S3E7 “To Build a Better Beta”
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
How much empathy should we spend on rich techies?
Things are doing well for Pied Piper, but the people behind it, aren’t doing as well. If you ignore the millions of dollars that they collectively have. it’s fun to root for Pied Piper as an underdog, but as they work their way to the top, their underdog charm is wearing thin. Over this season Richard has show his perfectionist neurosis, which makes him just an insecure Jack Barker, as a CEO. While Dinesh is the classic insecure about women, and doesn’t have friends outside of Pied Piper. And Gilfoyle is a more confident loner, and is comfortable with his closest friend being the servers. Jared is geniunely a good person and “he fucks.” While Erlich is seen in the most sympathetic light as he is forced to sell his Pied Piper shares. Coming from the last episodes of complicated office workplace drama-one reviewer called it Game of Thrones-y-this episode shows the limits of working the audiences’ sympathies for a group of white men that have as much money as Blue Ivy.
Dinesh and Gilfoyle: Why Can’t We Be Friends?
The episode starts with Richard attempting to fix the beta to the point where it’s not a beta anymore. He demands perfection, okay guys? Luckily Gilfoyle had already sent it to his snake wielding girlfriend, and she loved it. So the private beta commences, and each of them get ten invites. Gilfoyle doesn’t need his:
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
While Dinesh struggles to find ten people to send his invites to. He graciously offers one to Monica even though “he’s gonna have to freeze out one of his boys.”
Bachmanity’s Insanity
Meanwhile, Big Head and Erlich are watching Big Head’s house being taken away. Erlich is still optimistic about the situation, until their business manager tells him bankruptcy won’t absolve his debts. Erlich runs the situation by Jared, and Jared finds that the business manager was stealing funds from him.
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
Big Head and Erlich try to get the money back, but their business manager-who totally did it-doesn’t have. So, they miraculously get a meeting with the DA and she goes HAM on them, in the most professional way.
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
So Erlich is left with selling Pied Piper.
Oh Hooli Is Still A thing?
Dinesh starts to send out his beta invites to fake people, and one person he knew from Hooli. This means that Gavin gains access to the beta, because Hooli reads all their employees emails, duh. Gavin presents the beta to his new-old team, but Gilfoyle has already found out. Gilfoyle does a hacker thing and Gavin’s laptop is apparently about to explode, because he demands the power to all of Hooli be cut off, for his personal laptop. This shuts him down, and his two lead engineers quit. Gavin, the mean millionaire, just can’t get a break.
Is Pied Piper Good?
Monica is the last one Richard talks to about her beta experience. She hates it. Well, she just doesn’t get it. She also talks about how her opinion is often wrong, but that’s just the nature of the tech business. Your gut about the quality of something, doesn’t always align with the consensus of the public.
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
Pied Piper is set to go. Laurie gave it the okay, and Gilfoyle is shutting down the servers. Who comes to find out is his best friend. Dinesh sees and gives him shit, but Jared attempt to be the den mother and show them the truth.
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
Launch Time
The gang is minutes from launch. Erlich has sold his shares, Code/Rag has dropped the story about him and BIg Head not paying for the party, because Erlich has paid. Monica is supporting her team, even though she hates what they’re doing. Dinesh and Gilfoyle still don’t accept their friendship, and Jared is perfect (amiright?!). Silicon Valley is one of the best character driven comedies on TV right now, and this episode showed it’s ability to plumb some of the less savory sides of its own characters. As Pied Piper launches after 27 episodes, we are left wondering what’s next for this group of rich guys, because why not?
Article Submitted by Kevin Cucolo
