7. House of Cards

Even before House of Cards was a staple of British TV as a BBC miniseries, it was a well-crafted series of novels by author/former Parliament member Michael Dobbs, who also serves as an executive producer on the show. Centered around Francis Urquhart (changed to the more pronounceable, more American Underwood in the Netflix edition), the book focuses on the politician’s artful manipulation of power as he maneuvers for an increasingly higher position in government. As far as the show is concerned, the rarely used “breaking the fourth wall’ method is House of Cards’ chief brilliance. Francis talks to the audience in a stoic, almost psychopathically calm manner, making us feel both allied to and terrified of him. Rarely do TV shows employ this often hit-or-miss technique with such seamlessness. As a former political advisor to Margaret Thatcher, Dobbs’ understanding of the cutthroat landscape we call politics is evident in each novel — yet, nonetheless, Kevin Spacey’s portrayal of a ruthless senator is even more riveting in comparison. Like Boardwalk Empire, House of Cards also had its pilot directed by a film auteur (David Fincher), giving it an extra boost on screen.