And the Emmy goes to...

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

House of Cards 

Episode

"Chapter 1"

Directed 

by 

David Fincher

Netflix

"Chapter 1" is the pilot episode of the American political thriller drama television series House of Cards and is the first episode of the first season. It premiered on February 1, 2013, when it was released, along with the rest of the first season, on the American streaming service Netflix. On July 18, 2013, this episode became the first web television webisode to earn Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including three Creative Arts Emmy Award nominations. On September 15, it became the first webisode to be Primetime Emmy-Awarded when Eigil Bryld won Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series at the 65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.

"Chapter 1" was written by series developer Beau Willimon and directed by executive producer David Fincher. Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is an ambitious Democratic congressman and the House Majority Whip. Underwood helped ensure the election of President Garrett Walker (Michael Gill), who promised to appoint Underwood as Secretary of State. However, before Walker is sworn in, Chief of Staff Linda Vasquez (Sakina Jaffrey) announces that the president will not honor the agreement and will instead nominate Senator Michael Kern. Furious at Walker's betrayal, Underwood and his wife Claire (Robin Wright), an environmental activist, make a pact to destroy Kern.

The episode was well received by most television critics. They praised the production values of the series, as well as praising the performances of the lead actors.