The show was created by Beau Willimon and is based on a 1990 BBC miniseries of the same name, which itself was adapted from a novel by Michael Dobbs. The series was produced by Media Rights Capital and released exclusively on Netflix, making it one of the streaming platform's early original productions.
The show is known for its intense and dark portrayal of political power and manipulation. Kevin Spacey starred as Frank Underwood, a cunning and ambitious politician with a Southern drawl who, after being passed over for a promotion, sets out on a path of revenge and political ascent. Robin Wright played his equally formidable wife, Claire Underwood.
"House of Cards" received critical acclaim for its writing, acting, and political intrigue in its early seasons. However, it faced controversy later on when allegations of sexual misconduct were made against Kevin Spacey. As a result, Spacey was fired from the show, and the production was reworked for its final season.
The series concluded with its sixth season, which was released on November 2, 2018. Despite the controversy, "House of Cards" had a significant impact on the television landscape, particularly in terms of the rise of streaming platforms as major content creators.