House of Cards season 2: ideal 'binge viewing' for your next flight?
By David Flynn, February 14 2014
This Saturday February 15th, Australian time, US online video service Netflix will release the second season of the acclaimed drama series House of Cards.
And that's the entire second season.
Not just the first show of the season, but all 13 episodes of delicious duplicity and deadly political power games as Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey's vengeful and manipulative congressman Frank Underwood edges closer to the only office that counts in White House – the Oval Office.
Here's the season 2 trailer to get you in the mood...
And if you haven't yet discovered House of Cards, this trailer from the first season could get you started.
So, 13 hour-long episodes of award-winning drama... at almost 11 straight hours it's a recipe for binge viewing – and perfect BYO inflight entertainment for the business traveller armed with a laptop or tablet, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones and a long journey ahead of them.
There's almost nothing like settling down to the anticipation of some great viewing as part of your precious uninterrupted time in the sky.
I'll admit to a few selective marathon video sessions during my travels.
I have fond memories of being glued to a whole season of SportsNight – Aaron Sorkin's unfortunately short-lived pre-West Wing 'comedy-drama' – during one of the last Qantas flights from Sydney to San Francisco.
Of course if you've already discovered a grippingly addictive or just plain enjoyable TV show it's not easy to resist indulging in a weekly dose as each episode airs, rather than settle for the delayed gratification of a mini-marathon at 40,000 feet.
I tried that with Downton Abbey and failed miserably, although last year I exerted steel will to avoid each week's episode of Aaron Sorkin's Newsroom in order to cue up the entire second season to watch across three successive flights.
So what's your recipe for BYO IFE? Do you load up a handful of assorted shows for variety – a few recent episodes of a favourite series – or do you bite the bullet while on the ground and save up an entire season ahead of your flight?
(And on the topic of House of Cards, do yourself a favour and track down the original 1990 BBC mini-series which inspired this US remake.)
Also read: Game of Thrones, nudity and inflight entertainment
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
30 Aug 2013
Total posts 13
I flew to LA on QF 11 two weeks ago and Qantas had the entire first season available. Was only up to chapter 9 and gleefully watched the remaining 4 to whittle away the beginning of the flight.
Kind of wished I hadn't watched the first 9 seeing as I still couldn't sleep in Premium Economy I would have had the perfect excuse to keep watching.
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 352
This is exactly what I plan to do with House of Cards season 2! Did the same with Boardwalk Empire too. The only problem is that on any long flight unless it's a daytime leg such as Singapore or Hong Kong, you really need to plan to sleep for at least half the flight and getting hooked on these shows in flight means a serious danger you will watch 'just one more' and then end up not sleeping enough!
03 May 2012
Total posts 120
This may show my technological incompetence David, but don't you have to stream Netflix? I won't be able to watch season 2 of House of Cards in the air soon after Feb 15 without some complicated hack will I? I have a flight to NYC at the end of the year and would love to do it.
03 May 2012
Total posts 120
sorry, I meant flight at the end of February, not the end of the year
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
PK: that's one of the big downsides of streaming services like Netflix, they are great if you spend all your viewing time at home but not if you travel a lot! But the first House of Cards episodes appeared very quickly on download services like BitTorrent, I don't know how those people manage to download them but clearly it can be done!
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
I got hooked on 'Downton Abbey' during a QF flight when they had an entire season loaded up on the IFE. It's great that airlines are starting to put a full 'boxed set' on the IFE instead of just a few episodes. I think Channel 7 is about to show the latest season of Downton Abbey but it's already all been shown in the UK and I downloaded them all to watch on a trip to and from Singapore late last year.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jan 2013
Total posts 10
I thought you could only stream House of Cards series 2 through Netflix? It won't be possible to watch unless Qantas ect have purchased the rights.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Feb 2012
Total posts 29
Heartily endorse readers to get a copy of the 3 pack DVDs of the original BBC "House of Cards" ... Kevin Spacey is no match for the late great Ian Richardson
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
David: I just found that BBC series of House of Cards on iTunes, $2 per episoded, thanks for the recommendation I will definitely check it out!
https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/house-cards-house-cards/id370132209
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
Also, the Netflix 'House of Cards' season one is also available on iTunes, $40 for the entire season.
https://itunes.apple.com/au/tv-season/house-of-cards-season-1/id632786761
02 Dec 2011
Total posts 47
Top Gear. Moar Powwwwwer!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 May 2012
Total posts 371
Just watched the first six episodes of series one and I am hooked!
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