After I watched all forty-something episodes of Scandal in a major binge-worthy fashion, I was literally jonesing for the next episode. This isn't my first time on this kind of ride, take the crash after Harry Potter for Sample A, or the downfall and depression after Desperate Housewives got cancelled for B. It's rough when you have had something at your fingertips and then it ceases to exist. When I was still in my happy place of having episodes to watch, I used the phrase "trigger-finger" to describe my inability to stop watching no matter what was going on in the real world, or what ungodly hour of the night it was.
So, after finishing the forty-something episodes I did what any other Scandal fan would do: sat for five minutes in complete shock, then tried to find someone to discuss the episode with. Then looked for a new show to help tide me over until the show's return on February 27th. I turned to Netflix's House of Cards. I chose it because 1.Being on Netflix means it's able to be consumed quickly and on-hand and 2.Another show about the inside track of the government seemed to be the place to turn. Now, I don't want to spoil either plot for anyone, not the intention here at all. I just want to discuss how Scandal wins and House of Cards will lose in every arena.
I think it says something about the state of our country right now that we have so many television shows based on the inner-workings of the government. Sure, there have been many shows before these two and many shows I know will come in the future. But right now there is a surge of excitement behind looking into the depths of the political system to find out what the underbelly really looks like. Whether its a serious twist like these two shows or Homeland or the more comedic side with Veep (excellent show!) or Parks and Rec, America is saying yes to politics. In House of Cards Kevin Spacey shows us the real underbelly through playing his character Frank (Francis) Underwood, the Majority Whip leader of the Senate. Kerry Washington plays Olivia Pope, ex-aid to the President and current "fixer" in the most illustrious town of all: Washington D.C..
Pope and Underwood have both become households names. With Pope in her third season and Underwood gearing up for round 2 in about a month, both characters have captivated audiences across the world. Knowing little about either of the worlds I was diving into, I almost assumed that they were similar because the talk has been so much of comparison and allegiance between the two. That statement couldn't be more untrue. Pope saves the world in her white hat while Underwood brings the President down from the Majority Whip standpoint. The inner circle that does no wrong compared to the inner circle that creates the problems in the first place. "The Fixer" versus "The Messer."
Scandal also has heart. The vivid characters wear their hearts of their sleeves, exposing their deepest secrets and dealing with them head on. Cards has no feeling, other than nostalgia for the way things used to be. Underwood splays barbeque sauce across a picture of President's throat but has no intention of really drawing blood. He is living in the past, hurting and manipulating the governmental insides only to bury the pain that he wasn't promoted within those very ranks.
Spacey has to narrate parts of the show in order to bring emotion and honestly, explanation to the camera. With Pope you don't always know what is going to happen, or why Shonda Rimes is making characters act in the way they do, but you do understand the basics of the storyline and the politics. Without the narrations in House of Cards much of the general public of America would be left confused. Sure, they would follow the general jist of things, but would be left with a question mark on their foreheads.
The two shows also differ in how they look on the outside. Having Kevin Spacey in your television drama makes the whole thing look polished and revered before seeing that it's really handsome and dark. Scandal on the other hand is flashy and fun yet, also devastatingly perfect because it's an ever-revolving door of heartbreak and betrayal. I would rather watch the latter and be inspired than to watch the demise of people who didn't truly do anything to deserve it. Which is your cup of tea: revenge or heartbreak?
Not to mention the fact that although Spacey and Robin Wright display truly amazing acting abilities, there is no passion between the two. Frank wouldn't even let her have a child because he doesn't want to bring it into a world of pain. He's negative while Pope is ever-positive and ever-fixing. And don't even get me started on defending Scandal here. I don't think its possible for there to be more passion between Olitz. Are you serious?! I hated jam and Vermont, but I am obsessed with both things now. You are fighting for their love even though it's the wrong thing. I don't fight for Frank Underwood to win, I just watch him take what he thinks is his to take.
All in all, both shows are fantastic, but they don't sit in the same ranks. Scandal wins every time. Which is saying a lot, being that it is Shonda Rimes third successful television show. Netflix just took House of Cards on as a remake (many people are oblivious to that fact). They are finding success but nothing takes down the White Hats.
No comments:
Post a Comment