Netflix sets premiere date for ‘House of Cards’ Season 2

“House of Cards� will be returning for a second season on Feb. 14, Netflix announced Wednesday.

All 13 episodes of the series will be availble to stream starting on Valentine’s Day, a Friday, ensuring that single people everywhere will have viable weekend plans. After all, what better way to protest a holiday that celebrates love than binge-watching a show about corrupt politicians, cheating spouses and ethically dubious reporters?

In the season ahead, according to a release from Netflix and financier Media Rights Capital, Machiavellian D.C. couple Francis and Claire Underwood (Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright) will “continue their ruthless rise to power as threats mount on all fronts.�

PHOTOS: ‘House of Cards’ stars Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright

Those threats include reporter Zoe Barnes (Kate Mara) and her colleague, Lucas (Sebastian Arcelus), who at the close of Season 1 were hot on the trail of the Underwoods’ various misdeeds. (There’s also Claire’s smoking habit which, based on the teaser trailer also released on Wednesday by Netflix, does not appear to have abated and is surely the most dire threat of all!) In Season 2, newly appointed Vice President Francis will also continue to lock horns with the president’s billionaire pal, Raymond Tusk (Gerald McRaney).

Based on the BBC program of the same name, “House of Cards� became the first digitally distributed show to earn major Emmy nominations this year, including a drama series nod. It won three Emmys in total, with executive producer David Fincher earning a directing award for the pilot.

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Twitter: @MeredithBlake