Mirror, mirror on the wall, which one’s the greatest political drama of them all? ‘House of Cards’ or ‘Madam Secretary’, let’s hear the fans choose!
Both over the top dramatic, both intriguing, and both sweat-breaking –‘House of Cards’ and ‘Madam Secretary’ are both political dramas that have given each other a run for their money. Which one is the best of the best? While one serves revenge and ambition with a cold heart, the other is a fresh picture of truth, power, and hope. Nevertheless, only one can win the election!
Highlights —
- ‘House of Cards’ started the OG streaming revolution
- ‘Madam Secretary’ is more than just a political drama
- Fans have taken their pick
‘House of Cards’ started the OG streaming revolution
‘House of Cards’ shares the stand with OG shows like ‘Orange Is the New Black’ that made streaming platforms, and especially Netflix, what it is today. ‘House of Cards’ started a binge-watch revolution even as streaming platforms emerged victoriously. People have binged and binged on ‘House of Cards’ like they have not done with any other political drama, and why should they not? Keeping aside the gripping plot, ‘House of Cards’ has earned brownie points just for the ivy league directors associated with the show. Hollywood biggies like David Fincher and Joel Schumacher have been closely associated with the show, and it doesn’t get any better than that. That itself guarantees superior story-telling, leaving aside the sublime performances by actors like Kevin Spacey (here’s looking at you Keyser Soze!) and Robin Wright.
Supported by a sharp script, ‘House of Cards’ could easily be placed in the list of the best political dramas in the history of Hollywood. At the onset, what looks like a simple story of an ambitious Congressman and his wife trying to make big in the White House politics, soon turns out to be a twisted tale of intrigue, betrayal, and vengeance. Packed with unseen twists, mysteries, and mayhem, ‘House of Cards’ makes for a gritty preview of politics as we know it.
Does that, however, make it the best? ‘House of Cards’ sure started strong, but it could not stand the test of time. In 2017, the show surrounded itself in controversy when lead man Kevin Spacey faced allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct from more than 30 victims. This led to Spacey being fired and Frank Underwood being killed off. The show carried on for one more season with Robin Wright’s character Claire Underwood as its front and centre. However, the final season of ‘House of Cards’ ended up being a disaster with a script that lacked resolution.
Which House Of Cards Character Are You? (Quiz)
‘Madam Secretary’ is more than just a political drama
Unlike hyped political dramas such as ‘House of Cards’, ‘Madam Secretary’ proved that a show doesn’t have to be the talk of the town in order to be appreciated. With Tea Leoni as Elizabeth McCord, ‘Madam Secretary’ is essentially the story of Elizabeth, the Secretary of State, rising through ranks to finally run for President, and doing all of it while raising three kids and balancing a very healthy marriage. Lori McCreary, the co-executive producer of the show, admitted to having developed the show’s idea from the 2012 testimony of Hilary Clinton about the Benghazi attacks. Of course, they made an original premise out of the idea and kept the references subtle.
Although ‘Madam Secretary’ could hardly compete with political dramas like ‘House of Cards’, the show delivered freshness in content. The usual political dramas go through the same old process of driving rifts into families with affairs, irreparable relationships, betrayals, and divorces. ‘Madam Secretary’ provided for a fresh positive change when it chose to keep the McCord family surrounded with love, trust, and support. ‘Madam Secretary’ does provide a fair share of controversy, drama, and politics, but the show’s extensive focus is on Elizabeth’s relationship with her husband and children.
Fans have taken their pick
Fans do seem divided when it comes to choosing between the two shows. A poll by “The Tylt” has shown a majority choosing ‘Madam Secretary’ over ‘House of Cards’. According to the result of the poll, 81.6% of the participants have picked ‘Madam Secretary’ as their favourite, while only 18.4% of the participants have voted for ‘House of Cards’.
On the contrary, a few fans have chosen ‘House of Cards’ over ‘Madam Secretary’ among the best political dramas. A fan wrote on “Quora”, “House of Cards, of course. Hell of a show, best acting, story, and the constant feeling of helplessness, it will keep you hooked. Madam Secretary is good, only till the first season. After that, it loses steam”. Which one of these is your pick? Let us know in the comments below!
