The House of Cards Trilogy is one of the finest BBC productions set in “modern days” that I can think of. Although the trilogy started in 1990, it doesn’t seem at all dated to me. There are, of course, concrete things like the use of cassette recorders and the absence of today’s ever-present cell phones that double as cameras, but, for me, those types of props don’t make a story line outdated/obsolete.
This political thriller/drama stars Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart, the deliciously evil, ambitious Chief Whip of the Conservative Party. Do not worry about becoming lost with regards to the British political system… Francis Urquhart provides a lot of information in his wickedly clever asides to the camera.
The trilogy follows Urquhart as he schemes, ruins, manipulates, back stabs, charms, corrupts, uses, destroys, conspires, flatters, (and any other adjectives that you can think of when you think of the lowest of the lows) his way up the British political ladder. Ian Richardson is absolutely delightful to watch!
I have to admit that of the three series that make up this trilogy, the first one… rightfully named “House of Cards” is by far my favorite. The second series (“To Play the King“) brings in one of my favorite actors (Michael Kitchen), who, as the Prince of Wales seems very familiar to us. “The Final Cut“ is the third part, and, it is by far my least favorite series of the trilogy.
Others might find the second or third parts of the trilogy the best parts….. “You could think that, but of course, I could never comment.”
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