapter 10: Francis feels like he is facing a rebellion on all sides. Zoe tells him she wants to stop seeing him, Claire leaves without telling him where she is going and Peter issues him an ultimatum.
Chapter 11: Claire is in New York with Adam Galloway (played by Ben Daniels). Peter finds himself being tempted by his old demons.
Chapter 12: Zoe, Janine (played by Constance Zimmer) and Lucas (played by Sebastian Arcelus) get closer to the truth. Francis has to make a trip he wasn’t planning on.
Chapter 13: Francis has to work hard to keep his plan moving forward. Claire begins to regret decisions she made in the past.
