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Now that HBO Max has washed up on our shores, there are plenty of shows Brits are finally getting to dive into.
The Pitt has been chief among them, but another hidden gem in the broadcaster’s back catalogue is the 2010s comedy Silicon Valley.
Set in the Bay Area where all the tech bros congregate, the show follows computer programmer turned wannabe mogul Richard (Thomas Middleditch) and his nerdy pals as they attempt to strike gold in the new tech boom.
What better time to watch a show satirising the hub of the tech world?
The group embark on the launch of their start-up Pied Piper – who wouldn’t want to invest in that? – while living in millionaire Erlich’s (T.J. Miller) house rent-free. The catch is, they have to hand over a stake in their new whizzy projects, as he looks to relive his glory days.
The show is loosely based on the experiences of creator Mike Judge, who is also behind the iconic animated show Beavis and Butt-Head.
He lived in the Silicon Valley area for a number of years in the 1980s, while working as an engineer. He identified the show’s main theme as the notion that ‘the people most qualified to succeed are the least capable of handling success’.
The show’s six seasons, with a total of 53 episodes, show the various trials and tribulations of getting Pied Piper off the ground.
The show’s finale aired on December 8, 2019, with no announced plans for a reboot, renewal, or spin-off – but it went on having garnered numerous awards and critical acclaim (including a 94% rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes).
With the unveiling of HBO Max in the UK, it has prompted one TV viewer on Reddit to admit they ‘missed out’ not watching it while it was still on air, in a post that has received thousands of upvotes.
What other shows can you stream now?
- Euphoria. Catch up on the show that everyone is talking about, for better or worse.
- If It’s Tuesday, It’s Murder. Fancy a quirky murder mystery with a dollop of escapism? This one is for you.
- Big Mistakes. A new cringe comedy from Dan Levy, the creator of Schitt’s Creek. Catch it on the Netflix top 10.
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles. A young student who gets pregnant after an affair with her married college professor turns to OnlyFans
- Beef. Netflix’s lean, mean series is back for season 2 at a country club.
They wrote they had never thought a show about tech bros could be funny and were left ‘unimpressed’ by the adverts. ‘I got HBO Max so I could watch The Pitt, and since I wanted stuff to watch in between airings, I decided to give Silicon Valley a shot,’ they wrote.
‘This show is the funniest goddamn thing I’ve seen since 30 Rock. I’m consistently in tears from laughing so hard. I’ve binged through the first 4 seasons in a week.’
Several in the comments shared their favourite lines and moments from the show, with many agreeing they loved it.
‘The first season was absolutely sublime,’ commented @RedHeadedSicilian52. ‘In fact, between that, the first season of True Detective and the fourth season of Game of Thrones, HBO really had a hot streak on their hands in early 2014.’
Does this sound like one for you?
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Definitely
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Not my thing
Silicon Valley is available to stream in full on HBO Max through Sky.
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