House of Cards (US) (Netflix)

[PeteJ]

For such a big thing for Netflix, why have they made it so hard to find? I appreciate my bluray player may have an out of date Netflix UI, but the only way I could find this was to use the search. If I hadn't been following the story then I'd have no idea it existed, let alone that it was out.

Saw the first episode and it was great, look forward to the next, which is out....whenever I damn well please

[Mogster]

I did wonder about that. It's not even in their New Releases selection! Maybe they just really don't want to be seen to be pushing their own productions over those of other studios.

[The Liberal Elite]

I wonder if they're eventually thinking of syndicating it here in the US or selling it abroad in non Netflix markets?

I would expect not. To be honest, given that you get a 30 day trial for free, it's probably something of a loss leader for them, just to get people in. Mind you, even with this, it was depressing to read some comments to the review on some site elsewhere bemoaning the fact that they had to join netflix to watch it, and would wait to torrent it. If you can't be bothered for the trial, or pay, tops of 6 quid to watch quality drama like this, then basically, fuck you.

To be honest, I get the impression that a lot of people don't really know what netflix is, still. friend of my girlfriend's asked if you have to pay extra to watch something twice. silly, sure, but i guess it's a bit strange for some people, used to paying 3 quid a pop to think that if they pay twice that a month, they'll have a tonne of stuff to watch. even more if they know how to work a proxy. Sure, there's a load of shit on there, but there's enough on there to warrant my never wanting to buy another physical disc. well, for a while, at least.

[Mr Cochese]

The first time I went on Netflix last night there was an entire House Of Cards category bar, linking through to character profiles and stuff. It disappeared after that though, so I think someone might just have fucked up the settings.

[kerraig UK]

Really enjoyed the first episode. Not quite to The Wire or Breaking Bad levels, but definitely more than something like Homeland. There was one truly abysmal bit of FX work in it though with the presidential inauguration. The green screen crowds were pitiful. Seemed out of place in an otherwise very slick production.

Made me really want some ribs

[BossSaru]

I wonder if they're eventually thinking of syndicating it here in the US or selling it abroad in non Netflix markets?

Aye, the BBC makes hundreds of millions selling its content to broadcasters. And there are still plenty of people without the means to access Netflix, due to lack of equipment and unlimited high speed broadband. House of Cards could make a pretty penny in DVD sales and syndication further down the line.

[kerraig UK]

Yep they've sold it to Germany, Spain and France for syndication

[Lovelyman]

The colour grading is very strange, but it does look like a movie (in a good way). Really enjoying this. Spacey and Penn are great. That reporter girl looks about 15 which is a bit weird.

[Mr Cochese]

Whut? Does Sean turn up later?

[boilingpoint]

I think he's referring to Robin Wright(-Penn).

[CrispinG]

i watched about 5 episodes in a row last night but i was smoking at the same time so i don't actually know what it's about. i think Kevin Spacey's fourth wall asides to the camera are quite obnoxious though. as is that horrible Kentucky drawl and his incessant references to the deep south. it's also one of those shows with a big ensemble cast of middle-aged/old men who all kind of look the same. the best character is Peter Russo. i give this show 3/5; would be better seen sober.

[Mr Cochese]

I think he's referring to Robin Wright(-Penn).

That's pretty insensitive. Too soon.

[Mr Cochese]

I like that they de-toffed Kevin Spacey's name while keeping his initials as FU. They obviously wanted to keep everything as close to the source as possible.

[Lovelyman]

The Peter Russo story is great.

[JohnC]

Only getting started on it, but what's with the odd (for TV) aspect ratio? Not complaining about it, just struck me as unusual.

[Silent Runner]

I watched the first one and it was OK. Spacey is the best thing in it but his direct speech to the viewers is very annoying. I'll probably watch more later in the week when I've nothing else to watch.

[gizmo1990]

Haven't seen this but the speeches to camera were a major part of the original series. Perhaps spacey isn't handling it as well?

[Lujin]

Didn't really think much of the 1st episode. It stayed too close to the UK version and suffered for it as the characters weren't as likeable (although Francis Urquhart is ruthless and ambitious, he's likeable with it, Spacey's version isn't at all), and the writing for some of Frank's asides to the camera seemed heavy handed so didn't draw me in.

It improved a lot in the 2nd episode when it started to develop its own plotlines and the 3rd was just as good, so I reckon I'll stick with it.

[hub2]

Haven't seen this but the speeches to camera were a major part of the original series. Perhaps spacey isn't handling it as well?

He his. I love the breaking of the fourth wall.

[NecroMorrius]

The fourth wall breaking stuff is great. Instead of merely watching Spacey go through his dealings, he makes you complicit in the deception by nodding and winking at you while he spins his little web. Those are the best bits! I've only watched the first two but I really like it. It's got that expansive slow burn that I wanted from my highbrow drama, it looks beautiful and crisp and the cast are all doing the business so far.

[CrispinG]

i echo the sentiment that Spacey's character is not sympathetic. even Tony Soprano is sympathetic. the closest comparison i could make is Nucky Thompson in "Boardwalk Empire".

[Lovelyman]

I think Frank is sympathetic. His motives reveal that rather than his demeanour though.

[Gotters]

isn't it a bit simplistic to think every lead character needs to be sympathetic, I like having characters that are just actually out and out horrible, and find I can root for them even if their motives are selfish or personal

[hub2]

I'm rooting for Frank two episodes in. He was fucked over by the people he helped place in power and is now exacting retribution.

He's much much more sympathetic than say Walt in Breaking Bad.

They're both shits though.

[Uncle Mike]

I think he's a shit, but at least he's not one of the other craven hypocritical shits. We don't have much evidence that he was anything much other than straight-up and ambitious before they fucked him over.

[Rudi von Starnberg]

Watched the first four episodes of this and I'm enjoying it a lot. I was lukewarm about the first episode - some of the soliloquys were just plain silly, and the dialogue in general sometimes clunked - but it was well-made enough for me to continue and it improved vastly from there on in. The whole scene in the church in episode 3 is fantastic television.

Looking forward to watching the rest of it.

[gizmo1990]

Didn't really think much of the 1st episode. It stayed too close to the UK version and suffered for it as the characters weren't as likeable (although Francis Urquhart is ruthless and ambitious, he's likeable with it, Spacey's version isn't at all), and the writing for some of Frank's asides to the camera seemed heavy handed so didn't draw me in.

Ah now that's interesting, what a shame as that was what I remember most about the original series. Ian Richardson did such a fantastic job of making you like what became an increaslingly unlikeable character. Still, I haven't seen it myself so I'll give it a chance.

[TehStu]

Although, perhaps yanks didn't think much of some old British fart smirking at the camera. Different audience, different approach. The Southern character was deliberate, I'd say.

[Lovelyman]

Yes, he's deliberately a bit white trash.

[Pob]

This is really going to mess up coming on here to get people's views on the latest episode. So..um...I've seen the first two eps and I really like it. One thing I didn't grasp at all from Ep 2:

What is FU's relationship with that ex-press secretary guy from Sancorp who comes over during his restaurant meeting right at the beginning? Something to do with how he is bankrolling as his wheeling and dealing?