The House of Cards was one of the greatest British (or maybe even the World) TV programmes of all time in my opinion.
Ian Richardson was pure gold as Francis Urquhart.
The ending I thought was a great twist and way to end it all. But did anyone else feel sorrow for one of the greatest political villians of all time when he met his maker? I know I did.
'E...lizabeth' - the final words of Francis Urquhart
I must admit that I found the ending in the book to be much more moving, which is surprising considering I think that Andrew Davies is a genius. Somehow Michael Dobbs' finale made more sense and evoked more emotion than the tv version. And in general I felt that The Final Cut wasn't nearly as good as the first two series - it was very flawed in many ways.
shareThat's true I suppose. But either way, none of us wanted our evil friend Urquhart to nearly crumble the way he did. But I suppose his exit is more dramatic and realisitic then him just walking off into the sunset.
'Every legacy must come to an end'
I have only just got round to watching this show on Netflix, years later.
I saw the original series House of Cards at the time and loved it.
And then watched all three online on Netflix and loved them too.
Not sure I agree with anyone about the Final Cut. I really enjoyed the ending, although I had hoped Francis would win through yet again.
There is something wonderfully evil about him. Laughed heartily when his loyal servant Sooty announced he was resigning and giving his story to the Clarion.
And Francis reminds him that he already has his undated resignation letter and that a confession about adultery and insider trading will make a much juicier story for the Clarion.
Wonderful performance from Richardson. He was like a male version of Thatcher.
I was disappointed to see it all come down around him, too. Good to see that he came out of it smelling of roses one way or the other, though.
The original was my favourite, though - All of the manipulation and scheming by Urquhart were a joy to watch. They were almost completely absent from The Final Cut; he was a shadow of his former self. All arrogance and malice with no flair. I still enjoyed it all the way through.
It was stil there, my friend, just less direct.
I am a college professor, and a parapeglic, and I reguarly quote,
fear that this might be the day, we wake to find the magic gone.
"fear that this might be the day, we wake to find the magic gone."
And how fast it goes if you have got as many backs up as Urquart. This is one of the great pleasure of real life is the gripping drama of powerful figures losing their mystique and watching it fall, well like a house of cards.
Very true my friend. The enemies one makes when persuing one's own way at all costs.
shareThe Final Cut was not as good as the first two. Urquhart was all arrogance without a *beep* in his armour.
In the first series, he was a wounded man who served loyally only to be passed over.
Its that man again!!
There is some truth to that. I saw a lion in winter, trying to retain his crown.
shareThe thing about it is, thanks to Elizabeth, Urquhart actually won. Yes he died, but so did all his secrets. Makepeace and Co. weren't about to be seen trying to sully the reputation of a dead man. That would just look bad. In the world of House of Cards, Urquhart would probably be remembered as the greatest Prime Minister ever (and longest serving) who "died for his nation" or something of the like. They probably built a statue of him somewhere near the Thatcher statue they were unveiling during the assassination. So yes, even though he's gone, FU's legacy would live on practically unscathed in the eyes of the people.
shareYou are right. The noble martyr, having spent himself totally for the people, to paraphrase north Korean kooks. I love this story, and I am very glad to see others interested.
shareI was quite dissatisfied with the ending because Urquhart got what he wanted, basically. I loved watching his villainous ways, the beautiful way Richardson balanced melodramatic soliloquies and subtle smirks, his senses of humour and grandeur - what a talent. But I also wanted to watch him as his world, his house of cards, crumbled completely. In my opinion, the perfecter ending would have been Urquhart brought low by the smears and sinister plots that he himself used. To have his reputation and his kingdom ripped from him would have been marvelous to watch.
Though, I did very much like Corder's final, sinister words.
The ending has the sort of splendid irony that Francis Urquhart would surely appreciate, though. I agree it would have been interesting to see how he would have reacted had everything been laid waste around him, but in the cynical real-world it's probably more likely that a Machiavelli such as he was would manage to keep from the public his true face entirely, even after death--in fact, going so far as to be hailed a hero. He certainly has his real-life counterparts in that, in plenty.
But I'll also agree it would have been great to see the completely marvellous Mr. Richardson given the opportunity to act out the sort of scenario you mention.
I think it's the ending Urquhart would want, which is why I was hoping for another one. If House of Cards is the rise of F.U. and To Play the King shows him at his fiendish finest, it would have been neat to see The Final Cut come down hard on F.U. and show him collapse.
You're right: Richardson showing an utterly baffled, defeated Urquhart, finally brought low by his enemies, would have been spectacular.
A modern day Lear on the heath, having lost it all. Couldn't you just see him playing that? I just finished up watching the 1980's multi-part BBC series Six Centuries of Verse, in which he had a major part. My god, hearing him is incredible; I've never seen another actor who could convey so much with just his voice alone. I was trying to imagine him playing Urquhart as this defeated character who's still battling to the very end, even as everything is slipping away, and hearing in my mind how he might have sounded--what a thrill that would have been.
shareYou describing it in terms of Lear is really making me want to see it. What a talent Richardson was.
shareWhat a talent Richardson was.