#FF: The Realistic Aging of Frank Underwood in ‘House of Cards’

Photo Credit: House Of Cards/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Press Center

‘House of Cards’ spent three years subtly but realistically aging Frank Underwood throughout his presidency. This #FlashbackFriday we take a look back at the difference from Frank’s early days as POTUS.

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From the moment Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) assumed the presidency at the end of House of Cards‘ second season the clock has literally been ticking. There are several ways to interpret the use of time. In terms of Frank’s ascension from Majority Whip to POTUS, much of his time in office was marked by an impending election. There was also a target on his head as the President and the assault on Frank’s life in season four, confirmed that he was potentially running out the clock. And while it could be any of those things and more, it is none of them. Which is where season five comes in.

Here is your obligatory spoiler warning!

Presidencies are measured by a number of different milestones. The first 100 days in office, State of the Union addresses, the number of times a president goes golfing, etc. And it is no secret that the men who have assumed office also receive comparisons in how different each has looked from the time he entered the office to his last day. Hillary Clinton even mentioned on the campaign trail that a benefit of having her in office is you would never see her go gray.

The four to eight year stay in the White House (barring any extenuating circumstances like assassinations, resignations, impeachments, etc) is tough on the body. Both physically and emotionally taxing in equal measure. As it should be! A recent HuffPost article noted, coincidentally the 44th President of the United States started going gray just 44 days into his first term.

Photo Credit: House Of Cards/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Press Center

House of Cards is not known for its subtleties, what with its iconic fourth wall breaks and consistent bastardization the democratic system and what we’ve come to know in dirty politics (which is not to say the show doesn’t operate well within the confines of the actual rules and regulations of politics even at its most corrupt). Despite all of that, House of Cards, took great care in the way they showed Frank Underwood age in the Oval Office. And with Francis J. Underwood’s reign finally at an end, it seemed appropriate to offer him the same treatment as presidents before him and look back where he started.

From the moment House of Cards began we knew we would see Frank make his way to the highest office in the land. And it was a wild ride seeing him get there but few TV moments are as gratifying as that final moment at the end of season two when Frank walks into the Oval Office as President for the first time:

Season three chronicles much of the type of President Frank wants to be versus the type of President he has to be.

Photo Credit: House Of Cards/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Press Center

We see the show move its focus from landing Frank the position as Commander-in-Chief to maintaining that position. Considering the show picks up right where season two left off there isn’t much notable change at first. He does look more presidential overall.

Photo Credit: House Of Cards/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Press Center

Season four is where things really start to change. Obviously Frank’s hair color is distinctly lighter but House of Cards also made subtle changes to his makeup. In his first term Frank initiated the America Works program (though it was ultimately defunded by Congress). As well as made tremendous strides with the Russian President’s holdings in the middle east.

Photo Credit: House Of Cards/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Press Center

What’s significant about the campaign in season four as that we see the greatest change in Frank after the assassination attempt. He is weak, which is trait Frank abhors even in sleep.

Photo Credit: House Of Cards/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Press Center

This particular change is put into stark contrast when we get the flashback of the first time Will Conway (Joel Kinnaman) met the Underwoods.

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And finally in season five, we see Frank wearing his glasses more. His hair has gone completely gray.

Photo Credit: House Of Cards/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Press Center

Just like everything else Frank has done, his aging happened right before our eyes and yet we didn’t even see it coming. Similar to the way his fight for the presidency successfully culminated in his inauguration, but it was all part of a larger plan.

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House of Cards has always been on of those shows that toes-the-line between fiction and reality. Even in its marketing, Frank Underwood feels like he fits right in actual history as well as among the greatest in the legacy of TV presidents that came before him. Luckily, with the conclusion of season five, it is no longer about Frank anymore. His final moments a direct threat to Claire (Robin Wright).

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And while I’m all for realism in my TV shows. I’m also thankful, the writers and showrunners are giving me the ending that reality could not yet achieve.

House of Cards seasons 1-5 are currently streaming on Netflix!