MovieChat Forums > Silicon Valley (2014) Discussion > Just Binge Wathched. Kind of tired of th...

Just Binge Wathched. Kind of tired of the back and forth plot devices.

posted 8 years ago by morgant6911
21 replies | jump to latest

I enjoy the show overall, but it is a little annoying how the plot takes a step forward, a step back, and keeps doing the same things over and over.

For example, the initial drive to get funded. They get an investor, something happens, they have no money. The cycle repeated itself for the entire second season.

Now, they're kind of doing the same thing with the CEO plot of season 3.

Like I said, I enjoy the show overall, but it will be hard to stick with if they don't have more organic conflicts, rather than just on again/off again tactics.

[–] lordjames-1 8 years ago

I love the show too but sort of agree. I wish they would be more comfortable taking the show to completely different territory even if it means some of the actors have to take a back seat for a while. I am not sure why the writers did not feel comfortable spending this entire season on Richard's quest to regain his CEO role. I mean, they even proved to us they had a great idea with the legs to do that with the whole skunk works thing. That was absolutely primed for hilarity. Why squander that and rebound so quickly back to where they were?!

[–] MisterNick 8 years ago

I agree. As much as I really like this show, they need to sort of turn a corner and introduce some new elements into their storytelling.

[–] Sumatran_Ratmonkey 8 years ago

I've only ever watched it week to week, never rewatched or binged, so I can only imagine how much more acutely you felt the yo-yo effect than I did.

I agree that they need to move forward in some way. I don't buy the line that they need to keep failing and ending up in Erlich's house for the show to remain funny. Gavin is head of a hugely successful multinational tech corporation, and his scenes are some of the funniest out there.

Watching Richard try to deal with success and the new world it will land him in feels like it would be hilarious. Bigger company would just mean bigger problems.

[–] lalaw08 8 years ago

I am literally, right now, watching the most recent episode after a binge that started on Sunday.
I 100% concur and sincerely hope comments like these are taken to heart by the writers.

[–] watterlloo 8 years ago

Agree with the OP. It's just weak, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants writing that's the issue. Just churning out an ep to make it to air. The original premise is good, the characters (for the most part) are good to great, and there is some good imagination and non-pc stuff to be enjoyed.....but it falls flat if the endings to the shows just end up back and forth.

I mean, let's face it....the last ep ended on a "good" note, more or less. Gee. I wonder what's going to happen in the next one......oh boy. Something crappy is coming, and FAST. Probably the next ep, or definitely by the next one, the SHTF will appear. Once again. To possibly end the company.

If this was a real company, Richard would be on heavy meds by now, or would have just shot himself from the stress and anxiety.

"Hey, shut up in there, I'm trying to type....." OT: Do the voices in my head bother you?

[–] belacane 8 years ago

Maybe one of the others would have shot him. If I worked with him I'd think about doing that.

Some post somewhere talked about rushing through potential subplots too quickly, and I agree. They could have fleshed out the Action Jack and skunkworks stuff for this whole season and made it a richer show each week.

Much is made of how this show draws on Judge's experiences in the Valley in the 1980s. I certainly hope they have writers (or consultants) with more recent experience! The tech world changes so fast...

[–] toddp-10 8 years ago

I don't buy the line that they need to keep failing and ending up in Erlich's house for the show to remain funny.

100%. It was kind of old season 2. 3 it was pretty hard on the show. I know them being a huge success would not be the same, but is going in a constant circle the only option?

Bigger company would just mean bigger problems.

Hell, maybe they could find some fun with them being successful too. Great great show, but they have to stop the rinse and repeat.

[–] morgant6911 8 years ago

More yo-yo writing. Oh no, not enough users, we're going to fail! Here comes someone/something to save the day on next week's episode.

[–] ScarletKnights 8 years ago

So then watch it how it was meant to be watched.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Snatchy 8 years ago

Yes, it has a bit of a Gilligan's Island feel to it. The ultimate goal is to get off the island but you know they'll never do it because then you wouldn't have a show.

[–] whynot2 8 years ago

Point nicely made.

Apparently, dogs are wolves with Williams-Beuren Syndrome.

[–] Laserseightoclockdayone 8 years ago

The status quo is god.

[–] racl_101 8 years ago

Guess what? That's pretty much life in Silicon Valley.

You can't just go in autopilot after success. You have to be on your toes, ready to expect to be sued or outdone by your competitors. You can't rest on your laurels. The show is very true to that.

Why do you think the big boys like Facebook and Google don't just do ONLY what they originally started with (search engine and social media respectively?) It's because Silicon Valley (in real life) is so cutthroat. If they're not growing and expanding then they're dying.

This isn't a show like Friends or The Big Bang Theory. This isn't a procedural where problems get solved and wrapped up in 30 minutes There are consequences to actions and they carry over.