By Ismail Hadj-Maamar 33738244

Week 4: Netflix, Binge-viewing and Internet distributed film and TV

House of Cards wasn’t just another political drama – it revolutionized how we watch TV. Netflix shook things up by dropping all episodes at once, letting us dive headfirst into Frank Underwood’s world without waiting week after week. This binge-watching approach made TV more personal and engaging. The show’s timing was spot-on, reflecting the political climate of its era.

As streaming TV grew, it opened doors for deeper, more politically charged content. House of Cards dove into power plays, manipulation, and the cutthroat world of politics, striking a chord with viewers living through real-world political turmoil. By breaking the old TV mold, House of Cards didn’t just entertain – it rewrote the rules. We could now lose ourselves in complex characters and wild plot twists at our own pace. This new way of watching let us really chew on the dark side of politics, turning the show into a mirror of society’s power struggles.

Our current media consumption habits were revolutionized by this on-demand, binge-watching approach. Netflix not only changed the way TV episodes are produced, but it completely changed how we watch and engage with them. The television series House of Cards marked a sea change in television history and helped usher in the current era of streaming. The influence of the show is not just for amusement. In a manner not possible with ordinary TV, it made us consider politics, ethics, and power. By allowing us to thoroughly immerse ourselves in its universe, House of Cards generated discussions and introspection that persisted long after the credits had rolled.

Bibliography

Jenner, M. (2018). Netflix and the Reinvention of Television. “Introduction: Netflix and the Reinvention of Television”, pp. 1-31, 109-118.
Lotz, A. (2017). Portals: A Treatise on Internet-Distributed Television. “Theorizing the Nonlinear Distinction of Internet-Distributed Television”. Available at: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/maize/mpub9699689