Margaux and I discuss the antepenultimate episode of Halt and Catch Fire, and I get to use the word “antepenultimate.”
Trevor: Did you know there were only two episodes of HaCF left? Cause I didn’t. That explains why the stakes were so dramatically raised in “The 214s.” There was the question of the Clarks’ marriage, Bosworth’s arrest, and the specter of COMDEX hung over everything. Goddamn booth C23.
Margaux: Actually, I did know, dumbass. I said at the end of last weeks review, “we’ve only got three episodes left” – clearly, you can’t read. But yes, it does explain how the stakes suddenly got ratched dramatically UP. Starting with, Joe + Cameron = legit relationship (?). That…escalated quickly.
Trevor: Shit, I remember you saying that now. I can read, I just have that Memento disease. Or I write like 8 TV show reviews a week and everything is just a blur.
I like Joe and Cameron – I think it’s surprisingly mature for both of them, and Lee Pace and Mackenzie Davis play off each other well. But in my mind it’s not as legitimate as it could be because nobody knows. Granted, they work together and I’m sure in Cardiff’s precarious position that would be frowned upon, but they should at least confirm it to Gordon, because he just thinks they’re screwing.
Margaux: There are probably multiple reasons to not come clean Gordon about stuff – he doesn’t give the impression of handling “news” well. Even though he’s gone full-John Lennon in this episode, listening to mediation on tape after his “week sick” aka, his mental break. I really enjoyed Gordon NOT having weird day-dreams about dead people or seeing flowers in computers – just kicking ass and stealing back the Giant. And winning back over his wife.
Trevor: Yeah, Scott McNairy was great in a very Gordon-heavy episode. I liked his meditational tapes, even if they were a little heavy on the allegory. “Leave the familiar, or stay in the safe oblivion,” etc.
Can we talk about John Bosworth – also known as my new favorite character on this show – getting arrested?
Margaux: Toby Huss’ character arc has been one of the most enjoyable things about watching Halt and Catch Fire. I love that Cameron has rubbed off on him, that he believes with every fiber of his being (and performance) that this new PC is the future. Bosworth taking a defiant chug of whiskey, facing off against Nathan Cardiff, before he gets hauled away in handcuffs was coolest “go fuck yourself” I’ve seen since Malvo took a dump during a hitman’s speech about how he’s gonna kill him.
Trevor: I’m glad we’ll forever be able to relate anything a TV character does to Fargo. I couldn’t have been more wrong about Bosworth when HaCF began. I thought he was gonna be some shitkickin good ol’ boy who Joe would prove wrong at every turn. I did not think he was going to turn into this self-sacrificing father figure for Cameron. I loved loved loved the scene of the two of them in his house, him rattling off computer terminology, and them embracing after a very tender “Get the hell out of here.”
Margaux: But before Cameron gets to the house to check on Bos, Gordon had to drive down to Austin to convince her that all hope is not lost – that they should go to COMDEX and sell Giant. Gordon is single-minded in his pursuit of seeing it through but little does he know yet, IBM is bringing their own portable to COMDEX. Which is almost scarier than being shut down by the Feds. As Gordon rightfully shouts at Joe, “You’ll somehow come out on top of all this.”
Margaux: Yeah, Gordon might be a little bit of a wackjob, but he is not at all afraid to call out Joe on his bullshit, even if his righteousness did border on paranoia in that scene. But honestly, after all the shit Joe has pulled, it’s hard to judge Gordon too harshly. Nice turn of events that Joe was in the dark about the hacking; eight episodes in, it seems like something that Joe MacMillan’s fingerprints would be all over.
Well, they do have that “doing whatever it takes to get the job done” mentality which was why Joe actually accepting his Father’s offer to return to IBM all the more confusing/shocking. After everything Joe had put Gordon and Cameron through, and what they in turn sacrificed (Gordon: Wife. Cameron: Jail Time) in creating the Giant, made this character turn come out of left field. In a sort of bad writing way. It felt forced, even if this was turn was supposed to tie into the fact that Joe has no real personality, he’s made of better pieces that he’s picked up along the way – shedding and changing when it suits him. His admission that his apartment and Porsche is “all he has” super hammered that point home.
Trevor: There was one very funny, very telling line about Joe, when Gordon and Cameron went to his apartment: “Shit, he cleared out.” “He’s not gone, this is just how he lives.”
I agree that Joe defecting to IBM felt a little forced, like unnecessary conflict. Especially considering all the bad blood between him and Joe Sr. That’s probably why the situation was so quickly resolved, but I would have preferred it if Joe’s dedication to the Giant never flagged.
Margaux: Same.
Seems like the only thing left to talk about is Donna. And how Hunt was briefly stalking her, then resigned out of the blue. Only leaving Donna to think about ending her marriage.
Trevor: Again, another conflict that seemed to resolve itself a little too quickly. Kerry Bishe’s acting really saved those scenes, especially at the end. When Gordon walked in to pack for COMDEX and saw Donna’s bag, my heart sunk because of all people Gordon Clark needs a win. And then when she said she was going with him I was very happy and relieved. Donna is a good woman, even if she did kiss Hunt, and she gives hope to us bearded losers that we could end up with a woman who looks like Kerry Bishe (although I’m more likely to end up with a woman who looks like Scoot McNairy). I’d like to see more of Donna and Hunt, not because it was my favorite subplot in the world, but because HaCF asked us to invest a lot in the fate of the Clarks, and I don’t want everything righted so quickly.
Margaux: Agreed. It took so long to set all these subplots up, the quick resolve doesn’t do anything for the characters or the show for that matter. But since HaCF is its first season, I can forgive trying to speed through loose ends in favor of a bigger payoff. That is, if they can pull off that bigger payoff which in this case will be the unveiling at COMDEX next week. And probably the week after in the shows finale.
Trevor: My guess is they wanted to tie up those loose ends because next week is going to be a COMDEX bottle episode. All criticisms aside, if the big looming “what if” is Bosworth’s arrest, I’m okay with that.
Margaux: And I don’t even think that “what if” is that pressing to the show – if they sell Giant (and Gordon can keep it together), mostly all their problems are solved.
Star count?
Trevor: I’m gonna say four. I was leaning towards four and a half, but the way certain subplots were resolved left me wanting. “The 214s” was a good episode, but overall I think it was a setup for a great episode.
Margaux: The setup for next week was better than the sum of “The 214s,” but the bigger reveals and turns of the episode were deeply satisfying so I’ll go with four stars.
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