House of Cards: US vs. UK version

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didymus

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I’ve got all caught up with the Netflix series House of Cards so I checked out the BBC series.
First, Netflix shamelessly stole plot and characters from the UK version. Second, it only took four episodes to get Frank Urquhart from Parliament to 10 Downing St. while it took two seasons for Frank Underwood from Congress to the Oval Office.

I think I like the British version better though Kevin Spacey is excellent in the American version.

Any other fans of HofC?
 
OH yes, I have watched this show on netflix. but didn’t know there was a UK version. It’s very crooked as far as the politics goes, but I guess that’s what makes it interesting, as it’s not likely too far off reality.
 
didymus said:
I’ve got all caught up with the Netflix series House of Cards so I checked out the BBC series.
First, Netflix shamelessly stole plot and characters from the UK version. Second, it only took four episodes to get Frank Urquhart from Parliament to 10 Downing St. while it took two seasons for Frank Underwood from Congress to the Oval Office.

I think I like the British version better though Kevin Spacey is excellent in the American version.

Any other fans of HofC?
Click to expand...
“Shamelessly stole?” A little bit of further research should show you that the production company that sold the US version to Netflix bought the rights to the story quite legally. Also, it is far from unheard of to adapt a story for a U.S. audience. The UK version was itself based on an earlier book. I fail to see the crime in adapting a British parliamentary story to an audience whose knowledge is the U.S. political system. Having paid for the rights to the story, it would seem strange not to use elements of the story that you just paid for, no?
 
Tarpeian_Rock said:
“Shamelessly stole?” A little bit of further research should show you that the production company that sold the US version to Netflix bought the rights to the story quite legally. Also, it is far from unheard of to adapt a story for a U.S. audience. The UK version was itself based on an earlier book. I fail to see the crime in adapting a British parliamentary story to an audience whose knowledge is the U.S. political system. Having paid for the rights to the story, it would seem strange not to use elements of the story that you just paid for, no?
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I didn’t mean “stole” literally, but when adapting another work one usually makes some effort to file off the serial numbers. The US version actually uses devices like having Frank talk directly to the camera and Zoe (reporter in the US version) actually resembles Mattie.

Btw, just started reading the book, apparently it’s a trilogy.

SPOILER
One problem I have with the series is I don’t think politicians go around killing people in person.
 
didymus said:
I’ve got all caught up with the Netflix series House of Cards so I checked out the BBC series.
First, Netflix shamelessly stole plot and characters from the UK version. Second, it only took four episodes to get Frank Urquhart from Parliament to 10 Downing St. while it took two seasons for Frank Underwood from Congress to the Oval Office.

I think I like the British version better though Kevin Spacey is excellent in the American version.

Any other fans of HofC?
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t say “stole.” The US version is an adaptation.

I really like the US version. I’ve been told to watch the British version but I haven’t had time.

I have been really impressed with the programming that Netflix has produced.
 
didymus said:
SPOILER
One problem I have with the series is I don’t think politicians go around killing people in person.
Click to expand...
This goes with the creator’s belief that all politicians who reach high office are murderers:
“They have to be willing to be a murderer. Whether it’s killing someone in a garage or whether it’s sending 100,000 troops off to war, you’re making decisions that are life or death, and the results of those decisions is that some people may die.”

SPOILER:
In order to show this, they felt they had to show Frank actually killing someone.
Here’s the link: mediaite.com/online/house-of-cards-creator-every-politician-who-gets-to-high-office-is-a-murderer/
 
My one question about HoC is that how can anyone look at Frank and say, “More politicians should be like him.” From what I’ve been hearing, I have friends who know plenty of people who think this. :eek: :confused: 😦 :eek:
 
SalesianSDB said:
This goes with the creator’s belief that all politicians who reach high office are murderers:
“They have to be willing to be a murderer. Whether it’s killing someone in a garage or whether it’s sending 100,000 troops off to war, you’re making decisions that are life or death, and the results of those decisions is that some people may die.”
Click to expand...
I’d probably agree that to make their way politicians break promises, betray friends and allies, &c. Bot “all politicians are murderers” is just over the top.

And sending soldiers (who have enlisted) to war presumably in the national interest is quite different from directly killing someone to shut them up.
 
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