‘House of Cards’ returns

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By Lynn Elber

AP Television Writer

LOS ANGELES

The spirit of Francis Underwood and misdeeds past haunt the sixth season of “House of Cards” and its new U.S. president, the widowed Claire Underwood.

Francis is very much dead when the Netflix series opens its final, eight-episode runtoday, as an image of Claire bending tenderly over his coffin makes clear.

But there’s no suggestion from the producers or cast that killing off Francis – after the Me Too-triggered firing of star Kevin Spacey – took a storytelling toll on Netflix’s political satire. It’s following the path of Claire’s rise signaled at the end of season five, this despite the upheaval that halted production a year ago when Spacey was accused of sexual misconduct.

“Ultimately, the only response that we could have was the one that we had,” said executive producer Frank Pugliese. “Which is the cast and crew and everyone involved decided to put their heads down and respond by telling the best story that we possibly could. It was the only way that we could answer anything, any circumstance.”

At least 24 men have accused Spacey, a two-time Oscar winner and a five-time Emmy nominee for his portrayal of Francis, of sexual misconduct or assault. In response to the first claim, from an actor who alleged that Spacey made inappropriate advances toward him when he was 14, Spacey said he didn’t recall the alleged encounter but said it would have been “deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.”

Robin Wright, now flying solo as Claire, says it required a group effort to rebound after losing Spacey and his character.

“We all really collaborated well and wanted the best for the show. So I think it was a reunion of, ‘Come on, let’s pull up our bootstraps and forge ahead,’” said Wright.