No. overall No. in season Title Directed by Written by Original release date Prod. code 1 1 "Chapter 1 '' David Fincher Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 101 Francis "Frank '' Underwood is an ambitious Democratic congressman and the House Majority Whip. Frank helped ensure the election of President Garrett Walker, who promised to appoint him as Secretary of State. However, before Walker is sworn in, Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez announces that Walker will not honor the agreement and will instead nominate Senator Michael Kern. Linda informs Frank that their administration requires his help from within the House of Representatives, starting with working on an education reform bill with Representative Donald Blythe. Furious at Walker 's betrayal, Frank and his wife Claire (an environmental activist who runs a clean water non-profit organisation) make a pact to destroy Walker, starting with Kern. Frank starts seeking out pawns in his war against Walker. When the troubled Representative Peter Russo (who has a history of drink and drug abuse) is arrested for driving drunk with a prostitute (Rachel Posner) in the car with him, Frank offers him a reprieve in exchange for his loyalty, covering up the incident by bribing the police commissioner with funds for his mayoral campaign. Frank also encounters Zoe Barnes, a young political reporter for the Washington Herald newspaper. The two come to an agreement in which Frank will leak inside information to incriminate his political opponents, while Zoe advances her career by publishing it. Frank leaks a copy of the first draft of Donald Blythe 's education bill, which proposes massive increases in government control of education, promptly causing a scandal the very first day after the Presidential inauguration. 2 2 "Chapter 2 '' David Fincher Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 102 In the aftermath of the leak of the education bill draft, Frank secures full control of the legislative course from the President and promptly removes Donald, who graciously takes the fall for the published controversy. Frank hires a team of young congressional staffers to write a draft of the bill in a week (a process which would usually take months). Claire, at her environmental company, is forced to lay off more than half of the staff at her NPO (Clean Water Initiative) after a donation which was contingent on Frank being appointed Secretary of State is withdrawn. Via Zoe, Frank plants a story that loosely ties SoS - nominee Michael Kern to an anti-Israeli editorial column that ran in his college newspaper while Kern was editor. Kern mishandles the resulting media scrutiny. Frank forcefully arranges for Peter Russo to meet a conspiracy junkie, Roy Kapeniak, who wrote for that college newspaper, and convinces him to go on the record and state that Kern himself wrote the article, which destroys Kern 's candidacy chances. Frank then tosses Catherine Durant 's name to Zoe as a likely replacement before reinforcing her credentials with Linda Vasquez. 3 3 "Chapter 3 '' James Foley Keith Huff and Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 103 In the midst of negotiating the education bill 's reforms with the teachers ' unions, Frank must visit his hometown of Gaffney, South Carolina when his main local opponent stirs trouble. A young woman has been killed in a car accident after texting while driving, apparently distracted by a peach water tower which Frank had advocated to keep standing. (The tower is provocatively similar to the female bottom, which was the subject of the driver 's text.) His rival encourages the parents to sue, forcing Frank into a difficult negotiation. Claire meets and hires a hesitant Gillian Cole, an activist for WorldWell (another environmental water NPO), to employ her international expertise. Peter Russo makes an effort to clean up his life, in order to maintain his relationship with his girlfriend, Christina Gallagher, who is also his chief of staff. Zoe gets into trouble for talking on national TV about the Herald and her editor, Tom Hammerschmidt, after being told not to. 4 4 "Chapter 4 '' James Foley Rick Cleveland and Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 104 Frank resorts to intricate political string - pulling when House Speaker Bob Birch refuses to support the education bill with its controversial amendments. Frank organizes a coup against Birch using the majority leader David Rasmussen, in order to pressure Birch to cooperate. Frank ensures Representative Terry Womack 's support for the coup by forcing Peter Russo to allow a shipyard in his district to close in order to keep a military base in Womack 's district open. Birch relents, and Womack replaces Rasmussen as majority leader. Tom Hammerschmidt is exasperated with Zoe 's rebelliousness but the Herald 's publisher supports her. Tom offers Zoe the position of White House correspondent and she indicates acceptance, but Frank convinces her to decline it, which further antagonizes Hammerschmidt. Remy Danton, a lobbyist and former employee of Frank 's, offers Claire double the donation previously promised to CWI, which would allow them to hire back the staff they laid off, but Frank pressures Claire to refuse it, fearing Remy 's motives. Claire meets with photographer Adam Galloway, a former lover who tries to rekindle their relationship. Zoe invites Frank to her apartment for an intimate encounter. 5 5 "Chapter 5 '' Joel Schumacher Sarah Treem February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 105 Claire is aware that Frank is having sexual relations with Zoe, but goes along with it as long as it achieves their goals -- this, however, rejuvenates her interest in Adam. The changes to the education bill lead to an irate meeting between Frank and Marty Spinella, the lobbyist for the teachers ' union, who vows to fight back. The fallout from being forced to allow the shipyard to close and a breakup with Christina sends Peter Russo into a depression. An inebriated Russo confronts Frank at his home. Frank forcefully berates Russo 's drinking and immaturity, then confides that he has set the stage for Russo to run for governor if he can clean up his act. Tom Hammerschmidt fires Zoe and is in turn forced to resign for profanely insulting her. Frank and Claire foil Spinella 's televised attempt to disrupt their fundraising event with a charm offensive. In retaliation, Spinella initiates a nation - wide teachers ' strike. 6 6 "Chapter 6 '' Joel Schumacher Sam Forman February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 106 As the teachers ' union strike persists, President Walker instructs Frank to water down the bill. Frank decides he has to achieve total victory over Spinella or he will lose all of his influence with the President. A brick thrown through a window of Frank 's home allows him to target Spinella, and the pair debate on CNN with Frank performing poorly and embarrassing himself. Frank barely manages to keep Walker from forcing him to abandon the bill. A cleaned - up Russo informs Frank that he will accept Frank 's help and run for Governor of Pennsylvania. Frank sets the wheels in motion by enlisting Claire 's help to draft an environmental bill that will help CWI and also replace some of the jobs lost with the shipyard closure. Monitoring the police radio, Frank uses a local shooting to force Spinella to The White House, provokes Spinella into a rage (by revealing that Frank organized the brick incident himself) resulting in Spinella punching him in the face. Frank advises Spinella to end the strike immediately or else face felony charges. 7 7 "Chapter 7 '' Charles McDougall Kate Barnow and Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 107 President Walker signs the education bill into law, earning Frank a major victory and affording him influence and favor. Vice President Matthews feels sidelined and expresses discontent with Walker. Peter Russo readies himself for the governor 's race ahead by attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Via Zoe, Frank generates some positive spin on the announcement. Frank meets with Christina and requests her to forgive Russo and become his deputy campaign manager, reigniting her personal relationship with Russo. The prostitute Rachel Posner approaches / blackmails Doug Stamper for financial assistance. In preparation for his nomination, Russo is grilled by a one of Frank 's team about his drug and prostitution use, making him very uneasy. We learn that Doug attends AA meetings regularly. Zoe recommends Janine Skorsky for a job at Slugline. 8 8 "Chapter 8 '' Charles McDougall Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 108 Frank visits his alma mater, a military college, which is honoring him by naming a new library after him. He spends the night reminiscing and drinking with old buddies, including one who is implied to be his former lover. Remy Danton has concerns about Peter Russo running for governor. Peter visits Philadelphia and tries to convince the former shipyard employees to support him. An angry meeting with them reveals an uphill struggle ahead, but he perseveres. 9 9 "Chapter 9 '' James Foley Beau Willimon and Rick Cleveland February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 109 Peter Russo goes on a bus tour around Pennsylvania with Vice President Matthews for support. Matthews initially thwarts Peter 's campaign but Peter eventually wins his respect. Frank tries to whip support in Congress for the environmental bill. President Walker requests Linda Vasquez to assist him, but Frank instructs her to instead attend to her son 's college admission issue (he is being refused entry). Frank requests Claire to present a justification for the large financial commitment, but she causes the bill to fail in exchange for assistance for CWI from Remy Danton. Zoe decides to terminate her intimate relationship with Frank but changes her mind when he withdraws the professional aspect as well. 10 10 "Chapter 10 '' Carl Franklin Sarah Treem February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 110 Frank is furious with Claire for organizing the environment bill 's failure. Claire visits Zoe and informs her that she knows about Frank 's affair. She then spends some time with her own lover Adam in New York, to Frank 's consternation. With the environment bill defeated, Peter Russo demands an alternative, and threatens to reveal the conspiracy that brought down Michael Kern. Frank decides to take Russo down; Doug Stamper enlists Rachel Posner to pick up Russo at a fundraiser and get him drunk. A drunk Russo makes a mess of a live - radio interview, destroying his candidacy. Frank does a favor for Linda Vasquez by having Gillian Cole recommend Vasquez ' son 's college admission. Zoe approaches her former colleague Lucas Goodwin for intimacy. 11 11 "Chapter 11 '' Carl Franklin Keith Huff and Kate Barnow and Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 111 Frank convinces Vice President Matthews to give up his office and run for Governor of Pennsylvania. Linda Vasquez asks Frank candidly if his ambition is to become Vice President himself; he admits it and reaches out to her as an ally. After attempting to reconnect with his children, a still - inebriated Russo hands himself in to the police for the previous DUI for which he was not charged. Frank picks him up from jail and, recognizing Russo to be too great a liability, kills Russo in his car by carbon monoxide poisoning, making it look like suicide. 12 12 "Chapter 12 '' Allen Coulter Gina Gionfriddo and Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 112 With Vice President Matthews about to win the governor 's race, Frank is helping the White House vet candidates to replace him. President Walker sends him to evaluate Raymond Tusk, a billionaire who lives modestly in St. Louis. Frank discovers deeper connections between Walker and Tusk, and realizes that it is actually Tusk who is vetting him. Tusk offers to recommend Frank in return for an unspecified favor but Frank refuses. Gillian Cole obstructs SanCorp 's media presence at CWI 's establishment in Botswana, resulting in Claire firing her. Janine Skorsky investigates the Philadelphia shipyard closure in connection with Russo 's apparent suicide and enlists Zoe 's help with the political aspect. 13 13 "Chapter 13 '' Allen Coulter Beau Willimon February 1, 2013 (2013 - 02 - 01) HOC - 113 Frank attempts to leverage Raymond Tusk by requesting Remy Danton to compromise Tusk 's nuclear industry assets but Tusk purchases enough of SanCorp 's stock to defuse any threat. Tusk again attempts to obtain Frank 's unquestioning loyalty in relation to international trade tariffs, particularly Chinese controlled raw materials for his nuclear reactors. Frank wins his respect by offering only to work pragmatically with future developments. President Walker offers Frank the vice-presidency, and he accepts. Gillian Cole initiates a wrongful termination lawsuit against Claire. Claire ponders with Frank the point of their plans, and then consults a doctor about possible fertility treatment. Zoe, Janine and Lucas uncover Peter Russo 's uncharged DUI, Rachel Posner 's identity and Doug Stamper 's involvement.
how many episodes are in the first season of house of cards
13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13