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"Chapter 1" (sometimes "Episode 101") is the pilot episode of the American political thriller drama television series ''House of Cards'' and is the first episode of the first season. It premiered on February 1, 2013, when it was released along with the rest of the first season on the American streaming service Netflix. This episode became the first web television webisode to earn Primetime Emmy Awards and nominations. "Chapter 1" was written by series developer Beau Willimon and directed by executive producer David Fincher. The episode also earned 3 other Emmy nominations as well as WGA: Episodic Drama and DGA – Drama Series nominations. Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is an ambitious Democratic congressman and the House Majority Whip. Underwood helped ensure the election of President Garrett Walker (Michel Gill), who promised to appoint Underwood as Secretary of State. However, before Walker is sworn in, Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez (Sakina Jaffrey) announces that the president will not honor the agreement and will instead nominate Senator Michael Kern. Furious at Walker's betrayal, Underwood and his wife Claire (Robin Wright), an environmental activist, make a pact to destroy Kern. When Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) makes her resources available, she becomes one of their pawns. The episode was well received by most television critics. They praised the production values of the series as well as the performances of the lead actors. Spacey received praise for the opening scene. Spacey is distinguished for his Machiavellian character's use of carnivorous metaphors and widely noted for his character's narrative technique of presenting dialogue in a direct address to the audience, a technique known as breaking the fourth wall, both of which are introduced quickly in this episode. Similarly, in Wright's first few scenes she demonstrated a nuanced character that drew numerous Lady Macbeth comparisons from critics. The way the couple plots and executes its revenge is perceived as high drama worthy of critical praise. The episode also presents Mara's supporting character as naive and desperate. Many critics recommend watching this episode (and all others in the series) as singular viewing experiences, rather than binge-viewed in a continuous session. ==Plot== South Carolina Congressman Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey), the Democratic Majority Whip, leaves his house in Washington, D.C. after hearing his neighbors’ dog get hit by a car. As he comforts the mortally-wounded dog, he looks into the camera and says “Moments like this require someone who will act, who will do the unpleasant thing, the necessary thing,” before calmly proceeding to strangle it. This introduces both his habit of breaking the fourth wall to narrate, and his cold and vicious nature. Frank and his wife, Claire (Robin Wright), go on to attend a New Year’s Eve party in honor of the new President-elect, Garrett Walker (Michel Gill), a fellow Democrat and winner of the 2012 election. Frank confesses to the viewer that he does not like Walker, but saw his political potential early on and ingratiated himself to him, putting himself in line to be nominated as Walker’s Secretary of State after 22 years in Congress. Frank meets with Walker's Chief of Staff, Linda Vasquez (Sakina Jaffrey), whom Frank recommended for the job. She reveals that she and Walker have decided to rescind their promise to nominate him as Secretary of State because they want him to remain in Congress and use his political expertise to get the President-elect’s education reform agenda passed. Frank is initially incensed, but when Linda asks if he will continue to be an ally to the future President he says that he will. Linda reveals that Senator Michael Kern (Kevin Kilner) has been chosen for the position instead. Despite his statement to the contrary, Frank feels personally betrayed and, with Claire’s encouragement, begins to formulate a plot for revenge, which he shares with his Chief of Staff, Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly). Mrs. Underwood, meanwhile, is forced to downsize the non-profit organization she manages, the Clean Water Initiative, which had been promised a large donation upon her husband’s confirmation as Secretary, without which the organization is forced to substantially curtail its budget. On a whim, Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), a young reporter for the ''Washington Herald'' who is stuck covering trivial “human interest” stories, pays a late-night visit to Frank at his home. She offers to be Frank’s undercover mouthpiece in the press in exchange for the elevated profile that she would gain from breaking substantive stories. Meanwhile, Peter Russo (Corey Stoll), a young, inexperienced congressman from Philadelphia, is arrested for drunk driving. Stamper finds out about the arrest and immediately contacts the D.C. police commissioner, offering Underwood’s support for his mayoral campaign in exchange for releasing Russo and completely covering up the incident. Russo is picked up from jail by his secretary and romantic partner, Christina Gallagher (Kristen Connolly). He lies to her, telling her that he was alone when he was arrested when, in fact, there was a prostitute in the car (Rachel Brosnahan). Frank meets with Congressman Donald Blythe (Reed Birney), a committed progressive liberal who has long pushed for education reform, with whom the Walker administration wants to work on a bill. Frank dismisses his proposal as too ambitious and asks him to rewrite it. Frank secretly passes a copy of Blythe’s proposal to Zoe. He then meets with Senator Catherine Durant (Jayne Atkinson) and suggests that she ought to consider seeking the nomination for Secretary of State. He also privately confronts Congressman Russo about his arrest and checkered history of substance abuse and soliciting prostitutes, and demands Russo’s loyalty in exchange for making the incident disappear. Zoe takes the draft of the education bill to the ''Herald''’s political editor, Lucas Goodwin (Sebastian Arcelus), and its chief editor, Tom Hammerschmidt (Boris McGiver), who gives her the lead on the story over the more experienced chief political correspondent Janine Skorsky (Constance Zimmer). The episode ends the morning after Walker’s inauguration, with Frank visiting his favorite restaurant, Freddy’s BBQ Joint, for breakfast. On the front page of the ''Washington Herald'' is Zoe’s story about Blythe’s “far left” education plan. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Chapter 1 (House of Cards)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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