An ace up his sleeve . . .
Frank Underwood plotted his path to the presidency in HouseofCards with Machiavellian prowess. Now he needs all the trump cards he can stockpile, writes Debashine Thangevelo
THE timing of the fourth season of House of Cards is rather surreal – especially for US viewers – given the current political circus for a successor to an outgoing President Barack Obama.
This series itself is an adaptation of the BBC’s mini-series of the same title and is based on the novel by Michael Dobbs, who was very much embedded in the British political world and used this insight to weave a masterful narrative.
Despite this, House of Cards failed to find networks’ interest and released on Netflix. Today, it is saluted as one of the most powerful political dramas on TV.
With viewers gravitating towards shows that rebel against conformist storytelling, they appreciated its cunning puppet master of a protagonist. He was a wolf in sheep’s clothing and had quite the silver tongue necessary for his sinister political ambitions to gain traction.
However, in going from the underdog to running the country, he didn’t quite imagine what it would entail or what it would cost him.
But the question that remains is: what next?
In fulfilling his dream, has he quelled the beast within? Or has Underwood become more inebriated with power?
The fourth season comes with a few changes – creator Beau Willimon is no longer the show runner. So, tonally, there will be a shift.
Some of these include Underwood’s trademark Shakespearean-esque soliloquies, which punctuate the narrative in every episode and will be noticeably reduced.
His wife Claire, played magnificently by Robin Wright, gets closer to the political battleground than when she started out. In many ways, she has shades of Hillary Clinton and The Fixer’s Mellie Grant.
Last season, she went from being Underwood’s biggest champion to a formidable challenger of his. After years of sacrificing so many of her needs, personally and professionally, she decides to throw in the towel on their marriage.
At a press conference to shed light on the show, producer and actor, Kevin Spacey, confirmed that he is often asked about the show’s thin line between fiction and real life.
He noted: “I suppose we should take that as a compliment that people think that we are executing our storylines in such a way that they feel real.”
While he has been involved in politics his whole life, the Oscar and Emmy award-winning actor revealed that he isn’t swayed by his character’s political journey. He explained that while he does his job on-screen, he follows his beliefs in real life.
Shedding light on his character crossing that threshold into the ultimate seat of power, he revealed: “You know, some of the most interesting things about presidents are how they govern. And how they go from being a candidate to trying to get things done in sometimes a not-very-inspiring Congress, or Congress that is bogged down by ideology and it won’t embrace the abiding principle of good governance, which is compromise.
“So I think we have a great amount of story to tell. I think we have been having a really exciting time exploring the notion of particularly two figures who have worked so successfully in the shadows in the dark alley; of how suddenly being in the spotlight of the presidency changes them both.”
This season, Ellen Burstyn is brought in as Elizabeth Hale (Claire’s mother).
On the dynamic shift this triggers, he responded: “I can’t talk about the length of any particular actor’s participation in the series. But I can tell you that Ms Burstyn is formidable. I adore her. We had a chance to work together a number of years back and in another television project.”
Neve Campbell, playing the role of Leann Harvey, a Texas-based political consultant, is another exciting addition to the cast, along with Colm Feore and Joel Kinnaman bagging recurring roles.
Meanwhile, Underwood’s former right-hand man, after being rejected by him, starts working for the opposition. Haunted by the whole Rachel saga, he finds himself in another Catch-22 situation.
Amid Underwood facing greater threats, there is also much to be resolved following the disintegration of his marriage.
Both find themselves at a crossroads, grappling with whether they are stronger together or stronger apart.
House of Cards 4 airs on M-Net Edge (DStv channel 102) on Tuesday at 8pm.