Friday, February 17, 2012

House of Cards Trilogy


(This post is part of a series on the 14 Top TV Dramas You’ve Never Seen)

Number 7 in our countdown of The Top TV Dramas You’ve Never Seen, is the House of Cards trilogy, consisting of  House of Cards, To Play the King, and The Final Cut. Machiavelli could have taken lessons from Francis Urquhart, the fictional British politician in this trilogy. Ian Richardson is brilliant in the role, as he schemes to become leader of the governing party and prime minister.

The series finds inspiration from Shakespeare's Macbeth and Richard III, both of which deal with power, ambition, and corruption. Urquhart frequently speaks to the audience through the camera, as seen in the clip below, breaking the fourth wall. The clip of Frances Urquhart (abbreviated as F.U., not unintentionally) is utterly brilliant and a bit jarring: I can’t recall ever being lectured by a character as he is using a urinal. Awkward? “You might very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment” (as F.U. would say).

Definitely the finest political drama ever made.

Internet Movie Database listing: House of Cards; To Play the King; The Final Cut      
Episode guide: House of Cards; To Play the King; The Final Cut       



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