Thomas Middleditch
T. J. Miller
Josh Brener
Martin Starr
Kumail Nanjiani
Zach Woods
Amanda Crew
Christopher Even Welch
Matt Ross
Jimmy O. Yang
Suzanne Cryer

Created by:
Mike Judge
John Altschüler
Dave Krinsky

2014-
Comedy
HBO
TV-MA

The first episode of “Silicon Valley,” which was created by Mike Judge, isn’t that funny to me; but it is interesting. It has a similar premise as Amazon’s “Betas,” but it seems to be a bit more thoughtful. I think that this show may go a little deeper than many people expect. The central character is oddly likable … well, at first, at least. (That wears off rather quickly in subsequent episodes because of this show’s and the character’s lack of forward movement.) Another positive is that the supporting characters have room for development. I want to see where this goes. It might turn into something surprising. …

In its second episode, “Silicon Valley” continues on the road that I thought it would. While this episode is funnier than its first, I already know that this show won’t be hilarious. It’s not that kind of humor … well, not for me it isn’t. It will amuse, though, as long as you get the joke. The actors know what they’re doing; their work is deceptively expert. And the writing’s smart. This is refreshing. …

Right after that second episode, “Silicon Valley” enters into a holding pattern. I’m writing this after watching the fifth episode of its eight-episode first season. There doesn’t seem to be any narrative momentum, and the lead character is frustratingly unaware. I like smart characters (unless the characters are purposely stupid characters for comedic reasons), so that’s going to be a problem unless something changes soon. Since this show isn’t really laugh-out-loud funny, it’s even more important that these writers come up with inspired material. The material is fine, but it needs to be better. What’s going on? Why can some shows reliably deliver compelling and/or entertaining episodes, while other shows struggle to deliver just one episode that has appropriate rhythm and pacing? This show is on the fence, and it may fall off it. …

It takes all of the first season (eight episodes) for “Silicon Valley” to finally produce an episode with any narrative power. The first season’s finale has humor (caveat: not all of it will work for every viewer, e.g., the hand-job time algorithm comedic sequence). That episode also has tension and appropriate pacing. The stakes are raised.

The lead character still needs a spine (a tiny one will do), but this episode leaves the door open for “Silicon Valley” to turn into something thoroughly watchable in its next season. The first season’s problems may be the result of having different writers write each of its episodes; that didn’t work. Hopefully, they’ll fix that for the next season. Furthermore, Mike Judge should stick to directing (he directed the first two and last two episodes of the first season). Similarly, Alec Berg (writer of the first season’s finale) should stick to writing.

My question is this: During its second season, will “Silicon Valley” build upon the foundation that was laid in the final episode of its first season, or will it go back to being inconsistent and stunted? …

Here’s the answer: the latter.

I’ve grown tired of the quagmire that is “Silicon Valley.” Sure, obstacles are great and can lead to humor, but some progress needs to be made at some point. Plus, do most of the characters have to be this stupid? Goodness! At this point, almost none of “Silicon Valley” is funny, yet all of it’s pathetic. (Too bad for the actors. They know what they’re doing.)

Verdict: OK

About: (Source: siliconvalley)

In the high-tech gold rush of modern Silicon Valley, the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success. Mike Judge (“Office Space,” “Beavis & Butthead,” “King of the Hill”) brings his irreverent brand of humor to HBO in the new comedy series SILICON VALLEY. Partially inspired by Judge’s own experiences as a Silicon Valley engineer in the late ‘80s, the show kicks off its eight-episode season this April.