To Play the King

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Prime Minister Francis Urquhart (Ian Richardson) and the King (Michael Kitchen) in the BBC Television Drama To Play the King.

To Play the King is the second part of the House of Cards trilogy, a BBC television serial. It revolves around Francis Urquhart (now Prime Minister) and his political battles with a newly-crowned King, portrayed by Michael Kitchen (the King bears a strong resemblance to Prince Charles) and his attempts to cover up evidence of his earlier crimes. It is worth noting that Urqhuart is not a Republican; he has no intention or desire to bring down the Monarchy, he just objects to the incumbent Monarch.

The series was based on Michael Dobbs's novel of the same name, which was prescient in predicting the seperation of Charles and Diana.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

The series portrays the UK Conservative government (post-Margaret Thatcher) dominating the Labour party and the King becoming disenchanted with the Conservative agenda and becoming involved in politics in a way that the Prime Minister finds unacceptable for a constitutional monarch. Fearing the King will weaken his position Urqhuart obtains "Regal Insurance" from the fictional Princess Charlotte; the latter agrees to reveal every shred of scandal or gossip for "historical purposes" on condition the information is only published after her death (a promise which Urqhuart does not keep). The King is having problems with his advisers - his Chief of Staff appears to be more interested in alcohol and his new boyfriend than his official duties and his assistant advisor appears to be using the King to promote her views. Urquhart also has the murder of Mattie Storin at the end of the series House of Cards on his conscience, and the Party Chairman, Tim Stamper, finds material relating to her death. He initially keeps it quiet out of loyalty to Urquhart, but as Urquhart begins to treat him poorly, he becomes increasingly tempted to use it.

The political backdrop is a substantial homeless problem (despite an apparently prosperous economy) and a government that appears not to care, which was a common perception of the point of view of many UK Conservatives of the day. In fact, John Major succeeded Margaret Thatcher during the period the three series were being produced. Major was never seen as the scheming Urquhart character of the series.

After the King has been quite public about his distaste for Urquhart's hardline conservative policies, Urquhart forces him to abdicate.
Urquhart has Tim Stamper and Sarah Harding, one of his senior advisors assassinated in separate car bombings. This is due to the fact that Urquhart's bodyguard and security advisor, Commander Corder, realises Stamper has information on the circumstances of Mattie Storin's death, which he (Stamper) subsequently passed on to Harding as insurance.

As in House of Cards, the Prime Minister character occasionally speaks directly to the audience, providing commentary in a way somewhat akin to a Greek chorus. He takes the viewer into his confidence, and at the end of the series, as at the end of the first, he challenges the viewer to condemn him.

To Play the King' was followed by The Final Cut, again based on a Michael Dobbs book, but without Dobbs's input into the adaptation. To Play the King is generally felt to be on a par with The Final Cut series in quality, with the original House of Cards superior to both.