House of Cards: Season 1

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 11 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

PBS | BBC | Season Premiere Date: November 18, 1990

Starring: Miles Anderson, Susannah Harker, Ian Richardson

Summary: This four-episode British miniseries is a political thriller based on the novel by Michael Dobbs, which follows a scheming MP (played by Ian Richardson) in his quest to become Prime Minister. The adaptation comes from Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones's Diary). House of Cards aired in the U.S. on PBS as part of Masterpiece Theatre in early 1991,This four-episode British miniseries is a political thriller based on the novel by Michael Dobbs, which follows a scheming MP (played by Ian Richardson) in his quest to become Prime Minister. The adaptation comes from Andrew Davies (Bridget Jones's Diary). House of Cards aired in the U.S. on PBS as part of Masterpiece Theatre in early 1991, and was remade over two decades later as the Netflix original series of the same name (starring Kevin Spacey).… Expand

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

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S1:E4. Part 4
Air Date: December 9, 1990
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S1:E3. Part 3
Air Date: December 2, 1990
tbd
S1:E2. Part 2
Air Date: November 25, 1990

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Ken Tucker

Jun 7, 2013

This political satire operates at a level of sharpness that American television hasn't seen since Robert Altman's HBO miniseries Tanner '88. Read full review

Marvin Kitman

Jul 18, 2014

It's just super, a triumph of programme-making that even Alistair Cooke himself with his famous British overstatement can't exaggerate. [28 Mar 1991]

Matt Roush

Jul 18, 2014

Brilliantly performed. [29 Mar 1991]

Rick Kogan

Jul 18, 2014

This is a "Masterpiece Theatre" of unexpected thrills, biting humor and pointed satire. [29 Mar 1991]

Robert J. Hawkins

Jul 18, 2014

"House of Cards" is a bit of a rough go at first -- the characters, their roles and the British political culture aren't all that clear to Americans. They sort themselves out soon enough, though, and the reward for the persistent is one whopping tale of intrigue. [30 Mar 1991]

Howard Rosenberg

Jul 18, 2014

This is at once a chucklingly good satire of political infighters and dishonest press barons... and a grim thriller whose scheming protagonist makes Richard Nixon look like a guileless wimp. ... Its flaws are not in the acting or in Paul Seed's directing, but in the writing ... Otherwise, "House of Cards" is no less than evil at its grandest, bolstered by one sterling performance after another as it moves smoothly toward its jolting conclusion. Read full review

Ed Siegel

Jul 18, 2014

The high and witty style of Ian Richardson and the production team headed by Ken Riddington will have you coming back for more, even though there's really much less going on here than meets the eye. [20 Mar 1991]

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7.7

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User Reviews

mugen_is_here

Jun 7, 2016

This is a fun TV series. I don't know anything about politics or even the structure of the government but I could still make sense out of this TV series. The acting is very good, the story and dialogues are brilliant. I especially like the central character.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

TheRottenTomato

Mar 7, 2013

Excellent Remake. Excellent acting...it's Kevin Spacey people. You'll enjoy this Netflix original series with its subtle sarcasm and climactic endings despite its Washington jargon.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Broyax

Jan 10, 2017

J'ai commencé par la série "remake" avec Kevin Spacey qui m'a fortement déplu malgré le grand Kévin, aussi ai-je jeté un oeil par curiosité à la série anglaise originelle. Force est de constater une étonnante fidélité de la cadette envers l'aînée, ce qui bien sûr ne constitue en rien uneJ'ai commencé par la série "remake" avec Kevin Spacey qui m'a fortement déplu malgré le grand Kévin, aussi ai-je jeté un oeil par curiosité à la série anglaise originelle. Force est de constater une étonnante fidélité de la cadette envers l'aînée, ce qui bien sûr ne constitue en rien une qualité puisqu'on y retrouve les mêmes défauts mais sans le charisme de Kévin pour compenser ce qui peut l'être ou ce qu'il en reste.

Toujours cette manie de parler à la caméra comme un concierge de bas étage, toujours les magouilles des politicards qui nous en touchent une sans faire bouger l'autre et cet ennui profond qui s'en dégage, cette lenteur et cette confusion d'une intrigue déjà essoufflée avant même de commencer. La série échoue totalement à tenter de nous intéresser aux combines de ces pitoyables crevards : à cet égard, n'importe quel journal télévisé, n'importe quel journal papier (s'il en existe encore) est 100 fois plus passionnant que cette série misérable.… Expand

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

Seasons & Episodes

85

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: November 18, 1990
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: November 21, 1993
Season 1

85
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: November 18, 1990
- tbd
  S1:E4. Part 4
  Air Date: December 9, 1990
- tbd
  S1:E3. Part 3
  Air Date: December 2, 1990
- tbd
  S1:E2. Part 2
  Air Date: November 25, 1990
- tbd
  S1:E1. Part 1
  Air Date: unknown
- tbd
  S1:E1. Episode 1
  Air Date: November 18, 1990