Has anyone else besides me watched the full season? I only watched it, because my gf thought it was good. I was ready to give up after about three episodes. I'm not going to give any spoilers other than to say that there are zero redeeming characters in the show, save for one or two minor characters. What's the point of watching a show like that? If you don't care about the characters, then you have no investment in the story. Could not disagree more with this statement. I didn't watch the Sopranos, but Walter White is a very complex character, and there are many very complex characters in Breaking Bad, everyone seemingly straddling the line between goodness and self preservation; its the self preservation that drives people to do terrible things. In House of Cards, everyone is just a self absorbed asshole whose motivations are transparent and paper thin. Not a fan.Like Tony Soprano or Breaking Bad’s Walter White, Underwood is a high-functioning sociopath who somehow keeps viewers rooting for him.
I think Kevin Spacey is part of the issue. He's just too good at playing an asshole. I don't think this is due to his character personally; he's just perfected it after playing the asshole sooo many times. Think about it, Horrible Bosses, Se7en, and as a more obscure one, Hopper from a Bug's Life. Dude just has the asshole nailed down. He knows how to make you root against him, maybe too well to play the main protagonist in a series. He's antagonist material right down the middle. And he is fantastic at it.
My problem isn't just with Frank. It's with everyone. I haven't found one main character whom I find the slightest bit redeeming. The only characters in the show who seem decent to me are Christine and Zoe's boyfriend (can't remember his name right now), both minor characters. I hate everyone else. Spacey is great. I've liked him as a good guy and bad guy in a lot of things. I think this show is well acted all around; I just don't find the writing to be compelling in the least. Also, I can't stand the talking to the audience. What is this, Wayne's World?
I don't know man, you could have Hugh Grant play that role and it would still lack redemption. There's not a lot of sunshine for Spacey to work with. I don't disagree that he's played a lot of "villains", but still, he's got a script to stick to. I would guess that season 2 will give us a baby and perhaps a different side of his character.
I've watched the whole series and enjoyed it. It was a good water cooler conversation piece between my boss and I. The characters aren't fleshed out as well as those in Breaking Bad - but Vince Gilligan and team have had five or six times as long to weave little bits of Walter's character together. I guess I can say I liked both. I hold BB in much higher regard than House of Cards, but I was still entertained.