“House of Cards” Season 4 is set to premiere next year and rumors are quite rife that the events of the upcoming season might run parallel with the coming US presidential elections.
According to Christian Post, the Netflix drama will share many common denominators with America’s 58th quadrennial presidential elections that are scheduled on November 28, 2016.
Executive producer Beau Willimon confirmed that the events of the fourth season will mirror the events of the forthcoming US elections. However, he clarified that it wasn’t deliberately paralleled.
Willimon says that the last events of Season 3 wherein Kevin Spacey’s Frank Underwood is set to run for President once more just coincides with the time frame of the season. Because of that, the show will be showcasing similar, if not realistic ideas and events from the real-life elections.
The showrunner adds that the headlines viewers will be hearing on the show will probably be the same with the headlines and news they are going to hear on TV for the upcoming US presidential elections.
Last April, Netflix teased the upcoming season on its Twitter account when it tweeted “I will leave a legacy #Underwood2016” heavily pertaining to Frank’s re-election effort.
Willimon reiterates that he tries to prevent the show from showing real-life politics. He explains that the episodes for “House of Cards” were written before the US presidential elections.
According to the showrunner, the new season is expected to bring a new vibe to the show in general. The future episodes will present more emotional story arcs, probably between Frank and Claire, that fans will surely be delighted with.
Christian Today reports that aside from Frank aiming to be re-elected as President, he will also have to deal with the fact that his wife and only real confidant, Robin Wright’s Claire, have left him.
Last season, the First Lady walked out on her President and vowed never to look back again on their marriage.
Speculations say that the Frank and Claire will make up early on Season 4, but it looks like it’s all for a show. Reports say the two will have to fake it until the conniving politician claims his seat in the White House once again.
As per Yibada, Mrs, Underwood will even be adopting a young girl as part of the publicity stunt that she and Frank are in a healthy relationship. Rumors about this surfaced when producers had a casting call for a young girl this season.
Granted, the pair’s relationship wasn’t perfect, but Claire gave Frank something to stand on. However, there are also reports saying that the two won’t be back together even if it’s just for image sake. Instead, the First Lady will counter her husband’s presidential bid and run as well.
Producers and writers have yet to say a word on what Claire’s next move will be. iDigital Times suggests that this season could see a more vulnerable Frank or it could also see him groom himself to the scheming leader that he really is.
Meanwhile, Claire’s absence in the White House means that the President could use another confidant. This is where Doug Stamper, played by Michael Kelly, comes in. According to reports, Underwood’s chief of staff might be Claire’s replacement when it comes to Frank’s support department.
With how he has to deal with the hostility from his solicitor general, the country’s relationship with Russia, and mulling over his troubled marriage, the Democrat President could definitely use a shoulder to lean on.
However, rumors are circling that Doug might face his demise this season. What’s worse is that the political aid who’s loyal to a fault might succumb to death in the hands of Frank.
If this will indeed happen, no one actually knows how. But Enstarz reports that it might be unlikely to happen as Kelly’s character has been a fan-favorite since Season 1.
Doug has been Frank’s closest ally. Frank has grown fond of him so much and with Claire gone, he surely will need someone by his side. It would be a twisted idea if Frank will kill the only person he can confide to, Christian Today states.