S3E10 The Uptick: Authenticity Wins
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
Pied Piper, like the many endangered animal Gavin used for board meeting props, has died. Well the company as we knew it. Throughout the season we have seen Richard get out of many tight spot, but they have all changed the “we’re just dudes making cool stuff” vibe to the point where Jared was buying users. This episode paints the season as a morality tale between Hooli/Corporations and Pied Piper , where truth and authenticity win.
Gavin Isn’t Very Nice Is He?
Gavin is an asshole. He’s always been the big bad of the show, and this episode he serves as the embodiment of what’s wrong with the corporate landscape of Silicon Valley. As he fires his loyal secretary (because the death of a rare Indian Elephant was the tipping point) the facade of the fun corporate, “goodness is important” jargon, has been picked up by a helicopter and dropped in to the ocean like an elephant. Silicon Valley has always made sure to play up the disingeniuness of the corporate trends of Silicon Valley, especially the use of spiritual leaders and watered down Buddhism. A few episodes ago when Gavin’s spiritual leader manipulates Gavin in order to get his parking space back, the potential authenticity of the corporate nonsense was erased. The heart of a corporation will always be profit at any expense, and luckily for Pied Piper they failed. They failed because Richard followed Jared’s advice, and kept to his lofty big-hearted non-profit(ish) goals for his software.
Jared Is The Sweet Beautiful Beating Heart Of Pied Piper
The main conflict for this season finale was between Richard and funding. Erlich is able to snag a bunch of money for Pied Piper based off of the fake Daily Active Users that Jared bought. The show squashes the tension of wheather or not Richard knows their fake at the top of the episode, wehn he and Jared have a cute blood-brothers moment, that leads to Jared crying (classic).
Erlich and Richard go to the meeting with the investor, and Richard is willing to lie about the numbers. Dinesh and Gilfoyle are willing to scramble the data, so they can’t find out about the fake users, and Richard is only slightly apprehensive. Jared is not.
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
Then Richard shits the bed. Well, if you see lying in order to protect your company and friend who just blew all his money on an Alcatraz Luau. Richard tell the investors that everyone hates the platform,
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
Then he tells them the numbers are fake. Erlich is pissed. The season has set him up as one of the more sympathetic characters, and now having him hurt by Richard paint Richard in a negative light (but like he did it for the right reasons). Richard hits his low again, and Jared is with him.
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
Laurie is selling the company, and Richard is moving in with Big Head. The fall out is setting in, and we are watching Pied Piper go back to the underdog. Or I guess, dead dog. Silicon Valley works best when Pied Piper is scrappy, and Hooli is a bully. This breaks down though, as Laurie meets Gavin and Jack on accident. They strike a deal. Goliath is going to buy David and force him to be his slave.
The board meeting starts and doesn’t end until Monica tries to stall the vote, the secretary sides with Monica because he loves her, and Richard votes to have his company sold to Hooli.
Source: Silicon Valley // HBO
Not. The Beatles are back together, and they bought the record label. So the secretary Gavin fired told the blog Erlich owns about the elephant, and Gavin bought the blog to keep it quiet, allowing Bachmanity to buy Pied Piper. The truth, and Gavin’s hubris lead to Pied Piper’s survival. Erlich initially tells Richard that he was still pissed at him, and that it would take a long time for Richard to earn his trust back. Which is only until the next game of Always Blue starts in ten minutes. Pied Piper is safe and scrappier than ever. Authenticity won again. Cheers to a great season three. Now only a year until next season!
Article Submitted by Kevin Cucolo
