House of Cards: Frank Underwood’s rise to the top, in cards
Updated : June 07, 2017 10:45 AM IST
The fifth season of Netflix’s popular American TV series House of Cards began worldwide on May 30 and charts the continuing rise of Frank Underwood.
The political drama stars Kevin Spacey as the ruthless American president. Frank ascends from Democratic majority whip in the United States House of Representatives in season one, to Vice President of the US in season two, to President in seasons three through five.
House of Cards is worthy of binge watching. The writing is thrilling, the characters are strong, and the narrative is addictive.
Like different suits in a pack of cards, each new season of the show has revealed another facet of Frank Underwood’s manipulative and conniving personality.
1) The Diamond
In Season 1, Frank’s conspired to achieve his lofty ambitions. Being unscrupulous throughout the series, Frank manipulated and destroyed several lives for his own ends. He was as sharp and as unfeeling as a ‘diamond’.
2) The Club
Frank used the ‘club’ to fight his way to the highest political office in the US in Season 2. In this pursuit of power no one is spared, not even Zoe Barnes, the reporter with whom Frank had an affair but whom he murdered after she became an obstacle in his path.
3) The Heart
In Season 3, we got our first glimpse of the ‘heart’ inside the man that is President Frank Underwood. This season focused on the relationship between Frank and Claire and on the tumult caused in his personal life because of his and Claire’s sometimes contrary political aspirations.
4) The Spade
In Season 4, Frank got in the way of Claire Underwood and her ambition. She left him, and he did everything he could to make them reconcile. Frank also brought out the ‘spade’ to fight terrorism threats.
5) Jack
House of Cards Season 5 imminently arrives with Frank Underwood’s political manipulation fully unleashed in a terrifying way. In a pack of cards, Frank is, more than anything else, the ‘jack’ of all trades. This year, any of Frank’s many traits could be at the fore.
Catch the television premiere of House of Cards Season 5 on Saturday, June 3 at 5pm on Zee Café. The entire series can also be streamed on Netflix.