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All the President's shows: A binge-watcher's guide
Thirteen episodes of House of Cards wonât last binge viewers long, so hereâs a selection of television shows about the men â and women â who find themselves thrust into absolute power that viewers may find absolutely delightful
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Thirteen episodes of House of Cards won't last binge viewers long, so here's a selection of television shows about the men ' and women ' who find themselves thrust into absolute power that viewers may find absolutely delightful.
Nostalgic for the 'West Wing'?
Those who loved Aaron Sorkin's seminal series about the gravitas of governance may like to see Geena Davis portray the first woman US president in Commander in Chief, which ran for one season in 2005. The series was the brain child of Rod Lurie, who has long been obsessed with the political process.
The Westpoint-trained Army officer, who used a gig as a Hollywood film critic to leap into directing, also helmed the microbudget feature Deterrence, about a Jewish-American president facing nuclear war in the Middle East, and the absolutely underrated The Contender, which offered a look at the bareknuckled politics behind the nomination of the first woman (Glenn Close) to be US vice president.
More from the 'House of Cards' team?
Start with Ides of March, George Clooney's big-screen adaptation of show runner Beau Willimon's on-the-campaign-trail play Farragut North.
Then have your illusions about American democracy shattered by the surprisingly entertaining Recount. The HBO film explores America's contested presidential election in 2000 and features Kevin Spacey as a good guy (or at least a sympathetic) campaign manager and Laura Dern in a hilarious turn as the clueless Florida elections chief.
Like 'Veep''s screwball approach to DC?
Look for the granddaddy of political comedies, = Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, from Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn. The series plays politics as a situation comedy, pitting a hapless minister against a hopelessly bureaucratic civil-service mandarin.
Just waiting for 'Game of Thrones'?
You still have about 38 days before the return of the only 'political' show that makes Frank Underwood look like Pope Francis.
In the interim, check out seasons four and five of The Wire, which feature Irish actor Aiden Quinn, a.k.a. Lord Peter Baelish a.k.a. Littlefinger. In David Simon's masterpiece series, Quinn plays a hustling councilman balancing the cops, criminals, reporters and voters as he becomes mayor of Baltimore.
Bonus: Reg E. Cathey, the actor who serves Underwood ribs in Cards, plays Quinn's No. 2 in The Wire.
Straight to the source
House of Cards was inspired by three books written by Michael Dobbs, Margaret Thatcher's speechwriter, that in turn inspired three television movies featuring a delicious performance from Ian Richardson as 'the sinister prime minister'. This adaptation clocks at around 12 hours ' so the story is taut and moves fast.
