US political drama returns to Netflix
HOUSE Of Cards fever is in full swing as the award-winning series returns to Netflix today for a fifth series. Irish fans of the show will be able to watch all 13 episodes when they are streamed from 8.01am. Kevin Spacey, who plays crooked President Frank Underwood, said the new season is “scarier than we’ve ever been before”, noting similarities between the Underwood’s campaign and Trump’s America. The actor told US chat show host Seth Meyers: “What’s interesting is that there are people who watch the show and even that, as an example, last year and thought, ‘That’s crazy, that could never happen’. “And then suddenly 18 months later it’s like, ‘Oh, wait a second, that actually could happen’, or it is happening.” With tensions mounting in the White House, Frank and wife Claire, played by Robin Wright, continue to navigate their political careers and relationships. The new season will be the first without creator Beau Willimon, who left the show to found the Action Group Network – a “loosely-connected” anti-trump organisation. In his absence Melissa James Gibson and Frank Pugliese – two senior writers who have been with the show since 2014 – have been promoted to showrunners. Commenting on the new episodes, Gibson said: “Season four ends with the Underwoods promising to foment chaos and fear, and that’s where we pick up in season five.” Michael Kelly is set to reprise his character Doug Stamper, alongside Jayne Atkinson as Catherine Durant and Elizabeth Marvel as Heather Dunbar. Kelly said: “Doug’s always battling demons. He’s back with Frank and where he belongs – or where he believes he belongs, so I think that’s a good thing for his mental state. But there’s always something else troubling him.” Neve Campbell and Joel Kinnaman, who both joined the series last year, will return as strategist Leann Harvey and Frank’s presidential rival Will Conway. Frank’s former chief of staff-turned-emeny Remy Danton will not appear as actor Mahershala Ali has bowed out of the show. House Of Cards picks up where it left off – in the midst of a tense presidential election that puts the Underwoods on the same ticket against energetic Republican Will Conway, played by Joel Kinnaman.