House of Cards - It's a repeat of the original UK series

[prl]

House of Cards (starting on GEM, 21:10, Tue, 22 Mar) is being advertised as starring Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart, which means that this is a repeat of the UK version of the show, where (from IMDB) "Francis Urquhart is the chief whip of the [UK] Conservative party". The show synopsis says that it's about "Congressman Francis Underwood" played by Kevin Spacey in the later US remake.

Even the IceTV synopsis is confused, because the keywords for this series that's supposed to be about US politics say "Series, 1990, United Kingdom, English, Adult, Medical". Again, 1990 is the date of the original UK version: the US remake was 2013.

And "Medical"? The nearest show this gets to "Medical" is a lot of backstabbing, and while there may be a lot of figurative blood on the floor, "Medical" just isn't quite right. ;)

And, of course, it's a repeat. It is on GEM, after all ;)

[Tezza007]

I was looking forward to it til I saw 1990!

[raymondjpg]

I was looking forward to it til I saw 1990!

1990 or not it is still worth watching if you haven't seen it before.

[IanL-S]

If you have not seen the UK original before, you should watch it. I have seen it at least twice.

Ian

[Tezza007]

I'm sure it's good acting and writing but I couldn't handle the poor quality of a 30yo show

[MD]

Believe me, just because it's 30 years old does not mean it's poor quality. It was the basis for the Netflix version and they wouldn't have chosen poor material. In my opinion it's actually better. Ian Ruchardson was a superb actor who brought a wonderful malevolence to the role. Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect is another example of old (25 year) yet still superb television.

[raymondjpg]

I'm sure it's good acting and writing but I couldn't handle the poor quality of a 30yo show

About the only thing that is poor quality about it is 4:3.

[prl]

I'm sure it's good acting and writing but I couldn't handle the poor quality of a 30yo show

"You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment."

We'll be watching it again. It really is very good.

[prl]

IceTV has fixed up the synopsis, but still isn't flagging it as a repeat. Good or not, it's still a repeat.

[Tezza007]

Believe me, just because it's 30 years old does not mean it's poor quality. It was the basis for the Netflix version and they wouldn't have chosen poor material. In my opinion it's actually better. Ian Ruchardson was a superb actor who brought a wonderful malevolence to the role. Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect is another example of old (25 year) yet still superb television.

I disagree. It will be poor quality just because it's 30 years old, including 4:3 as mentioned
I never said it was poor material, in fact the opposite, I said the acting and writing is probably good

[csutak40]

We'll be watching it again. It really is very good.

Grrr.  I hate you!  ;D  I promised myself that I am not watching anything new (let alone repeat  ::) ) as I will have to live well over 100 to watch everything I have recorded and still keep recording.  Now you talked me into it  ::)

[MD]

Believe me, just because it's 30 years old does not mean it's poor quality. It was the basis for the Netflix version and they wouldn't have chosen poor material. In my opinion it's actually better. Ian Ruchardson was a superb actor who brought a wonderful malevolence to the role. Helen Mirren in Prime Suspect is another example of old (25 year) yet still superb television.

I disagree. It will be poor quality just because it's 30 years old, including 4:3 as mentioned
I never said it was poor material, in fact the opposite, I said the acting and writing is probably good

I guess we'll see.  Pun intended.

[Alison]

The repeat flag is now corrected on this program. My apologies for the delay in fixing this oversight!

[prl]

Thanks, Alison.

[prl]

The IceGuide says that the repeat of House of Cards that's about to show (the original UK mini-series) is wide screen. IMDb says it's 4:3.

Given its age, I'd guess that IMDb is right.