Finally started watching this last night. Dang.
One question, though – the drunk who got caught with the hooker and is now in Frank’s pocket, is that the vice president?
the bald guy? he is U.S. Representative Peter Russo, a Democrat from Pennsylvania’s 1st congressional district.
Ah. Thanks.
I’d caught that he was from Pa. (go us!), but the VP is as well, which is why I’d guessed that.
the VP is played by a much older guy, Dan Ziskie, though i can’t remember if he appeared in the first episode, so i’ll say no more.
There was a brief glimpse of him in the scene on Election Night, but I didn’t get a close enough look at him to identify him.
By the way, If you end up liking House of Cards, I recommend watching the UK original series. It’s available via the Netflix DVD-by-mail service (or was a few years ago).
It’s on streaming now.
I’m only one episode in, too early to say.
FYI, the entirety of the British series is only 3 episodes, IIRC. And I believe there was a sequel series (which I haven’t yet seen.) So you can watch the British version with much less of a time commitment.
Or if you decide you don’t like the American one, you might give the British one a try, as they are like different flavors of ice cream.
The UK House of Cards is 4 episodes, There are two sequels To Play the King and The Final Cut, also each 4 episodes long.
Is the first episode the one where Alternate-Universe twin “Frank Overmetal” comes through and the only way you can tell the difference is his goatee?
I feel like that was later on. So ignore, nevermind. 
Finished the first season (four episodes in a row isn’t actually binge-watching, is it?). Don’t feel compelled to watch the British version – but definitely looking forward to S2.
You should, the British version is far more deliciously evil, and quite different once you get past the talking to camera stuff. And is much shorter - a mini series. You can even watch it on youtube.
Regarding the British one… I feel like a lot of the references would be lost on a Yankee? Does it have a lot of “oh don’t mind her, she’s from Bletchley”.
BTW if you like it, you may get a chuckle out of this… http://www.cracked.com/video_18546_if-everyday-life-was-more-like-house-cards.html (relatively spoiler-free)
Yup, I laughed – thanks!
“You know what they say about Kentuckians in West Virginia? Well that’s the Tennessee Truth. I’m South’n!”
Love Kevin Spacey, but his Southern accent – when it’s in evidence, which is sporadic at best – is really weak.
Yeah, this bothered me too. He is such a great actor, and there are many great things about this show, but it kind of sucks when your main character has a shitty accent. As a political junkie, I also have to struggle with suspension of disbelief since there are no white Democrats from South Carolina in the House, nor have there been for some time as far as I can remember.
Played by Corey Stoll, the same actor who was such a wickedly good Ernest Hemingway in Midnight in Paris:
http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2013/06/24/HOUSE-OF-CARDS-STOLL.jpg
It occurs to me that someone associated with this (whoever was chiefly responsible for the Frank Underwood character development and description — David Fincher perhaps)… had been tied in with putting together the Star Wars prequels.
Surely you can see how the team behind this could have done a better job with Anakin’s decline and fall.
Hell, House of Cards has less politics in it than the prequel trilogy does :-p