Rating: 
Summary: A Genuine TV treasure!
Review: I came to this series blind, knowing only Ian Richardson's other work. In The Dark Origins of Sherlock Holmes and there he was stunning. Likewise here. It is more fun than you can imagine watching him do his dirty tricks and still keep you on his side all the way up to the very surprising ending. This is BBC at its best and television being the wonderful instrument it can be now and then. Don't hesitate here. Incidentally, the "Murder Rooms: The Dark Origins Of Sherlock Holmes," as it was known in its PBS 2-part May 2000 broadcast, has been released on DVD and is available here on Amazon, but has been renamed "Dr. Bell and Mr. Doyle, The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes". Don't know if that was the original name or not.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant? You might think that,I couldn't possibly comment.
Review: I eagerly await the delivery of the House of Cards trilogy (or Urquhart miniseries, or whatever they are officially called).The three TV movies are full of great performances (from a great cast) and sinister intrigue. Sex, deception, murder, and all sorts of villainy littered throughout the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and even Number 10. Why not? The movies wouldn't be any fun if these films dealt out sins in small portions. As over the top as it is, it works and it's great to watch! "House of Cards" started as a single book, which became a very different miniseries. The intro with Francis Urquhart looking at a photo of Thatcher was apparently broadcast around the time she was voted out of office... a strange and eerie coincidence. I consider the TV version better than the book, however I did see it before I read it. Urquhart's sinister and devious charm help make the viewer admire him (in a strange way)... yet he's ruthless and cunning, and you love to hate him. Wait for the end... it yanked me up from my seat. It's a who-dun-it where you know who did it all along. The main character, Francis Urquhart, takes the audience into his confidence... you sometimes feel a little guilty knowing what's going on. If you get confused while watching Urquhart talk with various characters, just wait until they are off screen... F.U. will probably fill you in on what he *really* thinks. Take notes on who dies, how they die, and who does it... a grim game to play while watching the three miniseries. "To Play the King" might be more of the same from the previous book and TV movie (both are worth reading and viewing)... but, you can't really get enough of Urquhart. Plus, you get a slightly stronger impression that Elizabeth Urquhart has more to do with the life and politics of her husband. She's often referred to as the Lady MacBeth of this series (and not without reason). No more are the street shots of rats and sewers found in this series (a great theme in "House of Cards"), but now we see even more private lives and intrigue than before. This is a battle of wills: our boy F.U. against the newly crowned idealistic King of England. The King cares, he feels the pain of the country, he even seems to be sincerely motivated... but he's acting against the rules of conduct. You know who will come out on top, but to watch to see the other characters work in and out of their side of the war between Urquhart and the King. The royals, the advisors, the press, and public relations crew... they've all got a stake, and they're all pretty dirty. "The Final Cut" seems to have a lot crammed into it. The book is better... and again it's a little different than the TV movie. That is not to say that the TV movie isn't worth viewing. Fans of Indiana Jones might recognize Tom Makepiece... the actor who portrays him (Paul Freeman) also played Belloc in "Raiders"... he also played Prof. Moriarty in "Without a Clue". Urquhart is getting old. His times coming, but what about life after Number 10 for Francis and Elizabeth? For that matter, what about life after Number 10 at Number 10? Who can replace Urquhart? Francis might have enough cunning and will to beat the record of Margaret Thatcher's rule, but his past might catch up with him. Is it hard for Americans to follow British politics? Not really... it is very enjoyable, dark, and even funny. Some viewers might think this is a wicked commentary on conservative politics... you might think that. I'm sure plenty of folks would even say that. The author of the books (Michael Dobbs) worked for Thatcher. Maybe he's throwing stones at the Tories, or even any conservative politician. Yet, neither side of the political isle is safe. He's just spinning a great political yarn. Not everyone in politics has the makings of F.U., but it's fun to think so. Sir Ian Richardson's performance is truly fantastic... he's a genius. Susannah Harker is no slouch either. Diane Fletcher may not be seen or heard that often, but her character is as good as omnipresent. Look up the cast on IMDB... they are so many good performances I can't name them all. You've probably seen them on various British TV series and films. After all, there's a running joke among my friends that says there's only about 35 actors working for the BBC, so they all end up in the same shows. ;)
Rating:
Summary: Pre-Sopranos evil...maybe done nastier!
Review: I won't rehash the plot, but the real appeal here is Ian Richardson's breaking of the fourth wall. He forces us all to admit that evil can be so fun, and that sometimes the wrong thing to do is completely the right thing.
I had read that Richardson wouldn't agree to end the series if F.U. didn't eventually meet his demise. I concur that The Final Cut (the third episode in the set) is by far the weakest, and a politically correct cop-out, but the devilish pleasures of the first two installments more than make up for its mawkishness. The same fascination with evil allows us to feel superior when Francis finally meets his end in the last volume.
I have to recommend that you buy the whole set to see the complete story, but I'll bet that your repeat viewings will be of the first volume only. It is so awfully, spanking good that you may be shocked at how good you feel about leaving your conscience behind.
Wish I could make this review relevant to current political times in the U.S., but this series exists solely as a British animal. Its appeal is grounded in the parliamentary system. It's all very Britishly perverse, especially the sexcapades of middle-aged politicians and royals. Pour yourself a Guiness and enjoy the ugliness. You might not think it's appropriate...I couldn't possibly comment.
Rating:
Summary: Politics At Its Blackest, And Funniest
Review: Ian Richardson, who is always superb, reaches his highest level yet with his portrayal of Francis Urquhart in this trilogy about the rise and fall of a British Prime Minister. In House of Cards we meet Francis Urquhart (FU to his friends and enemies alike) as the Tory Chief Whip in a House of Commons led by a nice but ineffectual Conservative Prime Minister. At first FU seems to be giving us a friendly tour of the British governmental process with a sympathetic eye for the troubles of his PM, but then slowly but surely, he reveals the knives he proceeds to plunge into the backs of all his rivals. He's charming but brutally direct as he takes step after step, including a couple of murders, towards 10 Downing Street. To Play The King is my favorite of the series. FU has to deal with an idealistic young king who disapproves of his hardline conservative policies. Even though we know FU will win in the end, we hope for his downfall while simultaneously cheering his audacity. FU is as charming as ever, even when he's at his vilest and most murderous. The Final Cut is the weakest of the three because FU is more of a victim than a villain during most of it. At the end we are sorry to see FU go even while we are relieved that his murderous ways are at last at an end. And, most intriguingly, we see his successor, supposedly a reformer but possibly already taking on the FU mold. (Unfortunately no one seems to have considered carrying on the story by chronicling his successor's PMship. An interesting footnote to this series has to do with the books they were based upon. Only the third series actually faithfully follows the book. In the first two series the books actually have FU coming to a well deserved end.
Rating: 
Summary: No subtitles
Review: It's amazing that such great series don't include subtitles on the DVD set...
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, but in the end flawed
Review: Me watching this took on the manner of a voracious animal consuming its prey. The entire trilogy is beautifully done, magnificiently produced, and the acting is simply incomparable.
The HOUSE OF CARDS, the first season, is quite clearly the best. The wit, the plot, the sheer malignancy of it is just pure delight. I worked briefly at the House of Commons, and I thought the presentation of Parliament and Westminster politics was brilliant. I don't think there is anything equal to the cynicism on display here, as France Urquhart (Ian Richardson) cheerfully outmaneuvers and destroys his political opponents (his colleagues within his party). The mockery of the British political system is right on. Richardson has these asides to the audience that work perfectly, and heighten the hilarity. It's what something like WAG THE DOG wishes it could be for American politics, but unfortunately American audiences don't always have the political sophistication to enjoy this level of satire. *****
TO PLAY THE KING has Urquhart as Prime Minister (known appropriately by the initials FU), master of his domain. The arc in this series focuses on the place of the monarchy in the constitutional system, with many asides on homosexuality in politics, manipulation of the press, exploitation of disaters, and the staging of politically convenient terrorist attacks. Not as good as the first season by any measure, however, Urquhart's systematic destruction of the King (a brilliant Michael Kitchen) masterfully communicates some of the political tensions built into Britain's constitution. This season generated a lot of controversy with the British public, many of whom thought it was intentionally and excessively disrespectful to the monarchy (see the DVD extras). All in all, the writing doesn't have the same degree of biting and wit, although Richardson's performance is still on the money. ****
THE FINAL CUT is the unforunate third season, and takes on the character of Shakespeare's RICHARD III, but makes it tedious. Richardson's vicious asides to the audience are almost totally absent, which relieves him of his charm. It's not nearly as funny or interesting, and seems to meander along until its excessive and fairly overwrought ending. The spirit of cynicism is tries to maintain takes on a certain unreality, and this robs it of the delicious aspect of the first season. By the end, this version of Britain is so remote that it just isn't plausible or engaging. We are basically reduced to watching the antics of some banana republic, but with Westminster Palace in the background. **
So respectively five stars, four stars, and two stars; averaging out to just over 3.6, I will round up as the kindly teachers of my childhood instructed me, and thus four stars for the set.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Superb acting combined with great writing, make this trilogy one of the most outstanding pieces of political fiction to have ever come out of Great Britain. The main character - Francis Urquhart - is Machiavellian to the core, but ads a layer of complexity to his character that is Shakespearian to the end. I've seen the entire trilogy 4 times (as well as read all 3 novels upon which the films are based), and I've not even begun to tire of it yet.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: Superb acting combined with great writing, make this trilogy one of the most outstanding pieces of political fiction to have ever come out of Great Britain. The main character - Francis Urquhart - is Machiavellian to the core, but ads a layer of complexity to his character that is Shakespearian to the end. I've seen the entire trilogy 4 times (as well as read all 3 novels upon which the films are based), and I've not even begun to tire of it yet.
Rating:
Summary: "Shall I put a bit of stick about?"
Review: The Brits may no longer rule the world, but they sure produce some of the best television the medium has seen. In any discussions of the best projects or series in television history, this trilogy will have a place. The series opens with Conservative Party Whip, Francis Urquhart, fondly holding a portrait of Margaret Thatcher, remarking that all things, no matter how good, must come to an end. This perfectly sets the time and tone of what is to follow. Urquhart must maneuver and control the political scene in the power vacuum left by the exit of the Iron Lady. This production strives for Shakespearean proportions, and hits the bull's eye. The main character, Urquhart, played by Ian Richardson, is a crafty blend of Macbeth and King Richard. Like Macbeth, Urquhart has a power hungry wife gently messaging his shoulders and whispering pretty treacheries in his ear; and like Richard, Urquhart takes the viewer into his confidence, revealing his black plans with wicked joy. This technique of Urquhart speaking directly to you, the viewer, is a tremendous stroke. Like with King Richard, you will find yourself somehow cheering for this cold, angular blade of a man, as he slices through well-meaning fools and bumbling bullies alike (or, as Urquhart says, "put a bit of stick about"). A great production throughout, with wonderful writing and acting. Highly recommended. --Mykal Banta
Rating:
Summary: Do you trust me?
Review: This is an irresistible series, propelled forward by the exquisite winking-at-the-camera performance of Ian Richardson. Francis Urquhart provides a once-in-a-lifetime role for Richardson and he, exceptional actor that he is, makes the very most of it. In fact, he makes a truly evil character so attractive that you find yourself rooting for him against your better instincts. At least, that's true for the first episode, before the extent of his monstrous nature becomes apparent. One gets entirely caught up in the behind-the-scenes machinations of this man-who-would-be-prime-minister. The tone set by the first episode's shocking finish continues in "To Play the King," a fine and exciting sequel. Francis Urquhart (his initials are used to comic effect in the drama's newspaper headlines) goes head-to-head with the King, obviously modeled on Prince Charles. The DVD for this installment has a bonus: An interview with writer Andrew Davies on the BBC. Judging by this segment, British talk show audiences aren't much higher on the IQ scale than their U.S. equivalents. Much of the audience is hostile to Davies -- who did extremely good work here (as he did on his more popular "Pride and Prejudice") -- because they entirely miss the show's ironic stance. It's great to have this extra feature, although a commentary track with Davies or Richardson (or both) would have been even better.
Finally, the trilogy ends with "The Final Cut." The tone really shifts in this one, and I have to say it's the least successful installment. Richardson no longer seems to be enjoying himself as much, although perhaps it's just that he's portraying a much more tired Urquhart. The pace is slower, the suspense is a bit more contrived, and the new characters are less interesting. Still, it succeeds in bringing the series to a suitably dramatic close. If you're a fan of British drama or politics (or great acting, for that matter), don't hesitate. Snatch up this DVD set.
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