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‘House of Cards’ Playing Deck

WTOP Staff | WTOP_website@wtop.com

February 12, 2014, 2:05 PM

Ace: President Garrett Walker While a minor character compared to those played by Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright and Kate Mara, the president of the United States is still at the top of this Washington power structure.

(Getty Images)
Getty Images
King: Frank Underwood The show's main character has moved up the ladder quickly, going from House majority whip all the way to vice president in just one season.

He has shown he will do anything to get ahead, whether it's rounding up votes, leaking to the press or splattering blood on his hands.

(AP Images)
AP Images
Queen: Claire Underwood Claire is not only the head of a large nonprofit environmental organization, but she is also clearly pulling the strings as Frank Underwood's Lady Macbeth.

After actress Robin Wright's Golden Globes win, her character will continue to rise as arguably the most important in the entire show, potentially timed with a real-life Hillary Clinton run for president in 2016.

(AP Images)
AP Images
Jack: Raymond Tusk The multibillionaire from St. Louis appeared in few episodes of Season 1, but his influence is unmistakable.

In the two most recent episodes, we learned that it was Raymond who prevented Frank from rising in the political ranks early in the season.

Then, it was only by his blessing that Frank was named vice president. He clearly has some major pull with the president.

(YouTube)
YouTube
Joker/Wild Card: The Ghost of Peter Russo Peter Russo's fast-living congressman was one of the most compelling characters of season 1. His demise will hang largely over season 2, and I have a sneaky suspicion that his legacy will live on through his hometown blue-collar buddy Paul Capra.

Note that his name is "Capra," as in Frank Capra, as in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," the everyman who comes in to clean up Washington with populist appeal.

(AP Images)
AP Images
Ten: Zoe Barns Zoe Barns, pictured right, has quickly grown into one of the most powerful non-political figures in the show, from her love affair with Frank Underwood to her meteoric rise as a journalist at both The Washington Herald and Slugline.

If "All the President's Men" showed us anything, it's that Zoe has the potential to bring down anyone, particularly as she investigates Peter Russo's demise.

It would be as if Bob Woodward had a romantic past with President Nixon. Follow the money ... and the lust.

(AP Images)
AP Images
Nine: Bob Birch While he only appeared in half the episodes of season 1, Bob Birch remains heavily influential as the Speaker of the House.

(YouTube)
YouTube
Eight: Linda Vasquez White House chief of staff. Enough said.

(YouTube)
YouTube
Seven: Catherine Durant Catherine wasn't the president's first pick for secretary of state. She got the job after Frank Underwood sabotaged the first candidate for the job, Sen. Michael Kern. But no matter how she got the gig, she remains secretary of state.

(YouTube)
YouTube
Six: Doug Stamper As Frank Underwood continues to rise, Doug Stamper continues to gain influence as Frank's chief of staff.

He also showed a willingness to hush an important secret in Episode 7 when he finds housing for Peter Russo's prostitute.

(AP Images)
AP Images
Five: Remy Danton The natural gas lobbyist and Frank Underwood's former press secretary is proving quite influential.

He convinced Claire Underwood to backstab her husband, allowing her to move a cargo of water supplies in exchange for killing a Peter Russo bill. His loyalties are now with Raymond Tusk.

(YouTube)
YouTube
Four: Lucas Goodwin As editor of The Washington Herald, Lucas remains a key player in town. He's also shown feelings for Zoe Burns, which can only mean broken hearts could play as big a factor as breaking news.

(YouTube)
YouTube
Three: Janine Skorsky Janine has a journalist's intuition when it comes to smelling something fishy. She was most suspicious of Zoe Burns' rise to journalistic stardom and, most recently, has teamed up with Zoe to investigate Peter Russo's decline.

(AP Images)
AP Images
Two: Christina Gallagher As Peter Russo's former secretary and lover, she has the most at stake for leaking his untimely demise.

(YouTube)
YouTube
Season 2 Teaser Download the entire season starting Feb. 14 on Netflix.(YouTube)
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