House of Cards 2: A guy you hate to love

Frank Underwood is a scheming, lying bastard. And Claire (who affectionately calls him "Francis") is his custom-built better half.

But you knew that already.

There is no pussyfooting around the corruption, coercion and clever coalitions that transformed Frank (Kevin Spacey) from - spoiler alert - congressman to vice-president of those United States in the first season of House of Cards.

You love the Underwoods, but you deeply hope people like them don't exist.

You'd remember from season one how Frank bullied, then wooed, then shepherded the poor, gullible Peter Russo into running a race for governor he could never win.

Frank then not only assassinated the character of Russo, he took things that physical step further and killed the weak sod in his own car. A great appetiser for the Underwoods we'll get to know better in season two.

Put away that piping bowl of soup before sliding in front of your screen; Frank gives you a gasp moment in the first episode when - I guarantee - you will spill everything.

It is not only Frank who embraces the darkness. A few episodes later, Claire (Robin Wright) will reveal her heart to be a dusty chunk of anthracite.

It is all about power. There is a playbook that Frank and Claire follow to the letter. It's methodical, uncompromising and hidden from viewers until the very end.

But the unscrupulous - and seemingly unstoppable - power couple, despite their chillingly true performances, sometimes seemed hollow in the first season. Hollow because their characters can only come to full pagan glory when faced with a worthy adversary.

This is the beauty of the second season. Frank will have a nemesis. Someone you know. Someone raring to tear his heart out and willing to go to the same lengths (and sink to the same depths).

The stakes are high. Frank might hold the second-highest office in the land, but his position is tenuous. The lies and the loose ends multiply, decking out an impressive house of cards (the series has this name for a reason, yes?). Only the grit of Frank's chief-of-staff-cum-henchman Doug Stamper (Michael Kelly) can keep it all from caving in.

You don't have to know the first thing about politics to enjoy House of Cards. Democrat, Republican, independent, activist, tycoon or journalist - all of them are animals.

But who is at the top of the food chain?

From the first time he turns to the camera and draws you in with his Southern drawl, you will, reluctantly, be rooting for Frank Underwood.

• 'House of Cards' season two premieres on M-Net (DStv 101), tonight at 9.30pm.