That's right, we're starting a new genre with Netflix introducing Kevin Spacey in "House of Cards". Headline-Paralleling Government Corruption Dramas (HPGCD). He and Robin Wright are excellent as the calculating and ruthless politically ambitious couple a la Clintons. The only difference is their names are Frank and Claire Underwood. As a matter of fact, I believe after looking back to season two that there are more similarities of "House of Cards" to the Clintons than many who put the Clintons on a pedestal believe, but that's for the political pundits and not a reviewer of things.
Headline Paralleling
Indeed, looking back through headlines and political theater of the Clintons and other politicians, I wonder if the Underwoods aren't a composite of the Clintons and the Kennedys -- both left a destruction of lives and sometimes even murder (Ted Kennedy) and rape (Clinton), behind them in their wake of rising to the top. "House of Cards" captures this effect very evenhandedly and present it almost as a natural reality and reaction as the political exploit, use, then discard people and whole organizations for the expediency of accomplishing their own ends. Ingredients to political success like barley, hops and water is to making beer -- it just can't be made any other way and work.
Lies, broken promises, set ups, blackmail, pushing people to suicide, murders, extortion. Just another day in Washington (Democrat or Republican). It's all happened and these stories are lurking in the shadows of some very prominent politicians from Kennedy, through Bush, and all the way to Obama. Way before our modern day politicians, political intrigue almost seems as commonplace as the very corruption of government on display everyday. It's just a part of our history. The men in power get there almost by very questionable means. It's funny and scary how we public have tolerated this. We hear a lot of, let's say
BS coming out of the mouths of politicians everyday and we, the public, know and can hear the disingenuous politicians preach values and morality when we all know many of them are the worst offenders. As if hypocrisy and a large helping of condescension along with a superiority complex are the other ingredients to political success. Without these ingredients, we don't get those effective bubbles in our beer.
I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say that every major event that unfolds (or one would argue Kevin Spacey's character forces through his own acts and ability to manipulate people) in House of Cards parallel past headlines related to the politically elite. Someone's chief of staff was probably found dead with his head battered in and another rape victim who was propped up for media points probably turned into a drug-induced zombie.
The Truth is Sometimes Hard to Swallow
Besides the disturbing realities that happen behind closed doors, the sets that portray the White House are very convincing. The actor who plays the incumbent President seems to grow in power and being a convincing president as Season Two unfolds. Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood is so good, though. At times, he breaks the scene and deadpans into the camera and speaks his deepest thoughts to us, the audience. A la "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", which also used this device to engage the audience, Kevin Spacey takes his darkness and includes the audience in on sharing his philosophy of life, which is often logical but as warped as many of the politicians who unfortunately have been, and will continue to get elected. Sometimes, he's self critical and there's a glint of shame in his actions, but it takes strength to overlook ones' weaknesses and vices as long as the ends are justified.
As a political soap opera, House of Cards is excellent, there are some shifting-in-time moments where what would take years of bureaucratic red tape typical of the federal leviathan only takes an episode. I am so thankful our beloved potential felons in Washington can't move as swiftly, usually, it's a reminder why we need a limited government. No matter how you feel politically, no one can dispute the fact our government is probably even more corrupt and morally bankrupt than this show portrays Washington. It's a reminder to us all that we need a limited government if for nothing else to limit the cancerous corruption that will probably always be part of the federal government.
The fact that Frank Underwood is a Democrat and Hollywood is so liberal makes me wonder, even hope, that even liberals see this reality. After watching this show, I'm not more cynical than I was towards government, and I know it's just "fiction" -- you decide if many episodes don't parallel our reality. Some episodes are a bit unbelievable and contrived, but Kevin Spacey makes this show work so well.
"House of Cards" is different, it's unapologetically honest, it's brutal in its portrayal of mostly Democrats in office, and it's creepy because you know it happens, that people are this calculating and ruthless, and the worst part -- a majority are morally corrupt and are beholden to granting favors at us tax payers' expense. They are in Washington to stay in power, to ensure we the people serve their self interests. It's their job to spin this reality to make it look like they're there "working hard for the people."
We're simply pawns in their game of leverage, manipulation, and sometimes just a game to show off their power out of pride. It's only just a $500 million bridge project, who cares where the money has to come from, I want a Casino in my state. It's a great country we live in, I recommend watching House of Cards if nothing else to scare you into wanting what's best for our country -- limit government, you limit its stench of corruption. It's the only way our country will survive in the end else they will take us down to stay on top. These are people who will turn on themselves, they would eat others' young to stay in power. Like the audience that knows this is really the way of the political world, we also know this is true.
