Transmedia dialogue of TV series. Overcoming the Fifth Wall in House of Cards

Abstract

This research explores the consolidation of the transmedia story for a new television fiction programming, through the overcoming of the Fifth Wall. Social networks allow a new interaction with the audience. The corpus of the investigation covers the 65 episodes of the first 5 seasons of the American TV series House of Cards, produced by Netflix. The main character, Frank Underwood, speaks to the camera and breaks the Fourth Wall. On Twitter, he interacts with real politicians, giving opinions on current issues. With a quantitative analysis of the protagonist's monologues, Twitter posts from the official account, @HouseofCards, and interactions with political personalities from around the world, it is concluded that the TV series transcends the traditional language of television. The protagonist acquires quasi-real virtual entity and personality, through social networks; and the Fifth Wall and its rupture dilute fiction and reality in a new paradigm of television programming.