Because our current lived dystopia isn’t enough, check out the newly-released trailer for the upcoming fifth season of Netflix’s House of Cards.
In it, Frank talks about the American people as if they are children that need to be led by the hand in order to be taught what’s best for them, and of course he believes that he and Claire are the only people capable of doing that.
When we last saw Frank and Claire Underwood (Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright), they were backed into a corner on the verge of the election that would determine whether or not Frank would win re-election. In order to shift things in their favor, Claire suggests that, rather than Frank trying to get the people to love him, that he should play on their fears instead. In this trailer, they seem to be doing just that.
Meanwhile, Frank has big plans, as he envisions a White House for “Underwood 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036…one nation, Underwood.”
*shudders*
While it would be easy to see this kind of a blatant power grab as something of which Trump is entirely capable, we should also consider that House of Cards creator Beau Willimon was a volunteer and intern for Charles Schumer’s Senate campaign, which led to jobs with Hillary Clinton’s 2000 Senate campaign, Bill Bradley’s 2000 presidential campaign, and Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign, and it is often speculated that Frank and Claire are largely based on the Clintons (though Producer Dana Brunetti quickly qualifies that there are several First Couples in there).
I don’t know what’s worse: sneaky power grabs done under citizen’s noses as politicians play the role of caring leaders? Or out-and-out power grabs that harm the American people while rubbing their noses in it for good measure? Either way, as we’re watching House of Cards, we should also be paying close attention to our real-world government.
If shows like this, or The Handmaid’s Tale feel “too real,” it’s because they are. But the only way to change that is to deal with our reality head-on, even as we binge-watch quality TV shows.
(via ComicBook.com, image: screencap)
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