They're good/fun, much like the series. The first one is fairly faithfully adapted, but the actor added a lot to the main character (who is a little more bland/unassuming in the book, IRRC). IRRC, the plot of the second and third ones are rather simplified in the TV adaptations (and going a little elsewhere).




I guess it's got to do with the subtleties of the British system and the whole political culture seriously undermining the mass appeal outside the commonwealth and Europe. Smash hit in Canada, Australia etc. but it doesn't seem much known in the US, so still exploitable.

I suspect it will be one of those "let's transpose it in the US with an American tone, bloat and expand it with invented subplots and characters" thing. It doesn't mean it won't be good - there's plenty to satirize in US politics - but it's very hard to see how they can transpose the book(s) faithfully to America.

It sounds more like a series inspired by the Machiavellian main character of HoC, with which Spacey will do something else altogether, and a few of the intrigues, and the whole idea of satirizing politics and the rise of a Machiavellian underdog, which they will have to approach with another tone and from another perspective than the original HoC. And they bought the rights because the core idea and main character are too inspired by the book or series.

They can't really do anything with the main plot of the second book/series. They will have to go completely elsewhere.