‘Masterful’ BBC drama is ‘best British TV series’ and 1990 classic

The BBC series is comprised of four suspenseful episodes.

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This BBC series is rated highly (Image: BBC)

An iconic BBC drama, released more than 30 years ago, is still being praised to this day. House of Cards is a British political thriller television series that first aired on the BBC and was released in 1990. In four episodes, it explores the period after the end of Margaret Thatcher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The series was released to critical and popular acclaim and praised for its writing, direction, and performances, and it is widely considered one of the greatest British television shows ever made.

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House of Cards was adapted the story from the 1989 novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs (Image: BBC)

GQ rated it at number nine in its listing “the 10 best British TV shows, definitively ranked”.]

The series synopsis reads: “When Francis Urquhart, the chief whip of the Conservative Party, is sidelined by Prime Minister Henry Collingridge after all his efforts, he starts planning an elaborate coup to overthrow him.”

One user on IMDb said: “Superb political drama. Very intriguing and highly plausible, with some very sharp dialogue. The political machinations are quite believable. Quite Shakespearean in its wheels-within-wheels, examinations of the worst parts of human nature and outcome.

“Great performance by Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart. He embodies all that is to be loathed and yet grudgingly admired about politics and does so with a cunning charm and spot-on delivery. Good support by Susannah Harker as Mattie Storin.”

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House of Cards is available to stream on Channel 4 (Image: BBC)

Another said it was “nothing short of brilliant”, adding: “One night I happened to be channel surfing, looking for the next sci-fi, action, horror thriller when I happened upon PBS’s broadcast of the BBC’s “House of Cards.” I put down the remote for a good 4 hours because what I was experiencing was something truly special.”

“This is no doubt one of the best TV drama serials I’ve ever seen. I just could not stop watching it until it was finished. It is very suspenseful, in addition to being intelligent and revealing,” added another.

One person described it as “masterful”, while another said: “This holds up as one of the best political shows of all time. I saw it first 31 years ago and was spellbound by Ian Richardson and his machinations and breaking the fourth wall, talking directly to us, the watchers, often silently, winking at us and doing a comical stare at us over some unfortunate lackey trying to impress him.”

House of Cards is available to stream on Channel 4.

CRE: https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/2210126/masterful-bbc-drama-best-british