Ok, I’m late to the party. I meant to watch House of Cards when it was shown on Sky Atlantic, but somehow didn’t. I’ve had the DVD on my shelf for two years but somehow it’s always been overtaken by something else – Covert Affairs, 24 and others. Anyway, a couple of nights ago I sat down to start the marathon. It didn’t hook me in the first episode. Or the second. I’m now on the ninth and and although I am not not enjoying it, I’m not really enjoying it! I just don’t find Kevin Spacey convincing at the Francis Urquhart character. And save us from those oral sex scenes. Were they really necessary? Yuk.
The trouble is that although the original House of Cards seems very dated now, it is still head and shoulders above the Spacey version. He doesn’t channel the sinisterness of F.U as well as Ian Richardson and the plot veers too often towards the ridiculous. Does anyone seriously imagine that any political party in the US would pick a gubernatorial candidate like Peter Russo? No, me neither.
The one character I do like is Clare, Francis Underwood’s wife. A striking looking woman, she plays the part brilliantly and is quite sinister in her own right.
I’m going to stick with it, and will no doubt watch the second series as well, if only to see if it gets any better. I’m not hopeful.
Meanwhile, I am very much looking forward to season 4 of Covert Affairs. If you haven’t tried Covert Affairs, give it a go. It’s about a female CIA operative who gets herself into all sorts of pickles. It’s got echoes of 24, but with some great humour and some fantastic characters. President Logan from 24 is one of the key characters.
