Weeknight entertainment

The House of Cards is an original TV series produced and distributed by Netflix.  On February 1, Netflix released all 13 episodes at once to their customers on streaming video. New mini-series are usually doled out over weeks, or else you wait a year or so for the DVD to be released.  In this case you can watch the entire first season of House of Cards in a straight marathon. And I suppose many people have-- this is addictive television. We've been watching a 50 minute episode each night this week.

If you like Kevin Spacey's acting or have the slightest interest in American politics, this is a must see. House of Cards  revolves around Frank Underwood (played wonderfully by Kevin Spacey), a southern Democrat and House majority whip.  When he is passed over for a promotion to secretary of state, he begins to plot revenge. One of his willing partners is Zoe Barnes (played by Kate Mara), a super-sleazy blogger! who lives in the saddest apartment on earth.

The nasty politics goes off in lavish offices, hotels and restaurants between impeccably dressed men and women.  The show has a wonderful visual feel, what I enjoy most about it.  The conversations are dense with deceit, but Spacey occasionally has terrific soliloquies like a Shakespeare character, when he looks right at the camera and reveals his Machiavellian thoughts.  Good stuff.