by Jon Partridge
Halt and Catch Fire launched as a show rich with opportunity, an intriguing setting in the ’80s computer revolution brought to life by a great cast and impressive production design. Despite this, the first season was difficult to engage with. Plot lines moved slowly, the tech element often outweighed the human, and the lead male characters were far less interesting than the two female supports. Well, the showrunners clearly listened to the criticism, with Season 2 showing each of these quibbles to be addressed to an extent.
Picking up around a year after the implosion of the Cardiff Giant project, Season 2 of Halt and Catch Fire focuses on the online gaming company Mutiny, founded by Donna Clark (Kerry Bishé) and Cameron Howe (Mackenzie Davis). Eventually bringing their former partners (in both meanings of the word) Joe MacMillan (Lee Pace) and Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy) into the fold, the strengths and conflicts of the four are once again examined as they try to carve out their own niche in the exploding tech scene of the 1980s. While the games form the impetus of their plans, they soon come to realize how the internet will inform bigger changes in human interaction.
In essence, the success of Season 2 stems from the shift from the corporate world of Giant Computers to the more rebellious stylings of a young tech startup, fittingly named “Mutiny.” It allows for more expression, insights, challenges, and conflict, enriching the show. Much like the first season, it still weaves in much of the maneuvering that took place in the exploding tech industry of the ’80s, both financial, business, and technological. As the season progresses, the real themes of the season become apparent, notably innovation, insight, and understanding the market that they are creating. While the online gaming seems key, the Mutiny crew realize there is a more valuable component they have uncovered. In a way, it mirrors how Microsoft realized that the Operating System was key to dominance of one aspect of the computer industry. It offers a neat historical parallel and engaging storyline.
At the core of the business now are Donna and Cameron, with conflicting ideas and approaches, but both passionate. There’s a great rapport between the pair of women, pushing each other on. After being exploited and left in a rather thankless role previously, Donna has seriously stepped up her game, shaking off her subservient role and acknowledging her talents. It’s a refreshing and satisfying turnaround for Bishé, who was FAR more deserving of credit as a character and screentime as an actress, providing an emotional, empathetic, and measured core to the show. This is something essential considering how dysfunctional the others are. Davis’s Cameron Howe was an emotional firecracker throughout last season, and this year proves no different. She livens up every scene and alone makes for a reason to watch the show.
One the male side, the addition of Mark O’Brien as Tom Rendon is a smart one, working well as a foil for Cameron. Scoot McNairy’s Gordon is still as erratic as he was growing to be last season. His behavior is somewhat explained, but he remains the least likable and least interesting character. You occasionally get the impression the writers are as uninterested in him too. The most prominent face on the show has been that of Lee Pace, portraying lead Joe MacMillan. His charged performance is certainly commendable, but the toning down of his attitude and persona is welcome, as is his arc this season, which verges on the redemptive. There is a reduced focus on the character, to the show’s benefit. Frankly, he is emblematic of the issues the show has, with the writers still trying to shake things down and find their proper shape and fit. Whether they will get the chance to further refine Joe and the show in a third season is unknown, but on the basis of this step up in quality, they deserve the chance.
THE PACKAGEThe show was reviewed in its DVD format, and despite the lack of hi-definition, the picture quality is still rather good. The release contains all 10 episodes of the second season spread over three discs.
Special features include AMC adverts for the show and an Insider Look for each episode, compiling interviews and clips to recap each part of the season. History of Now is a more general featurette about the themes the season tackles, notably the technological advances of the ’80s and how they changed the attitudes of business and finance.Tour of an 80’s Start-Up has Mackenzie Davis and Kerry Bishé give a tour of the Mutiny headquarters, while Set Tour With Lee Pace And Scoot McNairy covers the other aspects of production design. Finally, The New Joe looks at how the writers and actor Lee Pace refined his character for this year.
Typically DVD releases are threadbare when it comes to extras, so this is a surprisingly stuffed set.
THE BOTTOM LINEWith its second season, Halt and Catch Fire tries to fix the issues of the first, as well as give further prominence to the aspects of it that worked so well. Overall it’s successful, making for a rather compelling period piece, with a new energy and focus as well as more prominent roles for the marvelous Bishé and Davis. The DVD is filled with a host of worthwhile extras to further incentivize the purchase of this very entertaining release.
Halt and Catch Fire: Season 2 is available on DVD from August 9th.