House of Cards

I haven’t watched the last couple of seasons of HoC; but, I completely agree with your points about American TV shows tending going on and on, with far too many episodes. Usually, that problem is confined to network TV shows. I am very reluctant to watch a serialized program on network TV; because, they tend to spin out of control with various sub-plots, soap-opera arcs, etc. Then, when the viewership numbers start to drop; they rush everything in the last season (”Lost” is a prime example). That is, they rush the last season if you’re lucky — more often the show just ends, without even any pretense of attempting to tell the whole story.

Netflix and HBO are usually far better at serialized dramas — it’s disconcerting to see Netflix acting like network TV, and trying to milk HoC for all its worth.

That was carried over from the original series. It was done better in that series. Often times it was simply a look of disdain or a smarmy grin and a short comment. Fewer long monologues.

Enjoyed the original British version years ago - at first ignored "House of Cards" figuring it would be nothing but derivative, which it pretty much is, down to the "You might think that - I couldn't possibly say - but you certainly might think so" asides. Weakened about a week ago and have been binging on Netflix now - up to about midway through the second season - show hasn't been the same since Kate Mara was pushed in front of the subway - good acting and atmosphere but not as intriguing as the original - too facile - for the gigantic egos with whom he's dealing, Underwood has much too easy a time playing one against another and winning his arguments about who should do what to whom to advance his nefarious plots....

I did notice that as soon as he became vice-president, Frank could no longer do his online gaming - the Secret Service shout down his internet, saying it was an unsecured connection - even "House of Cards" knew how dangerous a personal server could be - too bad Hillary wasn't as smart.....

I love the show, even after 44 episodes. They are just modernizing the Clinton Machine. Francis is Bill, Claire is an attractive Hillary and Doug is James Carville. I’m giving it a 5 star rating.

I thoroughly enjoyed the UK original when they showed it on PBS.

I never thought it could be matched or surpassed.

So, I haven’t bothered with version 2.0.

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