House of Cards - Season 1

I've seen a fair few political show's over the years but this is the first one that really brings home the corruption and power of today's political class. Spacey is brilliant as the central character, exuding ambition and showing just what he will do to make it to the top. The little scenes where he talks to the camera really make a difference too his character as you see whats going on in his mind rather than just seeing the front he puts on to various other characters in the show. Add to that some stunning performances from his wife and various other politicians and journalists and you have a cracking show that grips you from beginning to the end. The quality of the videography is also worth a mention, this show is probably the best looking in 4K I have ever scene with great lighting and locations. Recommended!

"If you can tell a taut, precise story in one episode, stretch it out into a slack, incoherent, tedious season instead" seems to be this show's motto. House of Cards has good ideas and good actors, which it fails in its execution, with poor scripts and poorer editing. The story could have easily been told in half the time, and would have been all the better for it. This TV series is, like so much in the original Netflix stable, cattle feed for its undiscerning subscribers.

Seasons 1 and 2 are a 9.7/10. Seasons 3,4 and 5 are around an 8/10. And season 6 was a 6.3/10, unlike most people I didn't hate the last season even tho the ending was pretty underwelming. The show is an 8/10.