Afrotrend Magazine 4th Issue | Page 39

U.S. Rep. Francis Underwood of South Carolina starts out as a ruthless politician seeking revenge in this Netflix original production. Promised the post of Secretary of State in exchange for his support, his efforts help to ensure the election of Garrett Walker to the presidency. But Walker changes his mind before the inauguration, telling Underwood he's too valuable in Congress. Outwardly, Underwood accepts his marching orders, but secretly he and his wife, an environmental activist, make a pact to destroy Walker and his allies. Based on the U.K. miniseries of the same name, the U.S. version offers a look behind the scenes at the greed and corruption in American politics. A number of real-life media figures make cameo appearances. When former government agent and fugitive Raymond "Red" Reddington surrenders to the FBI, he makes them an offer they can't refuse. On the mysterious condition that he work only with recent Quantico graduate Liz Keen, he agrees to help put away criminals from a list that he compiled, which includes politicians, mobsters, spies and international terrorists -- starting with long-thought-dead terrorist Ranko Zamani. As the two pursue their quarry, Red forces the rookie profiler to think like a criminal to see the bigger picture. Bassam "Barry" al-Fayeed, who has fully assimilated to living in America, is the son of a Middle Eastern dictator. Barry is a pediatrician in Los Angeles, but he and his family return to his native country, Baladi, for his nephew's wedding. It's his first visit in 20 years, but things don't go as planned. When his father dies suddenly, Barry and his family are embroiled in political upheaval and forced to stay in the country. A clash of cultures ensues as Barry is thrown back into the familial and national politics of his youth, which he had escaped by selfimposed exile. 39