Even more "wow" effect!
Having just finished watching series 2 of The House of Cards trilogy, the end left me with my eyes wide open, saying "wow"!, not usually one of my favourite expressions. In this series, Francis Urquhart is Prime Minister of Britain and is battling with the King on most of his governments policies, urging him to adopt more lenient policies regarding benefits for the poor and disadvantaged while Urquhart's party is distinctly right wing. The character of the King, played to perfection by actor Michael Kitchen (Foyle's War etc.)is clearly based on Prince Charles, using his speech patterns and bodily gestures and that of his sister(in the show) is based on his real lfe aunt, Princess Margaret. I usually combine watching any form of TV with needlework but, on this occasion, couldn't bear to tear my eyes away from the screen with these mesmerising scenes being played out, with stunning performances from all of the cast and with Ian Richardson playing his "baddie" role as effectively as any Shakesperian actor. I cannot recommend this series more highly and am now awaiting the third and last in the series, The Final Cut.

Absolutely Brilliant
This is the best of the three- the first two are great, the third is to be missed. The viewer is drawn into the villainy of an evil PM with Shakespeareian ease and expertise. I disagree with a comment of a prior reviewer that there is "no redeeming social value." In fact, the point - power corrupts, often irredeemably so- is probably too obvious to mention. Any failure of the subplots to tie together completely at the end is far outweighed by the brilliantly protrayed spectacle of evil.

Fantastic Series
Ian Richardson is an absolute dynamo as Francis Urquehart, a proud and ruthless politician who puts Macbeth to shame in the ambitions department. The humor is witty and biting, and the show is riveting from start to finish. And Richardson is so convincing as the vile Urquehart that you just cant help rooting for him.

The Best from the Brits
To enjoy this series, you need to like subtle, stabbing humor, a phenomenal cast, unique camera perspectives, and a great script. I saw this series when it first aired (more years ago than I care to remember!) and never forgot it. Now my whole family is hooked too, and we re-watch every few months just because it is so incredibly well done. I love the way the cast plays to each other, and it seems as though they chose the perfect person for each role. I just wish the BBC would release it on DVD before my tapes fail!

Top-Notch Acting, A Must See Production
This is the second part of the "House of Cards" trilogy by Michael Dobbs and the continuing story of Francis Urquhart who, now Prime Minister, is engaged in a political struggle with the newly crowned king, a thinly disguised version of Prince Charles, and in a romantic liaison with a woman whom his wife chose for him and who is almost his equal in cold-bloodedness though not in utter and absolute villainy. In this second work we are no longer taken in by the superficial charm of Urquhart. His cleverness has given way to brutality, rage and deceit, and he has lost our sympathy. We look with a certain coldness even on his moments of remorse and hauntings of conscience. He begins, for all his political triumphs, to show his essential weakness, and his wife is now emerging as the strength of their partnership. The work is well worth seeing despite some weakness of plot and is fascinating because of the unusual conflict between HRH and the PM though most of all because of the continued stupendous acting of Ian Richardson. It is, however, not quite up to the same level as "House of Cards," the first part of the trilogy.