'House of Cards' Season 5 news, spoilers: Michael Kelly's Doug Stamper to succumb to drug addiction?
"House of Cards" Season 5 will see Doug Stamper (played by Michael Kelly), the faithful chief of staff of President Frank Underwood (played by Kevin Spacey), once again. He was last seen in season 4 with his surprising return after he sustained a life-threatening injury that made the viewers think he couldn't make it out alive in the next season. It was apparent that he survived the damage to his body and resumed his position as Underwood's trusted right-hand man.
In an interview with Indie Wire, Kelly revealed that while Stamper had really hard moments of his life in season 3, the fifth season of "House of Cards" will show his character struggling with drug addiction issues, among other new things in Stamper's life that include a new love interest. It was seen in the previous season that Stamper ended his weird love affair with Rachel Posner (played by Rachel Brosnahan) by killing her. In the upcoming season, it will be revealed whether Stamper will let the new love of his life influence his decisions and actions like what Posner did to him.
It can be recalled that Stamper came back alive in season 4 after being presumed left for dead at the end of season 3. Upon his comeback, he became more loyal to President Frank Underwood as ever and even the president's wife herself, first lady Claire Underwood (played by Robin Wright) could not interfere in Stamper's business with her husband.
During the interview, Kelly also hinted that his character might also die given how Stamper deals with the things in his life.
"Doug is so much based on addiction... From alcohol to Rachel to Frank, it's something he has to have: tunnel vision. His loyalty to Frank is a byproduct of his loyalty to his job. When he failed, he saw another life he could have with his family and his brother, with a job that would take him elsewhere and Hawaii, to an easier life. He could do it, but it didn't make him tick," Kelly told Indie Wire.
Kelly went on further by saying that Stamper is not an innately evil person, in spite of him killing Posner and his problem with drug addiction.
A report from Mstarz News website reveals that Stamper will do everything for President Underwood even if it means that he must die. His loyalty to Spacey's character grew as the show progressed, even going to a point where he had always wanted everyone who wished to contact Frank to see him first. His service to the president may be put into a test with a new woman in his life and addiction issues, which may ultimately lead to his death.
"House of Cards" season 5 is expected to premiere in March 2017 which will continue the story of President Underwood and his election campaign.
