Contains Spoiler This is also one of those rare instances when the television program one-ups the novel, mainly with regard to the ending. After all, you have to have a sequel!
"House of Cards" gives new meaning to the old saw, "Old age and cunning will win out over youth and enthusiasm." Ian Richardson's Francis Urquhart is the epitome of gleefully ruthless, Machiavellian, ice water-in-the-veins political opportunist. He's playing chess while every other person he is surrounded by is playing checkers -- except for his wife, a latter-day Lady Macbeth if ever there was one. Great performances all the way around, but Richardson is the delightful centerpiece from beginning to end and makes this series a classic. It's too bad that A) the Mattie Storin character won't be around in the future (SORRY FOR THE SPOILER) and that B) BBC has taken so long to release this for sale. I finally managed to buy copies of this and "To Play the King" after searching for several years. What's with their merchandising department, anyway?
The chief problem for a lot of American viewers is that this show is almost totally devoid of "action" and violence, so for the A-Team/Miami Vice/Baywatch crowd this is likely to be a very boring program. For those who like to watch something thought-provoking, you'll love this!
"House of Cards" gives new meaning to the old saw, "Old age and cunning will win out over youth and enthusiasm." Ian Richardson's Francis Urquhart is the epitome of gleefully ruthless, Machiavellian, ice water-in-the-veins political opportunist. He's playing chess while every other person he is surrounded by is playing checkers -- except for his wife, a latter-day Lady Macbeth if ever there was one. Great performances all the way around, but Richardson is the delightful centerpiece from beginning to end and makes this series a classic. It's too bad that A) the Mattie Storin character won't be around in the future (SORRY FOR THE SPOILER) and that B) BBC has taken so long to release this for sale. I finally managed to buy copies of this and "To Play the King" after searching for several years. What's with their merchandising department, anyway?
The chief problem for a lot of American viewers is that this show is almost totally devoid of "action" and violence, so for the A-Team/Miami Vice/Baywatch crowd this is likely to be a very boring program. For those who like to watch something thought-provoking, you'll love this!