Silicon Valley

     A sign of a good serialized tv show is that the premise is not what the show is about. Silicon Valley on HBO, as one can imagine, is about a small start up in California's technology cradle. The show follows Richard, played by Thomas Middleditch, a geeky and soft spoken programmer who has developed an algorithm that compresses files at an alarming rate. With his programming friends Richard develops this company, Pied Piper, 

     Silicon Valley is set in the world of technology but it's about finding confidence and reaching success. Richard has to balance working with his high strung, out of touch boss Peter Gregory and his competitor Gavin Belson of Huli. Belson being a thin caricature of Steve Jobs and Huli being an amalgam of Google and Apple.   

    The main cast is mostly comprised of comedians in acting roles. They truly do a great job, the show is ridiculous but not slapstick. Points of tension arise because of characters desires rather than whacky antics. People familiar with comedy will recognize Middleditch and costars Kumail Nanjiani, and TJ Miller as up and coming stand ups. It's only fitting they get their first major acting roles as start ups.

     The production quality is high and showrunner Mike Judge, of Office Space fame, has said it's based off his own experience in Silicon Valley in the late 80s. The series is funny and entertaining and is everything you would want from a situational comedy. Plus it has the best dick joke in the history of television.

     Check it out.

Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is an American sitcom that was released in early April 2014. This show, created by Mike Judge, John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, is an HBO original series that follows six roommates that attempt to start up a company in Silicon Valley. This show received exceptionally positive reviews after the first season due to being a fantastic and contemporary tale about the technology industry, as well as a look into the lives of those who run the industry. Most all of this show is influenced by Mike Judge's real life experience in the industry.

In the first season of Silicon Valley follows character Richard Hendriks (Thomas Middleditch), a socially awkward and anxious man working in Silicon Valley. What he lacks in people skills, he makes for in technological genius and amazing coding ability. Richard lives with a group of five other men, one of which owns the home (T.J. Miller), allowing them all to reside in the house for a small percentages of any code they write. One day Richard discovers that, by accident, he created an amazing compression software that has the potential to completely change the world and how data is used. Soon every major technology company is either out to buy Richard's code or is out to destroy his company and steal their work. The majority of the show follows the group of men as they struggle to adjust to a new life of luxury and fame.

Overall, I think that this show is phenomenal. It is extremely funny and original. The story is very unpredictable and, due to the fact that it does not take itself too seriously, thrives off of the ridiculousness of the plot and characters. All of the actors in the show are very enjoyable to watch. Each character has a very unique personality, the interactions between the characters are very odd and awkward which make every conversation interesting to watch.

The second season premier just kicked off April 13th and has already been picked up for a third season. I would highly recommend this show to anyone who has access to HBO and is looking for a new comedy to follow.