"House of Cards" BBC Original Series Quiz

Answer: His wife

Throughout the trilogy, Elizabeth is the "power behind the throne", orchestrating Francis's rise to power and then accepting all his dalliances, even procuring women for him, to keep him there.

Answer: The King

Due to the fact that the title would have given it away, I didn't mention it, but "To play the King" is the second part of the trilogy and does indeed chronicle Urquhart's struggle to bring to heel, and then take on and defeat the newly-crowned young King. The title is probably also a reference to chess.

Answer: Smears him through his alcoholic brother and forces him to pull out of the race

Although he is only in the first episode, Collingridge already gives us the idea he is a weak man, who probably does not really want the job as leader. When it becomes clear he cannot win, he is content to retire from politics and look after his brother. Urquhart hates his weakness, even his humanity, and is glad to see him go.

Answer: Mattie Storin

Although he is not held responsible for her death (there were only the two of them on the roof garden of the House of Commons when she fell to her death, having been in fact thrown off the roof by Urquhart) it haunts the now-Prime Minister's dreams for the rest of his life, and eventually leads to his having to dispose of more of his colleagues, as his secret threatens to be revealed.

Answer: Urquhart mixes rat poison into his cocaine

Although she is not directly implicated in his death, we see as Urquhart cuts the cocaine as O'Neill rests at his house a second pair of hands, which can only be those of his wife Elizabeth, happy to aid and abet in murder as long as her husband retains power. Urquhart later tells Mattie sadly, "He had to be put down. It was a kindness." This, of course, just before he kills her.

Answer: He realises Francis is only using him, as he uses everyone

Urquhart thinks he can use everyone, and that someone like Tim Stamper will allow him to kick him and kick him and kick him, and never bite back. He finds out to his cost that there is only so far you can push someone, even someone who regards himself as your best friend, before they will turn.

In the end, Stamper becomes a liability and another corpse to add to Urquhart's growing body count.

Answer: "The Final Cut"

Perhaps in reference to the fact that Urquhart is finally defeated by the final cut, the unkindest cut of all, carried out both in a sense of self-preservation for herself and to protect his legacy. His wife has him assassinated, and so all the bad he has done is forgotten in the flood of tributes and condolences that pour in. And, of course, her part in all his schemes is forever lost and she is safe.

Answer: Comment

It's a great phrase, which makes it possible for him to do, say, or hint at the most heinous things, without actually committing himself to anything. He's saying, basically, yes I would but you'll never get me to admit it. Classic.

Answer: That he is a homosexual

Mycroft actually announces this fact himself, to all the journalists on the "tour bus", at the same time telling them all that he is stepping down immediately in order to protect the reputation of the King.

Answer: Avert my eyes

The clerk cannot believe that Sarah would do something so uncouth as actually LOOK at a private document, even though it is hard not to read it. He simply knows that it is not for his eyes and will not read it. In reality of course, surely the file would be at least in a manila envelope or a coloured folder?