# "House of Cards" -- spoilers for first ep ONLY **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 13, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122 "2013-08-13T12:05:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/1 "2013-08-13T12:05:23Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/2 "2013-08-13T12:48:05Z")
the bald guy? he is U.S. Representative Peter Russo, a Democrat from Pennsylvania’s 1st congressional district. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/3 "2013-08-13T13:00:31Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/4 "2013-08-13T13:08:49Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/5 "2013-08-13T13:23:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/6 "2013-08-13T13:56:35Z")
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). ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/7 "2013-08-13T14:01:33Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/8 "2013-08-13T15:58:10Z")
I’m only one episode in, too early to say. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/9 "2013-08-13T16:38:06Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/10 "2013-08-13T17:33:45Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > 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.) 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. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/11 "2013-08-13T20:21:50Z")
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. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/12 "2013-08-19T14:34:21Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/13 "2013-08-19T14:41:16Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/14 "2013-08-19T15:38:07Z")
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](http://www.cracked.com/video_18546_if-everyday-life-was-more-like-house-cards.html) (relatively spoiler-free) ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/15 "2013-08-20T01:03:40Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > 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](http://www.cracked.com/video_18546_if-everyday-life-was-more-like-house-cards.html) (relatively spoiler-free) Yup, I laughed – thanks! ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/16 "2013-08-21T14:23:19Z")
“You know what they say about Kentuckians in West Virginia? Well that’s the Tennessee Truth. I’m South’n!” ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/17 "2013-08-21T15:07:44Z")
Love Kevin Spacey, but his Southern accent – when it’s in evidence, which is sporadic at best – is really weak. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/18 "2013-08-21T15:11:17Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/19 "2013-08-21T18:21:49Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > the bald guy? he is U.S. Representative Peter Russo, a Democrat from Pennsylvania’s 1st congressional district. 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](http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2013/06/24/HOUSE-OF-CARDS-STOLL.jpg) [![](http://cdn.hitfix.com/photos/973311/stoll_article_story_main.jpg) ](http://cdn.hitfix.com/photos/973311/stoll_article_story_main.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122/20 "2013-08-23T16:41:06Z")
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 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-of-cards-spoilers-for-first-ep-only/666122.md?page=2)