Review: House of Cards episode 1.01

Netflix’s first original series, “House of Cards,” is a good first entry.

Kevin Spacey plays House Majority Whip Rep. Francis Underwood, who has his sights set on the nation’s top job.

He finds out from the president’s chief of staff Linda Vasquez that Michael Kern will be nominated for secretary of state instead of him. His wife Claire (played by Robin Wright) gets upset that day not only that he didn’t call her with news, but that he accepted this turn of events.

Kate Mara (“American Horror Story”) is Zoe Barnes, a cub reporter wanting to expose the “real” Washington on a blog at “The Washington Herald.” She joins forces with Underwood as an in to do so.

The president wants Donald Blythe to write an education bill in his first 100 days, but Underwood is more capable and able to get the job done for him. Underwood leaked it to Barnes, and ends up getting to write the bill.

Constance Zimmer (also “Entourage”) is the Herald’s chief political correspondent, though she didn’t appear much in this episode. Her character, of course, doesn’t appreciate Barnes leapfrogging her with the bill’s leak on the Herald’s web site.

The show does what it needs to, though I didn’t like Spacey’s exposition to the camera during the episode. Still, Spacey’s a world- class talent and can probably carry this one pretty easily.

“Nashville,” take note: this is how political intrigue stories are done.

This episode is airing free for non- Netflix members at http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/House_of_Cards/70178217?mqso=81001339

Grade: B+