#theunderwoods

The day has arrived and servers everywhere are on the verge of crashing!

Netflix releases the third season of House of Cards today and viewers are craving to binge their way through the weekend. Yes, one of television's favorite anti-hero returns with another campaign of corruption,  manipulation, and ruthless pragmatism! For those waiting since last years the only question is how many sittings to we wish to take for the entire new season?!

A game changer when first produced, House of Cards has been a breakthrough for Netflix in participating not only in the television industry, but also the emergence of creating top-notch quality television available via streaming. I can’t blame them though, with such great acting from Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright plus the ensemble cast, combined with the notable production quality of David Fincher, its hard to escape the face value of this series’ deep animation into (the usually boring) political sphere.

Originally taken aback at its release in 2013, I saw it as another West Wing series or political show pandering the an older demographic, however after viewing the first two episodes with friends, it became a staple of my final semester in college. I would try to cram any episode in-between either classes and club meetings regardless of the time sensitive papers or projects. The writing was very upfront and alluring when spoken through Kevin Spacey especially with the incompetence of those around him in his political environment. It draw the average viewer to witness the Oval Office burning ablaze and even focusing on the subplot of journalists fighting for the truth.

One of the main factors that drew me in was the  unsuspecting narrative and character parallels with some of the plays of Shakespeare! Yes, the bard has an overarching influence on many, many, MANY, works of pop culture but it was especially endearing and refreshing to a  somewhat recent adaptation of characters from the Bard. Richard the Third and Macbeth are the very clear examples with Kevin Spacey himself playing the title role of Richard the Third , a character very similar to Frank Underwood in House of Cards, in a production not too long ago! Also Claire (Frank’s wife) is simiar to Lady Macbeth in that she has not children and has a overbearing word in leading to Frank’s rise to power. There are many other similarities that similarities produce a title character worth following and loathing.

It is this similarity that gives me the pleasure of giving my predictions for this season in the narrative and character work of the Bard! See if you can match the potential ending with the original Shakespeare work!

Potential Ending #1:

Having gone insane from the Russian Crisis and the War in Iran, Frank becomes frantic and believes that the only clear initiative is war. He becomes neurotic and impulsive in his actions that he decides to invade Russia (in winter) On the night of the most critical battle, the ghosts of all those murdered by his hand come to haunt him.  He doesn't really care but Claire experiences similar nightmares. Claire dies at the hand of Frank and Frank dies in battle.

Potential Ending #2

2. Frank meets three missonaries (a priest, a rabbi and a monk)  that tell him he will be the most powerful person in the world. Frank feels he is the most powerful and is really confused. The next day, the Pope dies and Frank realizes his calling. He remembers the prophecy and flies to the Vatican to convert to Catholicism. He does. Frank becomes Pope but forgets he is president so he becomes the leader of the free world and the divine world (because popes can talk to God. or something like that)

Potential Ending #3:

3. Clair has a terrible accident leaving her unable to speak and her arms get cut-off (YES that bad of accident, don’t know which one). Frank is crazy at this point in the oval office and begins to lose faith in people around him (including God).  He begins to pray to stones, earth, water, and Kanye with his Cabinet advising him to calm the fuck down ‘cause his re-election for 2016 is on the horizon. He has a psychotic episode that leaves him to believe he must give up his right hand to pardon for god’s trust in return for Clare's voice. It doesn’t work. Frank loses it and bake two interns into a pie as some kind of justice. He serves them at a special dinner to the Kanye. He likes it. The End.

Which ending is from which play?

A: Macbeth

B: Titus Andronicus

C: Richard III

D: All of the above.

E: I don't know Shakespeare, and might be interested in a post about him