grantss Francis Urquhart is a senior member of the British Government. He expects a promotion when the new Prime Minister, Henry Collingridge, takes office and is bitterly disappointed when this does not take place. He sets in motion a plan to usurp Collingridge and become Prime Minister. Part of his plan involves manipulating a junior political reporter, Mattie Storin, in order to gain more favourable press coverage than Collingridge. This works well initially but then Storin starts digging into recent political events.Superb political drama. Very intriguing and highly plausible with some very sharp dialogue. The political machinations are quite believable. Quite Shakespearean in its wheels-within-wheels, examinations of the worst parts of human nature and outcome. Great performance by Ian Richardson as Urquhart. He embodies all that is to be loathed, and yet grudgingly admired, about politics, and does so with a cunning charm and spot-on delivery. Good support by Susannah Harker as Mattie Storin.I much preferred this, the original House of Cards, to the far more famous recent US version. The US version seemed all about Machiavellian machinations just for Machiavellian machinations' sake. There was no point to many of the intrigues and sub-plots, other to fill up space. This, the UK version, was much more focussed, was far less gratuitous in its scheming and knew when to stop.

Kingslaay I have watched this after watching the American version of House of Cards. The American adaptation is truly exceptional and Kevin Spacey gives on a stellar performance as Francis. I was pointed towards this after being so impressed with the Netflix series. The British House of Cards was a great series. Ian Richardson steals the show as the Chief Whip who has been looked over after years of loyalty. Being so senior and respected it is that much easier to execute his plans to bring his rivals down. Having watched the American series I kind of knew what would follow and what role certain characters would play such as Mati and Roger. Still one cannot appreciate the great story lines and good performances. This was the show that started it all and the iconic monologue from the protagonist. As a series it was well ahead of its time. Perhaps the only criticisms are how easy and convenient everything seems for Francis to rise to power and eliminate his foes. Despite being senior and respected his foes never began to question him and questioned everyone else around including longtime friends. Even after Francis blackmails Roger and forces him to pimp out the girl he loves Roger still calls Francis a good friend and people don't question obvious agendas. The Netflix series was more realistic, despite some moronic claims it wasn't. The Frank there was later questioned and called out on being a liar and having an agenda. The Francis character is truly exceptional and an adaption of him makes for great viewing. It is no wonder the American version has become so popular. Francis and his political aims share similarities to Iago in Shakespeare's Othello. He was driven to bring those down around him including his master, however Francis seems more in control and playing the long game.

Bene Cumb It does not often happen that I watch an original creation after adapted/covered one - but such is the case with House of Cards where the Spacey-Wright tandem captivated me soon after the series was released. But I got to the British version only this week... From the start, I tried not to make comparisons with the U.S. series, but sometimes they were unavoidable. Yes, I enjoyed both Francis Urquhart's character and Ian Richardson's performance at once, but the plot had some minor shortages for me - first, Urquhart obtained the highest post of the Prime Minister at the first stage (vs. Vice President and President in the U.S.) and, secondly, the spouse- accomplice did not have her own agenda in the public life. Thus, the plot was only with and around Urquhart, making it more linear and less versatile than in the adapted one. But still, I love the British style and approach, their fineness and witty lines, and frequent surprising moments in the course of events. Moreover, the choice of music and cinematography provided an accentuating atmosphere and mood in the sinister world of politics, full of betrayals and selfish decisions.Notwithstanding with the fact that most of the events depicted are not possible in an EU/NATO country, the series in question is an integral and often realistic depiction what-how many politicians think. A must- see to all fond of British political crime series and a wide and pleasant record of Ian Richardson's (passed away in 2007) talent.

classicalsteve The public, be it in the United States, Europe or Britain, often see their political figures at press conferences or in front of large crowds offering endless platitudes through endless speeches. Occasionally, the public sees the interesting discourse which occurs during the Prime Ministers Questions in the British Parliament or the speeches made on the floor of the House or Senate in the United States. What the public doesn't see is the internal relationships between many of the key players, and how either great achievements or small missteps can either make or break promising careers. But most of all, we the public almost never hear the internal thoughts of political operatives.The BBC's "House of Cards" gives us something we probably will never be able to enjoy in real life: the actual thoughts of someone working within the most powerful circles in politics. Ian Richardson plays Francis Urquhart, the Whip of the British Conservative Party who has taken hold of Parliament and the seat of the Prime Minister after Margaret Thatcher. In politics, "the Whip" is typically an informal position in party politics designed to keep other party members in bounds. He is there for counsel but also for discipline. From the very first, Urquhart speaks directly to us, an unseen constituency who has been privileged to hear what a leading politician really thinks about his fellow colleagues and even his thoughts about the system itself. While outwardly, Urquhart supports all the members of his party, inwardly he tells us his thoughts about all the contenders to leadership, including how he views the present Prime Minister Henry Collingridge.Urquhart desires to influence the highest levels of his political party but seems uninterested in attaining the position of Prime Minister. As the Whip of his party, he must not only keep all elected party members in line but enact damage control if any member involves him or herself in behavior which could escalate into a scandal. To help, he allies himself with a young but precocious journalist, Mattie Storin, played brilliantly by Susannah Harker. The party Whip and the journalist form a strange but trust-worthy bond, a relationship almost like an uncle and niece. Urquhart believes by trusting someone in the press, he can at least have some influence on how the press handles the inner-workings and dealings in Parliament, be they success or failures.Most of the series involves the many behind-the-scenes shenanigans the public rarely sees, let alone knows about. While politicians always present a facade of cool confidence and determination, we see the men behind the curtains. Their weaknesses, doubts, and hypocrisies are laid bare as if we, the audience, have been allowed to sneak inside the corridors of power. For example, a party member is caught using party funds for a cocaine habit. The Whip decides to use political black-mail to acquire his full political support. In exchange he expunges his financial record but threatens exposure if the member/addict ever breaks out of line. Things begin to heat up when the journalist learns that private research reveals the Conversative Party is in trouble with the public and must decide if there will be an internal coup d'etat.A thoroughly compelling, excellently acted series which paved the way for the West Wing almost 10 years later. However, unlike "the West Wing", the main players are revealed as being all-too human. The Prime Minister has his doubts in the face of dwindling public support which is fueled by the exposure of a scandal. And the Whip begins to realize, partly with the help of the young journalist, that he may be underrating his own leadership qualities. If there is anything we can glean from "House of Cards", it is as the title suggests. Politics is a house of cards, a game of subtlety, delicacy and intense strategy. Players must make their moves slowly, with precision and deftness. Well-thought-out moves can not only help the party but help the country. Hasty and ill-conceived moves can hurt party reputation and lead to losing elections. At any moment, if not played right, the cards will topple.