Fresh off the show’s four Golden Globe nominations, Netflix has released an almost operatic new trailer for the upcoming second season of House of Cards.  The new string of episodes finds Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright’s Francis and Claire Underwood continuing their ruthless rise to power as threats mount on all fronts.  This trailer shows off quite a bit of new footage, and while it’s highly encouraging, I’m hoping that Spacey’s character doesn’t go full “horror movie villain” in season two.  It could just be the editing that’s giving off a more viscerally sinister vibe from Underwood, and as a big fan of the first season I’m eager to see how showrunner Beau Willimon continues the story of the Underwoods’ rise to power.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The show also stars Kate Mara, Michel Gill, Gerald McRaney, Mahershala Ali, Sbeastian Arcelus, Kristen Connolly, Nathan Darrow, Sakina Jaffrey, Michael Kelly, and Molly Parker.  All 13 episodes of House of Cards season two will be available to stream starting February 14, 2014.

Here’s the official synopsis for House of Cards season 2:

In the second season, Francis (Spacey) and Claire (Wright) Underwood continue their ruthless rise to power as threats mount on all fronts. Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara, “American Horror Story”), an up-and-coming reporter and Francis’s former paramour, is inching closer to the truth about his crimes. President Walker’s (Michel Gill, “The Good Wife”) billionaire confidante Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney, “Southland”) demands that Francis reciprocate political favors or face retribution. And Claire must confront the increasing glare of the spotlight as it eats away at her and Francis’s once private existence. The Underwood’s must overcome these dangers — past and present — to avoid losing everything, regardless of collateral damage they leave in their wake.