Sex, lies, and politics: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, and Kate Mara foreshadow the scandalous season ahead in the first trailer for House of Cards season two

PUBLISHED: 16:52 EST, 13 December 2013 | UPDATED: 18:12 EST, 13 December 2013

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It's outlined as starkly as you could imagine, with the viscerally thrilling line: 'The butchery begins.'

Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) announces this in his cold emotionless voice as he gazes poker faced at the camera in that signature House of Cards style of narration.

Netflix has just released the first trailer for season two of the critically lauded US remake of a British classic, and it's appetite whettingly intriguing.

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'The butchering begins': The first trailer for House of Cards season two foreshadows an upcoming explosion of sex, lies, and politics

House of Cards is up for four awards, more than any other television series.

As evidenced by the trailer, we can look forward to our favourite corrupt politician, Frank, sinking to new moral lows in his political conquests, now as the vice president of the United States.

After 30 seconds of clips from the first season, Frank is seen assuming his new position as vice president, while he says in a voiceover, 'The road to power is paved with hypocrisy and casualties. I need to prove what the vice president is capable of.'

This season will see Frank following up on a statement made in the beginning of the trailer for season one: 'Power is a lot like real estate. It's all about location, location, location. The closer you are to the source, the higher your property value.'

Rise to power: Frank congratulated as he assumes the vice presidency

Trailer: House Of Cards Season 2 on Netflix

Nominated: The trailer was released the day after it was announced that House of Cards has been nominated for four Golden Globe awards

Except he's got a new nemesis on his tail: the aspiring political reporter with whom he had an affair in season one: Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), who seems to be getting closer to the truth about season one's murder.

Meeting up with Frank in the subway, she tells him: 'I need to know that I wasn't a part of someone's…murder.'

It would seem that Zoe has got some tricks up her sleeve.

'I know how to handle him,' she says sternly in response to another girl, perhaps fellow journalist Janine Skorsky, who says in a quivering voice,

'I'm really scared this time.'

If you blink you might miss it, but it appears in one scene that Zoe may be engaging in a lesbian kiss with another brown haired woman.

Catching on: Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara), an aspiring political reporter, is ready to get down and dirty to dig into the truth about Frank

Support: 'I know you'll do whatever you think is best,' Frank's wife Claire says in the trailer

It seems that Frank faces a great deal of outside pressure as his deeds are at risk of exposure, with Chris Matthews saying in an interview on msnbc: 'So this goes all the way to the White House.'

The pressure seems to be getting to him, as the conniving vice president is seen hurling the meat on his plate into a pool as another voice observes, 'The tip of your iceburg is melting, Frank.'

Like the first season, the entire second season will be released on Netflix at once - on Valentine's Day, so viewers can enjoy at their own pace.

Despite rumours there will only be two seasons, The House of Cards won't be folding any time soon, according to Netflix's Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos.

If you blink you'll miss it: Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) appears to be engaging in a lesbian kiss with another brown haired woman

Ruthless: Frank sums up his professional attitude with, 'For those of us climbing to the top of the food chain, there can be no mercy'

'Our intent is that the show keeps going,' he said during his keynote speech at the 9th Annual Film Independent Forum in October. 'It was a 26-episode commitment. It was not our intent that it would just run for two seasons.'

This follows on the heels of comments made by co-executive producer Rick Cleveland who told GoldDerby in October: 'House of Cards is only going to go a second season and I think that’s it. Kevin Spacey likes to do movies and Robin Wright likes to do movies.'

House of Cards is the first program not aired on traditional broadcast or cable networks nominated in top Emmy categories. The show garnered nine nominations and three wins for its first season.

The David Fincher directed show became the first program (along with Netflix's Arrested Development) not aired on traditional broadcast or cable networks nominated in top Emmy categories. The show garnered nine nominations and three wins for its first season.

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Sickofit, Rossendale Lancashire, 1 day ago

Can't wait - this is a really good programme - get the Netflix 30 day trial and judge for yourself. Watch Breaking Bad too - another brilliant series.

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WHendricks, Los Angeles, United States, 1 day ago

House of Cards season one was great. Kevin Spacey is such a good actor and paired with Robin Wright, makes a great team. Can't wait for season two.

111

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Winter Breeze, Middle of Nowhere, United States, 1 day ago

This is an excellent series and I look forward to the next installation. Kevin Spacey and the supporting cast are stellar. Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?

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Livi, Florida, United States, 1 day ago

I love, love, love the original House of Cards with the magnificent Ian Richardson. When I saw this remake on Netflix, I did not have high hopes for it, but I love it just as much! It has its differences in terms of the politics and because it's been lengthened significantly, but the heart and soul (heartless and soulless?) of the main character is intact, and Kevin Spacey is also superb in the role.