 " Chapter 1 " sets the tone for the environs of the series . According to David Carr the political environs have such " <unk> " that it <unk> the clandestine nature of political activities , including those of Underwood who says he is there to " clear the pipes and keep the sludge moving " . The fictional newspaper , The Washington Herald , is set with " brutal " lighting and drab furniture , in part because it was filmed at the real life Baltimore Sun offices . Carr uses several <unk> adjectives to describe Barnes ' apartment including sad , <unk> , dirty , dreary and humble but note that this implies that the digital revolution is dominated by people " on <unk> who have no furniture " . Similarly , Underwood and his associates are <unk> clad , Barnes shows a lack of fashion recognition . 
