When House of Cards came to Netflix in 2013 and changed the landscape of television forever, many who loved it were quick to check out the British version of the show. This was a U.K. adaptation that the David Fincher and Beau Willimon-produced U.S. was heavily influenced by.
However, many people do not know that the original British show was, in turn, based on a trilogy of books by Michael Dobbs. The first one, also titled House of Cards, was published all the way back in 1989 and still delights readers who seek a solid political thrill. As such, there are some elements of the show that make even more sense when one is aware of the literature behind it. Spoilers ahead!
How Zoe Meets Her End
When season two of House of Cards dropped on Netflix, many fans and viewers were absolutely shocked by the plot twist at the end of the first episode. Kate Mara’s journalist character, Zoe Barnes, was shoved in front of a train by Frank Underwood.
It might seem like a bit of a plot twist shocker for the show, but it can be grounded in even more sense if one looks to the books. Originally in the books, the “Frank” character, Francis Urquhart, committed suicide from a roof. The book was later revised to have Francis throwing Mattie, the “Zoe” character, from that same roof. It was a shocking twist, but it was based in the original literature.
The Majority Whip Position
When telling the story of a major mover and shaker in the American political landscape, it might seem like a bit of a surprising move to make that protagonist a majority whip, rather than say, a president or vice president.
Granted, the show does chronicle Frank Underwood’s rise to power. But the position of majority whip comes from the book character’s original position as chief whip in the House of Commons in the U.K. It’s the same general idea, but the root of it comes from the fact that the show was loosely based in reality, with Margaret Thatcher serving as a character in the novel. If Thatcher’s going to be a player, Francis cannot be prime minister. He had to be a whip to show that the most influential people are not the biggest names.
Ideological Differences
Over the course of the show, one might be a bit curious as to what sort of political ideology Frank fell under. He was technically a liberal but often seemed to dabble in policies that were more geared towards conservative bases.
Part of the reason for this was because it showed that all Frank cared about was power. Another part of the reason was that the original author, Dobbs, was actually the chief of staff Thatcher’s tenure as prime minister. He worked for the conservative party and the original Francis character was supposed to embody some of this ideology, while mostly playing the role of a Shakespearean figure, entirely devoid of a moral code.
Southern Roots
Frank Underwood’s accent is a major hallmark of his nefarious character who has a demeanor molasses-like sweetness. It is first introduced to the audience in the opening scene of the show when Frank mercifully kills an ailing dog. From there, the viewer knows he is willing to do whatever it takes to rise up.
This ruthlessness is grounded in his southern, can-do upbringing that differs slightly from the Scottish high-class figure that is the original Urquhart. Urquhart was also willing to do whatever it took and the reason why Underwood hails from the south is to embody these parallel qualities that would be found in the U.K.
References To Historical Figures
When House of Cards begins, the major political figures are fictional people. However, the show does often pay homage to real-life historical figures. Namely, these moments come with American presidents like George Washington, Richard Nixon, and John F. Kennedy.
Even though House of Cards progressed forward with the fictional rule, the debt that was owed to the history of U.S. politics stems directly from the book that begins in media res with the state of surprise Thatcher throws the country into with her resignation. Thatcher is to the books as Nixon is to the show.
A British Catchphrase
One of the more famous lines from the show, in accordance with Frank’s frequent fourth wall breaks, is when he dodges a question from Zoe by saying, “You might very well think that. I couldn’t possibly comment.”
It is mostly in keeping with the tone of Frank’s other quotes, but if it sounds slightly different, that is because it hails directly from the original House of Cards book and, subsequently, the above-pictured British adaptation. It is one of the show’s most killer lines and the writing of it is a credit to Dobbs. Sometimes, the source material is just perfect as is.
“Father’s Day”
The odd sexual interplay between Frank and Zoe over the course of season one was definitely a source of intrigue for many who watched the show, but it also strode into uncomfortable territory with relative frequency.
The preeminent example of this creepy age difference was when Frank teased Zoe about wishing him a happy Father’s Day. It’s one of those things that you definitely hate to hear. However, the sentiments behind it stem from the British version of the story, which continuously saw the Mattie character referring to Francis as “Daddy.” It’s creepy, to say the least.
Education Secretaries
If one was to ask a fan of House of Cards what their favorite moments of the show were, they would likely answer with one of the more shocking or jaw-dropping or adrenaline-inducing scenes. (Frank tapping his ring in the oval office comes to mind.)
But these moments would not matter as much without the emphasis on some of the more mundane aspects of politics. Namely, why are education officials so prominently featured? In season one of the show, an education bill is one of the focal points of Frank’s larger M.O. This has a basis in the book, which sees Harold Earle, the secretary of education, as an obstacle in Francis’ rise to power. There is a commentary here. So many governments are so eager to achieve maximum power, that they will steamroll education to get there. This applies to the U.S. and the U.K.
The Use Of Poison
Poison is not such a far-fetched thing to understand if one has not read the book. However, its prevalence on the show will achieve even greater clarity for the average House of Cards fan if they know that it was a major feature of the books.
All the way in season five of the show, Claire comes into her own villainy to a greater extent by poisoning writer Tom Yates in a shocking turn of events. Way back in 1989, Francis Urquhart used poison to eliminate Roger O’Neill, a public relations person. Sometimes, it’s the bystanders who bite the dust.
Blackmail, Blackmail, Blackmail
Murder, poison, extramarital affairs. It’s all a major part of the identity of House of Cards. But few crimes are as prevalent as blackmail, which is woven into the DNA of the story, as far back as the very first book in the series. The aforementioned Earle is blackmailed in the book, as well as Patrick Woolton, the book’s secretary of foreign affairs.
This is all the permission needed for the show to dabble into the realm of blackmail, as well. Blackmail pertains to Washington, D.C. hackers, and judicial officials, but it most prominently becomes tied to the character of Seth Grayson and his entire arc.
