Why Everybody Loves "House of Cards"

In early February, Gallup polled Americans on whom they “consider to be the United States’ greatest enemy.” The survey was drawn from a sample size of 1,023 people spanning all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The results found that 20 percent of respondents now believe that China is the greatest enemy of the U.S., surpassing Iran and North Korea — both with 16 percent — to top the list. In similar surveys from previous years, Iran had consistently been viewed as Americans’ No. 1 foe.

The U.S. conducts countless polls about China every year, but it has turned out to be this poll, lacking any discernible policy direction, that after roughly 10 days has crossed the ocean and given rise to a flurry of debate with headlines such as “China Becomes No. 1 Enemy in Americans’ Eyes” saturating Chinese newspapers and the Internet.

One reason for the uproar is obvious. The results of the survey play straight to that prophecy of international politics which, having already taken root in many hearts and minds despite half a century of alternating openness and obfuscation, now has the addition of clear proof: “imperialism will ever seek to destroy us.” The poll thus being blown out of proportion exemplifies the absurdity of information dissemination; as the news is passed down, the phrase “No. 1 enemy” is often styled to be the position of the U.S. government and treated as the collective opinion of all “Americans.” Seldom do people take care to note that those polled only numbered 1,023, or simply stop to question whether or not they are representative of all Americans, as well as whether their opinions hold any real significance in terms of policy.

There are also some that read hints of the “China threat theory” into the results. The reality is, however, that the survey does not have any bearing upon the strategic layers of the U.S.-China relationship. China’s leader Xi Jinping has said on several occasions that “the vast Pacific Ocean has enough space for two large countries like the United States and China.” Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shared those sentiments, stating that the Pacific is large enough to accommodate both countries and that the U.S. continues to welcome China as a rising power. Xi has recently placed greater emphasis on “striving to avoid falling into the Thucydidean trap.” The “Thucydidean trap” in question refers to a state of conflict resulting from the challenge posed to an existing power by a rising one.

There is clearly some common language being shared between the top brass in both countries. But what about on the popular level? Within the Chinese people’s preconceptions surrounding the U.S., it is a simple task to find areas of common ground with Americans. Most recently, the U.S. web series “House of Cards” has been resonating well with many Chinese.

An examination of the ratings reveals exactly how popular the show is in both countries. The second season began airing not long ago, and according to audience ratings estimates and to the site traffic measurements of several U.S. broadband companies, the original web series has garnered anywhere between 13 to 32 million U.S. viewers. At the time of this writing, only one Chinese site has bought broadcasting rights for the show. On that site’s list of this week’s hottest shows, the second season of “House of Cards” has broken into the top 10 with over 10 million viewers and is still rising at a rapid pace.

The audiences for “House of Cards” in both countries can agree on quite a few things. For example, Americans are capable of condemning the baseness of U.S. politicians, political underhandedness, and corruption born from power; the Chinese can do the same.

Of course, it is only on a superficial plane that the two groups are so aligned.

Let us take criticism as an example. Americans harbor a sort of innate wariness and distrust toward power; this is even more true among the ever-vocal drivers of the cultural world, of whom many are apt to view officials and politicians as enemies. American movies and television routinely satirize, parody, and disparage politicians and the government. Even the president and speaker of the House often come under fire. But while Americans have little sympathy for government, they very rarely put the U.S. as a nation in the crosshairs.

The conspiracy theory is an important tool that has been tapped by a slew of works in television and film as a means to attract viewers. However, one must admit that when it comes to “theatrical authenticity,” “House of Cards” is a far cry from China’s traditional dramas of palace intrigue. The novel behind the show was originally written by British native and former advisor to Margaret Thatcher Michael Dobbs, who set the story in the U.K. with his intimate understanding of parliamentary politics. Americans later picked up the idea and changed the setting to the U.S. During the course of filming, the cast and crew were immersed in true-to-life mockups of parts of the White House and Congress to better understand the battlegrounds where Obama and members of Congress have their debates. On certain specialized issues, the views of the show are even a direct reflection of the real present-day U.S. It is no wonder, then, that Chinese audiences used to watching dramas about palace intrigue find the gap between theatrical authenticity and objective reality difficult to grasp.

In addition to this, criticizing realism — as opposed to idealism — has always been the safest and easiest path to creating a profound or satisfying piece, and is likely a leading reason why “House of Cards” is so well received.

But the truth is that most often, the overarching reason why we watch movies and television is simply to kill some time. And no matter how dark U.S. politics become, it is at least a Pacific Ocean removed from the daily lives of ordinary Chinese. Years ago, U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher relished the lampooning of parliamentary politics in “Yes Minister,” and today, U.S. President Barack Obama enjoys “House of Cards” for its satirical take on politics in Congress. Neither is produced truly in earnest, and Chinese viewers might be reminded that while it is not completely unreasonable to treat “House of Cards” as a front row ticket to watching Western politics at work, it should never be taken entirely at face value.