Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) spits on a life-size crucifix
Posted on 03/07/2015 12:25:07 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
Frank Underwood is a pretty loathsome man, but that’s par for the course when you’re a screen villain.
Underwood is the always-scheming, almost comically insincere Democratic congressman from South Carolina who is the main character in the Netflix series House of Cards. He is played with admirable skill and gusto by Kevin Spacey. I’m only about 10 episodes into season one, but today I skipped ahead to the just-posted third season. That’s because the ending of one new chapter in particular — number 30, or the fourth episode in the new batch – is causing much wrath and condemnation among Christians:
“How Hollywood Spits on Christianity,” blares Robert Davi on Breitbart.com.
“Shame on Netflix: House of Cards Spits In the Face of Jesus,” harrumphs Tim Graham at Newsbusters.
Graham describes what upsets him so: Frank Underwood visits an empty church, has a brief theological discussion with a bishop who says there are really only two rules in life (love God and love your neighbor), and finally asks for time alone to pray at the altar. So far, so pious. But then — oh, the humanity!
[Underwood] sidles up to the crucifix – just a few feet above his head – and mutters most cynically to God the Son. “Love…. that’s what you’re selling? Well, I don’t buy it!” Then he spits in the face of Christ.
When he gets out a handkerchief to wipe off his offense, the whole thing shatters on the floor. He instructs the Secret Service to clean up his mess, and walks off with a ceramic ear. “Well, I’ve got God’s ear now,” he quips.
Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) spits on a life-size crucifix
That’s almost correct. What Graham doesn’t mention is that, right when Underwood reaches out with his hanky, there’s an inexplicable shudder or rumble that goes through the crucifix. It’s as if Jesus tears himself off the cross and self-destructs, rather than undergo the indignity of letting the vile Underwood touch him and wipe away the evidence of the latter’s blasphemy.
In other words, something supernatural (perhaps even miraculous and divine) happens in that scene. How very odd that Graham, who ought to be delighted with the scriptwriters’ nod to the Almighty’s power, neglects to bring it up.
It’s less odd, I suppose, if all Graham seeks to do is promote the red-meat narrative that Hollywood secularists love spitting in God’s face.
But even apart from the metaphysical surprise of Jesus, untouched by human hands, falling off the cross… isn’t it a given that scoundrels and miscreants like the fictional Underwood do ignoble things? I never knew that meant that writers, actors, and producers endorse actual wickedness (or even perceived wickedness such as spitting on an inanimate object).
When Charles Dickens created Fagin, was he giving two thumbs up to petty street crime? When Alfred Hitchcock directed Psycho, was he advocating the slashing of motel guests? When AMC broadcast the adventures of Walter White in Breaking Bad, was the creative team going to bat for for meth-cookers and murderers?
You have to wonder if the protesters understand how fiction works.
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P.S.: Breitbart’s Robert Davi provides more evidence for two things: How well some pontificating Christians know the Bible, and what Jesus-loving hardliners mean with that whole “Love thy neighbor” credo.
Angry about the Spacey scene, Davi writes:
Perhaps it’s time for Christians to start a crusade [against blasphemy]. Heck, President Obama brought them up – incorrectly, I might add. Well, doesn’t the Bible say fight fire with fire?
Um, no, actually, it doesn’t.
As a matter of fact let them start The Knights of the Judeo-Christian Values so that there is accountability for the blaspheme against Christ and the Ten Commandments. An ISIS of Christian fundamentalists who refuse to let the name, image, morality and Christian faith and holidays be attacked.
Oh, hello there, true colors!
you got something there.....
Frank Underwood (like Claire, like any number of non-fictional characters, for that matter) is a poster child for the glamor of evil, which, be it ever so glamorous, is still evil. That said, “Terry’s” sputtering aside, I think everybody involved with the US HOC knows exactly which religions in 2015 merely verbally flame those who insult them, and which ones actually bring out the gasoline and matches. And so does “Terry”.
Totally in character for democrats. Remember their last convention, they voted God out of their platform three times. Much to the embarrassment of their minders.
They certainly do not want to believe what is in store for those that deliberately “trample the Son of God under foot” as Hebrews 10:29 says.
Good one. Senator Blutarski couldn't be any worse than the real Senator Franken. He was certainly an infinitely better comedian.
In season two, Frank AND his wife sleep with their Secret Service agent and no one knows about it.
Secret service, indeed.
Spitting on Jesus in Season 3 makes Frank look even more reprehensible since he actually pretended to be a steadfast Christian in an earlier episode, even giving a fire and brimstone sermon in a church (which of course was an election ploy).
I have to admit, it has been kind of fun watching the Underwoods unravel after all their scheming and criminal behavior, including murder.
I’ll stick with the original British version.
Shows you what I know.
Take that you Queer hating Christians!!
Is that the final episode of the show, or of the season?
Well, that’s a new perspective.
The first Amazon comment said it all:
By shoeboy on September 8, 2000
Format: Paperback
Ahoy me fine salty sailors. If ye be lookin for gripping adventure on the high seas, this be the book for ye. It hoisted me mizzen mast and shivered me timbers, Yar! If you’ve ever wondered exactly what to do with a drunken sailor, this is the book for you. The author, Barry Richard Burg is a great expert on seamen and it really shows through. I was dissapointed to find that the nautical phrase “a three days blow” didn’t mean what I thought it did, but the author’s loving descriptions of how these pirates would oil each other up with whale blubber and lash each other with the cat o’ nine tails more than made up for it. I’m tempted to go summon my cockswain, rent “The Pirate Movie”, then kick back and mourn the passing of the days when burly pirates would start their day by opening the seacock and pumping furiously. Customers who bought titles by Barry Richard Burg also bought titles by J. K. Rowling — coincidence? I think not.
Final episode EVER.
This is why I haven’t watched network TV shows in many years.
When I watch older shows from the late 70s and the 80s, you can see the introduction of gay themes becoming prevalent.
The watershed point seems to be 1983-1984 when the AIDS epidemic became widely known and very much a current event.
I thought it jumped the shark, then I realized that it portrays desperate Democrat evil.
Let’s face it, Underwood is Hussein. Conniving, manipulative and despotic. Helpless against real strength. Demonic.
Funny how it follows Hussein. I love it.
Now THAT is hilarious.
Dim’s don’t believe in God. Boy are they gonna be suprised. Sorry for the delayed reply. Kept myself busy today. Will probably do so tomorrow also. As I age I find I am becoming allergic to work so it takes me longer to do stuff. :D)
I watched all the 3rd season in 2 days and thought the same. He was Obama. A petty tyrant. His way or the highway.
Get what he wanted any way he could.
"You might well think that. I couldn't possibly comment."
“I vastly prefer vintage fare”
Me too. I watched the third season opening of “The Following” on Fox and it started with a lesbian wedding. I tried watching “Gotham” on Fox but grew tired of the constant campaigning/propagandizing for lesbianism. A Cardinal-Archbishop, an abuser, was also murdered on the show.
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