Final Frame: Streaming Hits the Jackpot With HOUSE OF CARDS

Photo by Patrick Harbron courtesy of Netflix

These days, with streaming series arriving at blazing speed and volume on Amazon, Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Disney+, CBS All Access, AMC Premiere, FXNOW, USA Now and others, it’s hard to believe that the streaming TV industry is so young. Traveling back to February 2013, we remember that Netflix’s House of Cards began the episodic streaming era and became its first big hit, as well as the most streamed piece of content in the U.S. and 40 other countries. Its episodes were released all at once, popularizing the activity known as “binge-watching.” The show was a political thriller based upon a BBC series of the same name from 1990.

It told the tale of ruthless congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his equally scheming wife Claire (Robin Wright) who maneuvered themselves into the President and First Lady posts in a daring display of manipulation, power and treachery. It went on to earn one Primetime Emmy Award (for director David Fincher) and 23 Primetime Emmy nominations, including best drama, best leading actor and best leading actress, as well as six Primetime Creative Arts Emmys. It was the first original online web series to earn Emmy nominations. It also picked up a number of Golden Globe nominations and wins.