Review House of Cards (2013)
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Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Your thoughts on this show.....
A Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.
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Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Carol
Member: Rank 5
HUGE respect to Mr Spacey, both as an actor and for all his amazing work at the Old Vic.
Haven't had a chance to see any of the American take on this, but has anyone else here seen the REAL (oops, original, as in, British) House of Cards Trilogy?
Francis Urquhart could take every American president, simultaneously, and his wife mop up the entire UN, without breaking a sweat.
(OK not Bartlett - I give you Bartlett. And Lincoln And, yes, Washington - I respect a man with a viable tax dodge any day. And those Georges, nothing to do with me...)
Haven't had a chance to see any of the American take on this, but has anyone else here seen the REAL (oops, original, as in, British) House of Cards Trilogy?
Francis Urquhart could take every American president, simultaneously, and his wife mop up the entire UN, without breaking a sweat.
(OK not Bartlett - I give you Bartlett. And Lincoln And, yes, Washington - I respect a man with a viable tax dodge any day. And those Georges, nothing to do with me...)
Dearly adore the UK original, nobody can better it. With all due respect, Francis Urquhart would also mop the floor with Frank Underwood and Co., and never turn a hair.
Carol
Member: Rank 5
And due respect right back at'cha - I hope to connect with the American version some time soon - goiven the cast, won't be half bad - but with the original, there was a time and a place when it was urgent, observational TV - bring me some anti-Trump soon, please!
And don't get me started on Edge Of Darkness.
I'd have given a lot to have been in Britain when this originally aired; the US version is pretty decent--Spacey is watchable in darn near anything--but it lacks the edge and immediacy of the original. It also lacks the divine Ian Richardson, so the remake had a major deficit going against it from square one, lol.
Carol
Member: Rank 5
I think that's it exactly - a time and a place - I read an absolutely splendid piece with Robin Wright just the other day... I'm sure the US version has all the integrity and insight of the original, but - the original was lethal - FU couldn't survive endless recommissions by the network. Spacey is a genius actor, but FU is a flawed politician and we need to see political monsters stopped in their tracks. If by their own wives - fine - worked for me.
The original was razor-sharp, and retains a keen edge today--maybe more so than ever. It isn't just British political malfeasance it reflects so brutally, and hilariously. The chief problem with the US version is that, at this point, it's just going on too bloody long; the very lethalness of the UK version was due in no small part to its brevity. I've read Richardson only agreed to do the third installment if there was the guarantee that FU would be dispatched in the end, he didn't feel he could go any further with the character as an actor. Would that Spacey had shown the same continence, because I think the remake could have been a lot deadlier if it weren't being diluted by going on and on with a myriad of plots and subplots that are undercutting the thrust of the basic story, i.e. Underwood's Machiavellian schemings for political power.
BTW, do you know where I could find the Robin Wright piece? I'd love to read it.
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Carol
Member: Rank 5
Sorry to take so long, petal - I've been out of circulation a while - think this was it:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-...t-trump-he-took-all-house-of-cards-good-ideas
Thanks! Been away from the computer awhile myself, and not much catch-up time recently. But this one looks like a must read just from the title, lol.
EDIT: Just read this and thoroughly enjoyed it, Wright sounds a feisty broad alright. Which makes it a pity that she's never seen the original--I suspect she might have enjoyed Diane Fletcher's smolderingly icy Lady Macbeth of a Mrs. Urquhart very much indeed.
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Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Netflix Ending “House of Cards” Next Season
Netflix is set to end its political drama series “House of Cards” with the upcoming sixth season which began production in Maryland this month and is set to premiere in 2018.
The announcement arrives in the immediate wake of sexual assault allegations against its star Kevin Spacey. “Star Trek: Discovery” star Anthony Rapp alleges that Spacey had sexually assaulted him at a party in 1986 when he was 14. Spacey apologized to Rapp in a statement released hours later, saying he was “beyond horrified” by Rapp’s story and that he did not recall the incident.
Spacey was also criticized Monday by GLAAD and gay activists for coming out in his statement in a way that, intentional or not, appeared to deflect attention from Rapp’s accusation. Netflix and producer Media Rights Capital on Monday released a statement on Spacey, saying:
“Media Rights Capital and Netflix are deeply troubled by last night’s news concerning Kevin Spacey. In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported. As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time.”
Additionally former showrunner Beau Willimon, who ran the series for four seasons before stepping aside for Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese, issued the following statement:
“Anthony Rapp’s story is deeply troubling. During the time I worked with Kevin Spacey on House of Cards, I neither witnessed nor was aware of any inappropriate behavior on set or off. That said, I take reports of such behavior seriously and this is no exception. I feel for Mr. Rapp and I support his courage.”
THR adds that this was always going to be the final season of the show even before allegations against Spacey were made public. While Netflix has yet to issue an official statement about the allegations, the timing of the announcement seems like a pretty clear statement in and of itself considering Netflix execs remained largely silent during the Harvey Weinstein scandal earlier this month (Weinstein & Netflix collaborated on projects).
Netflix is set to end its political drama series “House of Cards” with the upcoming sixth season which began production in Maryland this month and is set to premiere in 2018.
The announcement arrives in the immediate wake of sexual assault allegations against its star Kevin Spacey. “Star Trek: Discovery” star Anthony Rapp alleges that Spacey had sexually assaulted him at a party in 1986 when he was 14. Spacey apologized to Rapp in a statement released hours later, saying he was “beyond horrified” by Rapp’s story and that he did not recall the incident.
Spacey was also criticized Monday by GLAAD and gay activists for coming out in his statement in a way that, intentional or not, appeared to deflect attention from Rapp’s accusation. Netflix and producer Media Rights Capital on Monday released a statement on Spacey, saying:
“Media Rights Capital and Netflix are deeply troubled by last night’s news concerning Kevin Spacey. In response to last night’s revelations, executives from both of our companies arrived in Baltimore this afternoon to meet with our cast and crew to ensure that they continue to feel safe and supported. As previously scheduled, Kevin Spacey is not working on set at this time.”
Additionally former showrunner Beau Willimon, who ran the series for four seasons before stepping aside for Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese, issued the following statement:
“Anthony Rapp’s story is deeply troubling. During the time I worked with Kevin Spacey on House of Cards, I neither witnessed nor was aware of any inappropriate behavior on set or off. That said, I take reports of such behavior seriously and this is no exception. I feel for Mr. Rapp and I support his courage.”
THR adds that this was always going to be the final season of the show even before allegations against Spacey were made public. While Netflix has yet to issue an official statement about the allegations, the timing of the announcement seems like a pretty clear statement in and of itself considering Netflix execs remained largely silent during the Harvey Weinstein scandal earlier this month (Weinstein & Netflix collaborated on projects).
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Netflix Considers “House of Cards” Spin-Offs
Mere hours after they announced plans to end “House of Cards” with its upcoming sixth season, Netflix is reportedly moving forward on a proposed spin-off to the political beltway drama.
Media Rights Capital, which produces the series, is in early stages of development on at least three different potential ideas – the most notable being one revolving around Doug Stamper, the political aide-de-camp played by actor Michael Kelly. That take has Eric Roth, an executive producer on the first four seasons, set to write.
At least two other spinoff ideas are also being explored but don’t have writers attached. All will take place in the same universe as ‘Cards’.
Despite the recent allegations made against Kevin Spacey, all indications are the show was originally planning to end with its sixth season and move into spin-off territory.
Mere hours after they announced plans to end “House of Cards” with its upcoming sixth season, Netflix is reportedly moving forward on a proposed spin-off to the political beltway drama.
Media Rights Capital, which produces the series, is in early stages of development on at least three different potential ideas – the most notable being one revolving around Doug Stamper, the political aide-de-camp played by actor Michael Kelly. That take has Eric Roth, an executive producer on the first four seasons, set to write.
At least two other spinoff ideas are also being explored but don’t have writers attached. All will take place in the same universe as ‘Cards’.
Despite the recent allegations made against Kevin Spacey, all indications are the show was originally planning to end with its sixth season and move into spin-off territory.
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
“House of Cards” S6 Halts Production Indefinitely
Production company MRC and Netflix have released a joint statement confirming that production is shutting down on the sixth season of “House of Cards” with cast and crew told today that filming has been suspended indefinitely.
The move follows the allegations of sexual harassment against star and producer Kevin Spacey coming to light on Sunday evening. Yesterday Netflix announced that the new season would be the show’s last and earlier this morning that they were mulling the idea of potential spin-offs. At the time there wasn’t talk of a shutdown.
The show had only just begun filming this month in Maryland on a new batch of thirteen episodes to debut sometime next year. It’s unclear what will happen to it now – filming might resume in a few weeks, Spacey could exit the series entirely while the season is reworked, or the whole season could be abandoned. In the statement the companies say:
“MRC and Netflix have decided to suspend production on House of Cards season six, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew.”
Last season ended with Spacey’s disgraced President Frank Underwood on the outer and up for prosecution, while his wife Clare (Robin Wright) is now serving as U.S. President. Showrunner and creator Beau Willimon exited the series after the fourth season and was replaced by Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese, who serve as current showrunners.
Production company MRC and Netflix have released a joint statement confirming that production is shutting down on the sixth season of “House of Cards” with cast and crew told today that filming has been suspended indefinitely.
The move follows the allegations of sexual harassment against star and producer Kevin Spacey coming to light on Sunday evening. Yesterday Netflix announced that the new season would be the show’s last and earlier this morning that they were mulling the idea of potential spin-offs. At the time there wasn’t talk of a shutdown.
The show had only just begun filming this month in Maryland on a new batch of thirteen episodes to debut sometime next year. It’s unclear what will happen to it now – filming might resume in a few weeks, Spacey could exit the series entirely while the season is reworked, or the whole season could be abandoned. In the statement the companies say:
“MRC and Netflix have decided to suspend production on House of Cards season six, until further notice, to give us time to review the current situation and to address any concerns of our cast and crew.”
Last season ended with Spacey’s disgraced President Frank Underwood on the outer and up for prosecution, while his wife Clare (Robin Wright) is now serving as U.S. President. Showrunner and creator Beau Willimon exited the series after the fourth season and was replaced by Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese, who serve as current showrunners.
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
“House of Cards” Moving Forward Without Spacey?
Netflix’s “House of Cards” was to be coming to a close with the sixth season, but the Kevin Spacey scandal has put a damper on those plans with production now on indefinite hold.
Producers Media Rights Capital are reportedly well aware that the series employs 300 cast and crew members who would be put out of work if the sixth season does not move forward, and should not be penalized for Spacey’s behavior.
As the new season had only just started filming, Spacey’s character could be safely written out without many logistical hurdles. In fact Yahoo reports that producers of the series are exploring several options including killing off Spacey’s villainous Frank Underwood – leaving the full focus on Robin Wright’s Clare.
The fifth season ended with Clare Underwood taking power as President of the United States while Frank was disgraced and being sent to jail. The season ended with him awaiting a call from her granting him a full pardon – a call she was in no rush to make, or had any real desire to. See that final minute again in the clip below.
At this point it would not be difficult for a scenario such as Frank dying in custody (off screen) before the season began or during the first episode – thus propelling the storyline for the season. The series has narratively been seen as being in a rut, a bold change such as this could actually help it go out on a creative high.
Producers are currently exploring Spacey’s contract to see if they can legally move forward without him or if they are obligated to put him in the remaining episodes. Earlier today Scotland Yard opened an investigation into Spacey over an allegation that he sexually assaulted a male actor in London.
Netflix’s “House of Cards” was to be coming to a close with the sixth season, but the Kevin Spacey scandal has put a damper on those plans with production now on indefinite hold.
Producers Media Rights Capital are reportedly well aware that the series employs 300 cast and crew members who would be put out of work if the sixth season does not move forward, and should not be penalized for Spacey’s behavior.
As the new season had only just started filming, Spacey’s character could be safely written out without many logistical hurdles. In fact Yahoo reports that producers of the series are exploring several options including killing off Spacey’s villainous Frank Underwood – leaving the full focus on Robin Wright’s Clare.
The fifth season ended with Clare Underwood taking power as President of the United States while Frank was disgraced and being sent to jail. The season ended with him awaiting a call from her granting him a full pardon – a call she was in no rush to make, or had any real desire to. See that final minute again in the clip below.
At this point it would not be difficult for a scenario such as Frank dying in custody (off screen) before the season began or during the first episode – thus propelling the storyline for the season. The series has narratively been seen as being in a rut, a bold change such as this could actually help it go out on a creative high.
Producers are currently exploring Spacey’s contract to see if they can legally move forward without him or if they are obligated to put him in the remaining episodes. Earlier today Scotland Yard opened an investigation into Spacey over an allegation that he sexually assaulted a male actor in London.
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
Doctor Omega
Member: Rank 10
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