| “ | You might very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment. | „ |
| ~ Urquhart's catchphrase. |
Francis Urquhart is the main protagonist of the BBC series House of Cards. He is the Chief Whip of Parliament, who is at first loyal to the Prime Minister, Henry Collinridge, but becomes embittered when denied a prestigious post he had been promised, and begins an elaborate scheme to destroy Collinridge and become the new Prime Minister.
He was played by Ian Richardson.
What Makes Him Magnificent?[]
- He's an intelligent and charismatic man who discloses his plans to the audience in witty asides, making the viewer complicit in his schemes.
- He has an in-depth knowledge of politics, and smoothly manipulates and outmaneuvers his rivals in order to discredit Collinridge, leaking scandals to reporter Mattie Storin while remaining above suspicion and presenting himself as one of Collinridge's only loyal advisors.
- He disguises himself as Collinridge's brother and makes illegal stock trades, causing a scandal that forces Collinridge's resignation.
- He smoothly kills Roger O'Neil and Mattie Storin when they become a threat to him, while making both deaths look like an accident.
- He's able to outmaneuver the King by using his skill at neutralizing a terrorist situation to win the general election, leaving the King with no power base, and then demands the King's abdication.
- He outplays his treacherous aide Tim Stamper, who is trying to expose him, having him killed in a car bombing and blaming it on the IRA.
- Despite his setbacks, he uses his political savvy to stay in office until he achieves his goal of beating Margaret Thatcher's term in office, albeit by a single day.
- He shows some redeeming traits, as he genuinely loves his wife and shows disgust for his rival Patrick Woolton for being a racist, anti-Semitic bully. He's also aware of his own villainy, as he doesn't deny the King's accusation that he's a monster.
- Even after his death, his manipulations ensure he will be remembered as a beloved figure in British history.
What Makes Him a Baddie?[]
- He manipulates and backstabs many people, even his allies, to get power.
- He sometimes kicks his enemies when they're down, such as when Collinridge resigns and Urquhart immediately leaks it to the press just to rub it in.
- He murders Roger O'Neil and Mattie Storin when they become a threat to his plans.
- He takes ruthless actions in order to secure his legacy, such as launching a dangerous military operation to reunite Cyprus, which results in civilian casualties.
Trivia[]
- He doesn't count in the original version of the book, as he has a breakdown and commits suicide when Mattie exposes his crimes. However, due to the popularity of the TV series, Michael Dobbs revised the book to bring Urquhart's character more in line with Richardson's portrayal.