by Helen Langdon
Politics is one of those subjects that programme-makers and audiences can’t get enough of, no matter what the country. Whether it’s American politics, with shows like The West Wing and Parks and Recreation tackling politics at every level, Borgen predicting the election of the first Danish female Prime Minister, or The Thick of It managing to pre-empt British political stories by mere days, tales of those in charge are irresistible. We want to imagine what goes on behind the scenes in the corridors of power.
Sometimes, what we get isn’t as reassuring as we might hope.
Politics is one of those subjects that programme-makers and audiences can’t get enough of, no matter what the country. Whether it’s American politics, with shows like The West Wing and Parks and Recreation tackling politics at every level, Borgen predicting the election of the first Danish female Prime Minister, or The Thick of It managing to pre-empt British political stories by mere days, tales of those in charge are irresistible. We want to imagine what goes on behind the scenes in the corridors of power.
Sometimes, what we get isn’t as reassuring as we might hope.
And so we come to the original British series House of Cards, first broadcast in 1990 and following the ascent to power of amoral antihero Francis Urquhart. After the resignation of Margaret Thatcher and the subsequent leadership election, Tory Chief Whip Urquhart expects to be promoted to the Cabinet. Instead, the new Prime Minister makes no changes, and so Urquhart’s campaign of vengeance begins: blackmailing PR men, seducing and manipulating young journalist Mattie Storin, leaking info, and even stepping up to outright murder to cover his tracks and lead him to Buckingham Palace to be invited to form a government.
BBC There’s a lot to commend about House of Cards, ranked as one of the top British TV series ever by the BFI in 2000. Great acting, great writing, and a wonderful hint of realism about the whole thing. Obviously it’s not true, but given that the source novel was written by Michael Dobbs, former Chief of Staff at Conservative Party headquarters, there’s still that tantalising possibility that we’re seeing politicians stripped down to the core. And in a perfect bit of synchronicity, although Thatcher’s resignation had been fictional in the book, she was forced out of office during House of Cards’ original airing.
There’s more than a touch of the Shakespearean to House of Cards: perhaps unsurprising, given that Ian Richardson was one of the most prominent Shakespearean actors in the country. Francis Urquhart is Richard III brought up to date in a three-piece suit, manipulating all around him as he rises to power (see also: his disavowal of ruling aspirations). On a more structural level, Urquhart is reminiscent of Richard III in his constant addresses to camera, drawing the audience in and making us complicit in his scheming.
There’s more than a touch of the Shakespearean to House of Cards: perhaps unsurprising, given that Ian Richardson was one of the most prominent Shakespearean actors in the country. Francis Urquhart is Richard III brought up to date in a three-piece suit, manipulating all around him as he rises to power (see also: his disavowal of ruling aspirations). On a more structural level, Urquhart is reminiscent of Richard III in his constant addresses to camera, drawing the audience in and making us complicit in his scheming.
BBC Unsurprisingly, the series garnered many awards, including a BAFTA for Ian Richardson and an Emmy for writer Andrew Davies. And following the enthusiastic response, Michael Dobbs continued Urquhart’s story in two sequel novels, ignoring his own conclusion to House of Cards (where Urquhart killed himself, rather than Mattie Storin). To Play The King and The Final Cut were also adapted for the BBC, following Urquhart as he grappled with an interfering monarch and leadership challenges, with his past haunting him as his body count rises. Neither series lived up to House of Cards, but the original series has had a lasting impact, its famous quote “You might think that; I couldn’t possibly comment” even making it into the real-life political world of the House of Commons.
The American remake has had two seasons, and has just aired its third on Netflix. But for a more British take on the lengths men can go to for power, check out the original TV show now (it's also on Netflix, so you've got no excuse).
The American remake has had two seasons, and has just aired its third on Netflix. But for a more British take on the lengths men can go to for power, check out the original TV show now (it's also on Netflix, so you've got no excuse).
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