If the Inauguration isn't quite your cup of tea, and you've been wondering where to point your attention, why not direct it toward a political drama that's terrifying in a fictional way instead of a real life way? Netflix has your back, announcing House of Cards' Season 5 premiere date on Jan. 20, the same day as Donald Trump's swearing-in.
The network behind the critically-acclaimed show, starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright as President Frank Underwood and First Lady Claire Underwood, revealed via Twitter on Friday that it will return with its fifth season on May 30, 2017. Interestingly, this is a few months later than the political thriller's typical premiere date; Seasons 1 through 3 dropped in February of 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively, and Season 4 premiered in March 2016. So this upcoming season has added two extra months.
Whether those extra two months are in filming or post-production or somewhere else is unclear, but based on the creep-tastic teaser trailer released in conjunction with the premiere date, Season 5 will be just as unnerving as ever.
The trailer is as simple as a single shot of an upside-side down American flag, which the camera zooms out on to reveal stormy skies in the background as a chorus of young voices recites the Pledge of Allegiance. And the caption under the video is just as chilling: "We make the terror." It's enough to give you goosebumps and make your hair stand on end, which maybe was already going to happen for you on Jan. 20 anyway. At least this way, you have something concrete to look forward to, a piece of entertainment that will make your heart race in a good way.
So thank you to Netflix for brightening Inauguration Day in this way. It's an unknown and terrifying road ahead, but there will be pieces of art that reflect and dissect our changing world. I have high hopes that Season 5 of House of Cards will simply be the first in a long line of projects that do exactly that.
