House of Cards (US)

House of Cards is an American political drama television series developed and produced by Beau Willimon. It is an adaptation of a previous BBC miniseries of the same name, which starred Ian Richardson (The Magician’s House) as M.P. and Chief Whip of the Conservative Party Francis Urqhart, (continuing in To Play the King and The Final Cut), and is based on the novel by Michael Dobbs.

The entire first season, 13 episodes, premiered on February 1, 2013, on the streaming service Netflix.

Set in present day Washington, D.C., House of Cards is the story of Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey, Wiseguy), a Democrat from South Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and House Majority Whip who, after getting passed over for appointment as Secretary of State, decides to exact his revenge on those who betrayed him. The series also stars Robin Wright (Santa Barbara), Kate Mara (Entourage, 24, American Horror Story: Murder House), and Corey Stoll (Law & Order: LA, The Strain) in lead roles.

On July 18, 2013, Netflix earned the first Primetime Emmy Award nominations for original online-only web television. House of Cards received nine of Netflix’s fourteen total nominations. Among its nine nominations were Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Kevin Spacey, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Robin Wright, and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for David Fincher. The show also earned 4 Golden Globe Award nominations on December 12, 2013, earning the first major acting award for an online-only web television series when Wright won Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.