Netflix released its newest original series House of Cards Friday, and took the bold step of making all 13 episodes of the first season available for instant streaming.
House of Cards, starring Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright and Kate Mara, is a remake of a celebrated 1990 BBC miniseries of the same name, according to TV.com. Kevin Spacey plays Frank Underwood, a callous, bitter politician who is out for revenge after getting passed over for a Secretary of State nomination. "There will be shady deals with reporters, the blackmailing of Congressmen, and plenty of ass-kicking and ass-kissing," says TV.com.
The series, with its HBO-quality production values and prestigious cast, represents Netflix's most high-profile--and riskiest--venture into original programming. It's an expensive risk; according to CNN Money, the series will cost the company around $50 million per season.
The DVD and streaming video subscription service is eager to transition into producing original content because they want to remain competitive with services like HBO and Showtime. If Netflix becomes a viable source of original entertainment, it could potentially have an advantage over services like HBO because it would be a destination for both old and new programming.
"Part of our goal is to become like HBO faster than HBO can become Netflix," company spokesman Joris Evers told CNN Money. "Perhaps people saw us in the past as a distributor, or aggregator. We want to have an experience that cannot be replicated by our competitors."
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A monthly streaming-only Netflix subscription costs $7.99, and some in the TV industry are uncertain that House of Cards will be enough to lure new subscribers.
"It can't just be a good show," financial analyst Rich Tullo told CNN Money. "It has to be a spectacular show, where people say, 'Wow, you've got to sign up for Netflix to watch this.' Is it really great enough to bring in two or three million people not subscribing already?" Another concern is that by releasing all 13 episodes of Cards at once, Netflix is losing the opportunity to attract long-term loyal subscribers.
Initial critical reception of House of Cards has been largely positive--the LA Times called it "deliciously spiteful"--but not universally so. Post TV critic Hank Stuever had this lukewarm reaction: "The House of Cards appears to suffer from the same ambitious but weighty seriousness that afflicted Starz's 'Boss.' As with that show, the cinematography is moody and gorgeous. The writing is broad. The arcs are wide. The corruption is all-consuming. The sympathetic characters are nonexistent. And most important, the lead actor is a known scenery-chewer."
It's too early to tell how House of Cards will ultimately fare, but at least even if it pans, Netflix can't leave fans hanging by pulling it halfway through the first season.