So I've started Season One of House of Cards now on Netflix.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

I believe I'm five episodes in.

I have to say, so far, it feels just a little slow to me. Perhaps it's because I just finished up a five season binge of Breaking Bad and that show seriously has to rank up with The Wire and The Sopranos as the best television dramas I've ever seen. So perhaps I feel a little hungover from the high (sorry for the pun) that show gave me.

The fourth wall monologues are still a little strange but I know I'll eventually get used to them. I guess the weird thing about it so far is that there's been no attempt to humanize Frank Underwood whatsoever. He just comes off as a political cyborg of sorts. That might be the intention of the show's creators and it might pay off well in the end, but after having a guilty sense of semi-admiration for anti-heroes like Tony Soprano and Walter White due to their more human sides (and those were revealed very early in those series) it's weird seeing someone that I just feel nothing towards whatsoever other than that he's just a very corrupt individual.

For people who have seen the entire series thus far, without posting any major spoilers, does the pace pick up as the first season progresses? I've heard nothing for praise for the show and Kevin Spacey's a terrific actor, so I have to think there's reason for the acclaim behind it.

[femmocrat]

1. I tried to watch it and only got through 2 or 3 episodes.

I just didn't care for the characters. Everyone was so nasty all the time. I know it got great reviews, but I couldn't stand any more of it.

So I got "Homeland" instead, and WOW! Have you watched it? We don't have Showtime here, so I had only seen a couple of episodes when DTV had free weekends. It is out-of-this-world gripping and addictive.

[Raine1967]

2. I found season one to be the slowest and was my least favorite.

It took us a few months to get thru. Get through the first season and you will be back for season two I predict.

[NV Whino]

3. Season one establishes a lot of back stories

Still, I found it gripping and couldn't stop watching. Frank may be the ultimate "love to hate" character ever invented. I love Spacey's soft, down home accent that covers up the slime beneath.

Keep watching. I don't think you will be disappointed.

[Initech]

9. I feel the same way. Spacey sells Frank Underwood well.

Although I have to say that you ever notice how his initials are FU? I think that says it all!

[NV Whino]

10. Yeah, I love that

They play with that a couple of times.

[fizzgig]

17. one of my project managers is a fan of the show

after he saw the cufflinks he left two stickies on my monitor: f. u.

[Initech]

18. Ah the cufflinks!

[Tommy_Carcetti]

11. The whole "love to hate" thing is new to me

The thing is, as I mentioned in my OP, the Walter White and Tony Soprano characters were ruthless criminals, but the producers of the show were able to show a human side that you couldn't completely hate them. In Breaking Bad, you have the pre-Heisenberg Walter White, who's a regular guy dealt an awful hand, and you can never completely shake that as bad as he got as the series progressed. And in The Sopranos, Tony's the mob boss who wades into the pool like a child in wonderment over a family of ducks, a dutiful father, and whose deepest worries and self-doubts are revealed in his psychiatry sessions.

Not having any idea where the Frank Underwood character will go (and not wanting any of that revealed via spoilers!) I have no clue if Underwood will be nearly as evil on the surface as either Walter White or Tony Soprano. But so far--five episodes in, at least--there's nothing that I can grasp onto that I can at least have some sort of pathetic sympathy for him. He just comes off as an immoral, unethical political machine.

And perhaps that's for the best. Because maybe I shouldn't have "liked" Tony or Walter given that they were both criminal murderers. But I couldn't help but wanting to sympathize with them for their more human foibles that were developed in those series.

But then maybe "loving to hate" the main character might pan out in the long run. I remember in the Wolf of Wall Street just completely despising the title character Jordan Belfort, hating him with every ounce of my being and wanting to see him go down (and feeling slightly cheated given Belfort's real life outcome).(And not only Belfort--I pretty much hated every main character in that movie, despite it being a well done film) But that was a movie, a mere two hours. Can I sustain that level of hate over the course of several seasons?

No matter what, I'm in it for all three seasons. I hope it pays off well.

[NV Whino]

15. You're right. Frank starts out bad.

Whereas Walter broke bad. The show is a study of the pathology of inherent evil and how it corrupts or changes other people.

[MADem]

4. Stick with it.

It builds.

[Fla Dem]

5. This is not a fast paced series. There is a need to set the stage for events that take place

further in the series and to understand the personalities, ambitions and motives for what is to happen. This is a dark drama, that at times plods, but then something happens and you say OMG. Both Frank and Clarie are unlovable characters who surround themselves with equally conflicted, ambitious and duplicitous characters.

I just finished watching the 3rd season and can't wait for season 4 to see where it takes us based on the finale.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. It is cerebral show, more than most.

And worth a re-watch, to catch all the details.

Francis in the novel is very manipulative.
Francis in the Brit tv series is played with more cold charm than in the America series, but Spacey's take on him is accurate.
Francis IS an emotionally cold character.

Try to stick it out, it does build, altho there are side stories and characters which were not in the orig. series.
This series is based on the orig,character and plot,, does not follow it to the letter.

[LuckyLib]

7. You are right that after The Wire (stunning), Sopranos, and Breaking Bad, HOC feels a bit plodding.

It's more cerebral, more political in tone and pace. But fascinating. Hang in there!

[Paladin]

8. Great show, very worthwhile.

Particularly for those of us who self-identify as political junkies.

[seveneyes]

12. Oh yeah, it picks up so don't stop now

Here is a non-spoiler preview demonstrating the dynamics ...

[lovemydog]

14. Damn, that was awesome.

And you're right, it had no spoilers.

I love this song too:

[lovemydog]

13. I'd say stick with it.

I got more into it as it progressed. I especially like Robin Wright's character. You're right, Frank Underwood is quite different from the other characters you mention, like Tony Soprano, Walter White, or the cast of The Wire. Political cyborg describes it to a t. Remember that people who have actually working in DC, on political campaigns and in politics, were writers and consultants on the show. That alone will give you some clue on the cynicism & corruption involved. Enjoy.

[irisblue]

16. **SPOILER here**

Frank starting off bare handedly strangling a dog made it impossible for me to watch this series. I do want to, but....

[sarge43]

21. Another spoiler

He didn't strangle the dog; he broke its neck. It had been hit by a car and dying in terrible pain. What was the alternative? As he said, "There's pain that makes you strong and there's useless pain."

The scene gives insight into his character. It also foreshadows his final scene with Peter Russo.

[blogslut]

19. I can't help you.

I watch the series premiere episode and found every single character too atrocious for me to care about them. I took someone's advice and attempted to watch the British original series, starring Ian Richardson, whom I love. I got as far as 3 episodes and gave up. Everyone is horrible.

I don't mind a slow pace. I'm not adverse to irredeemable characters. But if a story is to be entirely populated with despicable people, I've figured out that I need humor or at least wicked satire.

I prefer Armando Ianucci's In the Thick of It

[Tommy_Carcetti]

20. Started Season 2 yesterday. All I can say is that it doesn't waste any time getting to business.

Without posting the very major spoilers.

I like it so far. It's not The Wire/The Sopranos/Breaking Bad good (at least not yet), but it's solid Boardwalk Empire/Game of Thrones good.

So far, Frank Underwood is still a despicable, detestable son of a bitch without a shred of humanity in his body.

Also, from the Season 2 opener, I thought the seeming lack of Frank's fourth wall monologue was simply a director's choice until the very last scene.

Although I do have to wonder when Frank will look into the camera and shout "Hey Vern!"