When Netflix announced it would produce an original show entitled House of Cards, I was intrigued because I’d already watched a 1990 BBC miniseries of the same name when Netflix’s streaming service was in its infancy. Paul and I watched a few episodes of the new House of Cards and couldn’t really get into it. With the second season coming up of the remake, I convinced Paul it was time to watch the original. I’d forgotten how engrossing it is, full of captivatingly revolting characters in wonderfully shady and creepy situations. Frankly, it’s just how I imagine politics really would be if politicians were more interesting people. Ian Richardson combines wronged, indignant, vengeful and manipulative as Francis Urquhart, the chief whip who’s passed over for a spot in the cabinet. After his years of service! After all the work he’s done! Urquhart decides to put all the trust he’s earned to good (bad?) use. If you love political thrillers you won’t want to miss this one. It’s based on a novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs, who served in the Conservative party under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, which surprised me because he makes the Tories look nastier and more ruthless than most Guardian writers ever do.
Photo: The Daily Beast

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