Episode 60: House of Cards, House of Cards VS. The West Wing, Top 5 Anti-Heroes

Super Fantastic Nerd Hour!

“Money gives power, well, a run for its money.” We discuss Netflix’s House of Card: Season 3! What happens to Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood when the power he craves remains out of his reach? Does House of Cards successfully pivot to character and policy stories? And what’s the deal with Robin Wright’s Claire Underwood this season? We caucus for our favorite Washingtonian political drama as House of Cards and The West Wing enter the INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER. It's a deliciously evil top 5 as we share our favorite anti-heroes. Special guest, policy wonk Lowen Baumgarten.

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Show Notes

• 0:00 - 12:12: House of Cards: Season 3 (non-spoilers)
• 12:13 - 42:00: House of Cards: Season 3 (spoilers)
• 42:01 - 1:10:29 INFINITE CROSSOVER CHAMBER: House of Cards VS. The West Wing
• 1:10:30 - 1:51:19: Top 5 Anti-Heroes

Links

• AV Club reviews House of Cards: Season 3
• House of Zzzzs: The Netflix thriller makes itself over as a plodding relationship drama.
• House of Cards Season 3 Finale Recap: Good-bye to All That
• NY Times: ‘House of Cards’ Season 3 Finale Recap: This Office Has One Chair
• The Atlantic: House of Cards Season 3: The Binge Review
• 'House of Cards' Should Stop Trying to Be 'The West Wing'
• House of Cards/The West Wing Mashup
• Washington Noir
• House of Cards, West Wing and the Millennial Generation

Top 5 Anti-Heroes

Lowen:

1. Walter White (Breaking Bad)
2. Raskolnikov (Crime and Punishment)
3. Tony Soprano (The Sopranos)
4. Rorschach (Watchmen)
5. Salieri (Amadeus)

Conrad:

1. Rorschach (Watchmen)
2. Beatrix Kiddo ("The Bride") (Kill Bill)
3. Don Draper (Mad Men)
4. Raymond 'Red' Reddington (The Blacklist)
5. Nancy Botwin (Weeds)

Ali:

1. Walter White (Breaking Bad)
2. Q (Star Trek: The Next Generation)
3. Catwoman (Batman: The Animated Series)
4. Don Draper (Mad Men)
5. Severus Snape (Harry Potter)