"House of Cards" creator Beau Willimon recently took to Twitter to express his resistance against U.S. President Donald Trump. This may sound all too familiar, so let's look back at how his show "House of Cards" has been expressing the creator's opposing beliefs, since Trump was sworn to presidency.
"House of Cards": the provocative trailer when Trump being sworn in
Per Salon, the trailer released to tease "House of Cards" fans about its fifth season has Kevin Spacey's character, Frank Underwood, talking about power. The Netflix drama's trailer came out an hour before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
It definitely seems like a considerable portion of the "House of Cards" series' target audience is thinking about the troubling similarities between Frank Underwood's fictional administration and the one that just took over the real world's Washington. Spacey's presidential agitator would likely approve of the streaming service using the public's collective angst as a hook.
But "House of Cards" was not done yet. There was another tweet posted:
We make the terror. pic.twitter.com/VpChwGOSMj
— House of Cards (@HouseofCards) January 20, 2017
That line comes from the closing scene of "House of Cards" Season 4 finale, when Underwood and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) are witnessing the execution of a man held hostage by terrorists. He said the line to viewers after addressing the nation and declaring total war on extremism around the globe.
It is extremely notable that Spacey’s character was an interesting element in the opening seasons, although the actor’s slimy tone became seemingly mechanic and boring over the course of the fourth season. But it's the upside-down American flag that either struck viewers as an irreverent commentary on the events happening on the Capitol steps or a disrespectful rebuke.
Their take relied on which side of the political spectrum they lived in. At its most basic, the “House of Cards” promo co-opts a gloomy postelection meme and adds in the timeless creepiness of children’s voices reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
"House of Cards" creator's tweets
Going into more recent events, per Variety, "House of Cards" creator, Willimon tweeted about "Deceleration", which was likened after the Declaration of Independence, and accused the president of conducting damage and usurpations, following the establishment of an absolute Tyranny ove the states.
5. Immediate impeachment of the President for crimes committed, or removal from office by way of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) February 3, 2017
In the bulk of his succeding tweets, Willimon enumerated Trump's aforementioned injuries and usurpations. He mentioned the recent temporary ban on refugees. He added his comments on Trump's cabinet decisions and called them amateur ideologues.
It seems like "House of Cards" is reel life imitating real life. As the Trump presidency keeps unfolding, hopeully the Netflix series will be keeping up with it as well. Fans may be on the edge of their seats but let's see what the series brings forth next.
“House of Cards” Season 5 premieres on May 30.
