This show is based on a terrific British "House of Cards" starring Ian Richardson. That had three four-hour series that were made years apart, and the 13 hours of the American version really only get you part of the way through the first British series. It drags. The British series combined humor and cynicism, Americans generally seem to be unable to combine humor and poltics, so the script doesn't try to be funny much. Especially early on, actors seem to square up tentatively, like they're consciously hitting a mark for the camera. Kevin Spacey seems (literally) to be trying to imitate Tommy Lee Jones. The other actors are weirdly interchangeable -- there's two peanut-headed bald guys and the women are all rail thin. The story staggers along on drugs and sex, but the sex is more of the tease variety.

There's been some speculation that all 13 episodes were released at once because viewing wouldn't be sustained if they released it an episode at a time. Do yourself a favor -- if you have access to Netflix, watch the UK version instead.