Summary Netflix, however, said the show was made available "due to a technical glitch."
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Was it a murky Washington conspiracy, or just a technical glitch?
American fans of hit political drama "House of Cards" got an unexpected sneak peak of the show s third season Wednesday, when Netflix mistakenly posted the latest instalments online.
For about a half hour, fans could inexplicably stream the new episodes, weeks ahead of their scheduled release date.
Predictably, Twitter was flooded with postings from delighted fans.
"GO HOME: #HouseOfCards season 3 is on Netflix right now," wrote one user, @erinruberry.
Adding a layer of intrigue, "House of Cards" hinted on its own Twitter account that wider forces were at work.
"This is Washington. There s always a leak. All 13 episodes will launch February 27," the @Houseofcards account wrote.
Netflix, however, said the show was made available "due to a technical glitch."
The award-winning show features Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood, a ruthless politician who ll stop at nothing to have his way.
The show is based on a British miniseries of the same name set in post-Margaret Thatcher Westminster, the heart of political intrigue in London.
