If we were rating them on the effectiveness of their schemes, Underwood would come out on top every time, but in terms of narrative development, this is a negative point on Underwood's side. While every so often an occasion comes along where a "problem" must be exterminated (at least once a season, as pictured), for the most part, the dramatic stakes of House of Cards are measured by how much influence any given character holds amongst their fellow politicians. This is, while compelling to think about, not nearly as viscerally interesting as the collateral Walt piles up. Heisenberg doesn't necessarily kill everyone who are problems to him - his increasingly egomaniacal journey is marked by both the physical and emotional carnage left in its wake, namely in his own family and Jesse Pinkman, his longtime associate. The more power Walter gains, the more he takes away from the supporting characters, either by force or coercion, making his ascent to villainy that much more compelling than Frank, who rises purely on Quid Pro Quo, rewarding those who assist him.