Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Compelling take on politics plays up sex, drugs, scheming.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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House of Cards
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 9 parent reviews
Based on 22 kid reviews
Kids say this series is intense and filled with mature themes including strong sexual content, graphic language, and a focus on political corruption. While praised for its complexity and captivating storyline, many reviewers caution that it is not suitable for children and may influence young viewers' perceptions of politics.
- mature themes
- strong language
- political corruption
- complex characters
- not for children
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When he's passed up for the top cabinet post he was promised, powerful Minority Whip Rep. Francis "Frank" Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife (Robin Wright) launch a revenge scheme of Machiavellian proportions against the president (Michael Gill) and his unsuspecting underlings. But carrying out his plan to topple them all like a HOUSE OF CARDS requires help from an eager young reporter (Kate Mara), who's just hungry enough to take the bait.
Is It Any Good?
Hardcore Netflix users might already know that House of Cards is based on the BBC miniseries of the same name (which, in turn, was based on a novel by British politician Michael Dobbs). But while the British series centered on Conservative Party politics in the post-Margaret Thatcher era, the U.S. version transplants the action to modern-day Washington, D.C., during the term of a Democratic president.
So what's the verdict? With its second original series (the first being Lilyhammer), streaming content provider Netflix delivers an effectively addictive political drama with movie-quality storytelling and A-list casting. (Not to mention A-list director/producer chops, thanks to the presence of The Social Network's David Fincher.) The series' exclusivity to Netflix subscribers means it's not easily available to a broader audience. But in our opinion, it's compelling enough to deserve one.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about House of Cards' take on national politics. Is it positive, negative, or somewhere in between? How close do you think it comes to portraying the way things really get done in Washington?
What role does the media play in American politics? Do you think it plays too big of a role? How has the rise of various technologies -- from television to Twitter -- affected the way we pick and choose our politicians?
How does House of Cards compare to the tone of other shows set in Washington, including Veep, 1600 Penn, and The West Wing?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 1, 2013
- Cast : Kate Mara , Kevin Spacey , Robin Wright
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Awards : Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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