WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH: Halt And Catch Fire (Spoiler-Free Review)

[@khall1523]

I never would have thought that this series was so good. This show took over my life for two weeks. I could not stop watching it. The characters and attention to detail just blew me away.

[@ana-isabel]

Join the club! 🤩 Haha I also had no idea what I was in for when I started this show (just that it had one my favourite actors, Lee Pace lol) - but it exceeded all expectations. Such a gem of a series, I hope it only grows its fanbase in time.

[@70s80sVintage]

This show was an absolute gift. Such deep story lines with the backdrop of the tech evolution...from hardware to software to the internet. I lived through all of this time in tech...and although storylines were exaggerated, so much was absolutely true to form. The character arcs were amazing and engaging - Joe's IMHO being the most interesting. Acting was superb across the board. I think the actress that played Haley was a stand-out. Cannot recommend this series more strongly!!!

[@MaquiladoraIII]

I cannot stress how incredible this series is - talk about lightning in a bottle. The top level cast, amongst which, lead and supporting, there is not one bad character; the fantastic contemporary soundtrack; the fascinating subject matter; the at-times devastating emotional punch of the characters' lives. I could go on for days about this show.

[@nathanjones8667]

Possibly my favorite show I’ve seen. I get so excited when I see or read people giving it some praise! It was so good, AMC decided to take a loss and fund a fourth season so they could see it finished, even though no one was watching it! Thanks for shouting it out! You’re doing the lords work.

[@canuck21]

The casting is truly perfect here. I love every actors in this show.

[@ana-isabel]

Everyone played their roles excellently - honestly can't think of better choices! (The main trio, especially - they have my heart.)

[@specex]

This show hit every note for me. With a 10 year mainframe and 30 year PC career, it's like I knew some of those people along the way. Any long-time systems person would just love it... because we must. Incredibly well done and the characters were fantastic.

[@DarkMatta84]

I saw someone recommend this show after commenting about episode 5 of Mythic Quest. I was sold on the show throughout season 1. By the end of it, i was in awe of how profound it was. The show talked about the importance of making a connection and sure enough ive never felt more connected to a show and the characters within them like this before. I cried..alot. I finished it last night. I couldn't sleep for ages thinking about it. Questioning my life goals and my connections to the people around me. This show was brilliant.

[@ana-isabel]

That was definitely one of the show's greatest strengths - the ability to explore human connection while simultaneously having you thoroughly connect with the characters themselves. I felt a sense of sadness watching the finale, like I bid goodbye to real people I actually watched grow and evolve - as strange as that seems. 😂 (I'll actually be putting out a new video - hopefully soon this month - that explores how we connect with fictional characters and how/why they hook us the way they do; so watch out for that! :3) Anyway, I've actually started on Mythic Quest. Decent comedy, but apparently the fifth episode is like the "lost ep of HCF" - so I'm excited for that, haha.

[@DarkMatta84]

@@ana-isabel I am totally the same. I've gone back to thinking about the show and characters regularly and can't believe they've gone and I dont get to see them again. They felt so real. I can't think of the last show that did that. Ill be sure to look out for the upload :) And yeah, episode 5 is very much like it. I enjoyed the humour of the show but that is the best episode.

[@iansmart4158]

I caught the show when it premiered in 2014, and kept with it till the end. I absolutely love it (my favorite show ever). I'm so glad to see ppl catching up with it, and this is a great video showcasing what makes it so exceptional. Truly amazing, I've watched it 3 times and it only gets better. Such great acting, writing, and directing (seriously, it's one of the best shot things ever put on television). Glad you found it. I'm definitely sharing this video!

[@ana-isabel]

Thank you so much! 😄 I'm so glad you were able to catch it when it aired too - it must've been intense having to wait for a new weekly episode (and then a year for a new season), given how engrossing the whole story was. :) Truly one of the best TV series of the past decade. Thinking I should give it a third round myself hahaha.

[@cosmomusic]

I watched it when it came out too and so glad it's on Netflix so I can watch again and again. I'm in a HACF facebook fan group, great review, you make us proud! 😀

[@lopezrome1982]

I was with you for the ride along with my 10 year old son at the time.

[@ShishakliAus]

"Joe can talk a Karen out of a K-mart" *MIC DROP*

[@Mosgerb]

As a film school graduate and professional editor, I pride myself on finding great tv and movies. This one , admittedly, slipped through the cracks. Had it not been for 2 random gentlemen during a Saturday morning round of golf, I wouldn't have found this tv show that has made my top 5 list of all time. Thanks for do you your part in spreading the word, and I enjoyed your video. Your writing is excellent.

[@ana-isabel]

Thank you, that means a ton! Glad you made it to the hidden gem that is this show - it honestly deserves so much more love than it got initially (though now that it's on Netflix, it's nice to see it gaining more traction! 😊) The series has landed my top ten all-time favourites - if not my top five as well (great choice, btw!). :)

[@krakulandia]

Halt And Catch Fire is actually my favourite TV-show of all time. It also uses tons of real world computer/software industry events and incidents that actually happened. The first season is basically the story of Compaq computer company down to the detail of how they reverse engineered IBM PC's firmware and how IBM sent an army of lawyers to their office. Most of the important key points of each season's storylines have a real world equivalent that are written down in history decades ago. That's why the show's high level arc feels so real: it is real. Also the characters themselves represent important computer/software industry figures from the history. Joe Macmillan is basically Steve Jobs in the first season and Gordon Clark is Steve Wozniak. Later in the series Macmillan clearly represents the eccentric John McAffee, down to the detail of installing a virus on a corporation's computer and explaining how they're about to lose everything unless they use the software Macmillan's company is trying to sell them. That actually happened in the 80s when John McAffee did just that. All important part of computer history. It's lovely to see it represented quite accurately on TV. Love it!

[@Radb707]

It was never underrated, it was underwatched. Critics loved the show after the first season, viewers loved the show, and the network execs loved the show and renewed it despite its poor numbers. Underrated is for things that people weren't into but has redeeming qualities...like Crow: City of Angels or Terminator Salvation.

[@davidgreenwitch]

Agree. All the people I told about this series were turned off by the "techy theme" but loved it when watching a while.

[@wearebrownbear]

You did a better job explaining why exactly I love this show than I could ever do! Next time I recommend HACF to someone, I will be forwarding your review.

[@ana-isabel]

Thank you - happy to have shared the same love for this show! Really hoping it gains more traction now that it's on Netflix. :)

[@MixtapeStories]

Thank you, Ana. I fell in love with HCF back when it came out, and I've watched the series at least 4 times. There's something brilliant about the characters that drew me and how they evolved. Also, the world we live in today was created during the times the series was set, and I love how we got glimpses of what innovators were thinking with the technology available. Brilliant! Thanks!

[@rometherevenant8749]

This show is honestly top of the list for me. Well put together, some greatly shot scenes and each season escalated both in tech and character development. This show is truly amazing. Thank you for bringing this show up and talking about it, great channel and subbed.

[@ana-isabel]

Thank you so much! So glad you felt the same love for this show as I did - and you absolutely hit the nail on the head. Loved how the show kept outdoing itself with each season, and it helps that its characters (and cast) were fantastic. Definitely one of my top shows of the last decade. Thanks for subbing; hope you enjoy my other reviews and video essays! 🤘

[@rometherevenant8749]

@@ana-isabel your a fantastic youtuber. Looking forward to more content!

[@ana-isabel]

@@rometherevenant8749 Aww thank you - will definitely be making more. :)

[@soyentak5076]

i loved this series because at the end of the day the characters needed each other and loved each other. when in season one when they go to Comdex to conquer the world i was so jacked. ps i dont think i cried so hard in a tv show or movie when A16 passed. Then a cried so hard when his daughter found his tape. I still play his tape from time to time just to understand life is great. we will never appreciate the good times if we only have good times. RIP A16

[@ericsaari2901]

Loved this show. Stumbled on it and binged it in less than a week. Still thinking about it and why I loved it so much, and that's how I came to your review. Agree with everything you said. It's a perfect show, really - perfectly cast, perfectly written, and the character arcs are among the best I have seen. I cried also. You are not alone lol.

[@liquidpig]

Jist finished all 4 seasons, watched it in like a week. I miss it. Came on YT to find some videos on it. Thanks.

I just ended binge watching the show and I'm amazed, completely amazed! Seaching for essay videos about it and found yours. I still do't know what to say, because, you know, still amazed, but I can say that seeing lee pace being so delicious on a quarantine time was (and still is) very torturing. Hahahaha! Loved your video, subscribed your channel and I'll visit it more often!

[@ana-isabel]

Ohhh thank you so much! 😊 So glad more people are getting into this show lately - it deserved a ton more love since its time on air. I can completely relate btw; was both amazed by it all but also saddened by the end of my binge since I grew super attached to the characters hahaha. And omg yes, Lee Pace was a treat 👌👌

[@sheiladawg1664]

@@ana-isabel I cried like a bitch, too. Twice. It was beautifully done and you didn't see it coming.

[@staywithmetravel5360]

This is my go-to series. I can pick up with any episode and engage in seeing it again. So many details to explore. I could do an in-depth analysis paper on the evolution of Donna's necklaces or a comparison of Joe's apartment decor--the Serenity vase, his mom's picture, the Japanese tea service. Then there are the apartment/house #s. Are they code for something? I've seen a KZbin on the color palette which is interesting. It's hard to miss the greens and blues, not to mention the reds. These guys definitely expect the audience to keep up which is why there probably weren't more viewers. TV audiences tend to be lazy and inattentive. This show was for the serious viewer.

[@blakasmurf]

Well they did get one detail wrong, you'd only notice if you're into electronics. During the reverse engineering scene they used super-clear LED's. Those weren't invented until the late 90s I believe. So they should have used the old bulky looking colored LED's.

[@kevmay21]

Wonderful review. I watched this show and could not articulate well how special it is. I don't think I've ever watched a series that i've spent so much time thinking about. Definitely will watch it again.

[@ana-isabel]

Same here - the characters, the storyline, and their development over time were so memorable and well-written. It's a show that'll likely stick with me years from now, and I can't wait to give it a third rewatch when the time comes. 😆 And thank you - happy you enjoyed my review! ✨

[@teacherdude]

I really enjoyed this series, if only because I became interested in computers at the era depicted. That aside, great story, brilliant writing and a whole bunch of strong female roles that reminds us of the role women played in the start of home computing.

[@claybourneave7715]

Boy am I glad that I accidently discovered this series on Netflix. Watched the complete series 3 times before cancelling my subscription. Plus like another commenter, I too, am of the age where I was a young adult growing up during the time depicted in the series! Being in the IT world at that time as well, I can tell there is much truth in the story that is being told! I must agree with you Ana that Lee Pace is a very good looking man. However as being a male viewer of the series I absolutely adore that cutie pie, Kerry Bishe (Donna Clark)!!

[@ana-isabel]

Kerry Bishe is GORGEOUS and brought so much heart to the series through her character. 😍 Really hoping to see her in more projects! 😊 So glad to hear they managed to accurately capture the spirit of the tech field in the 1980s - the period aspect was one of the most interesting elements of the series for sure!

[@delusionnnnn]

As someone who is familiar with a lot of the stories of early 8-bit tech, HCF resonated with me, too. It wasn't "history", but it was a sort of parallel universe where you could explore characters and tell stories which a lot of people went through without having to tell a documentary history of a particular company or of particular people. There were loads of semi-historical nods. There were definitely loads of "well, that's not possible because x" moments, but if you accept it's history-adjacent, it's a fantastic series that's wonderfully written, acted, and set. For the record, some of the biggest influences on the story were Dell (Texas), Commodore (Pennsylvania), Osborne (California), and Sinclair (UK), as well as IBM, with Compaq (TX) and Texas Instruments being somewhat influential as well.

[@peterfred445]

I have an high-tech invention that I I am just beginning to think is it real possibility. However in a couple of months I'm going to be 83. I am now watching season 3 of this series. I love watching the series because it makes me really believe that I can actually build a company my experimental e base device to market.

[@ana-isabel]

Holy crap that's amazing! Best of luck to you and your product, I'm sure it's fantastic! Happy to hear the series has been a source of motivation on top of that. 😊 Despite not being a part of the tech field, the show's themes of ambition and persistence nevertheless inspired me with my own goals, too. Looking forward to seeing your invention on the market one day!

[@toddblickenstaff607]

One of the best TV series I have ever seen. Superbly written, produced, and directed with impressive attention to detail and amazing acting performances by all of the key cast members.

[@blakasmurf]

Well they did get one detail wrong, you'd only notice if you're into electronics. During the reverse engineering scene they used super-clear LED's. Those weren't invented until the late 90s I believe. So they should have used the old bulky looking colored LED's.

[@champstar9669]

I enjoyed re-watching your review of the show. GREATEST show of ALL-TIME. I still vividly remember the feeling of almost wanting to cry when I reached the end and knew there wouldn't be any more episodes. It was just nice to reconnect with the show again.

[@korianderbadger]

A friend suggested this show to my bf and I and we were hooked pretty fast! I feel like AMC prestige dramas are great and all, but HCF feels like its almost above the standards for those? It commits to critiquing toxic masculinity in a way BB or MM never quite did, and ends up being a secret feminist show in the 2nd season

[@timtuff7683]

I love this show, and the series finale may be the most satisfying I've ever seen. This is an excellent review that I will use to help convince people to watch it. Thanks for putting it together!

[@ana-isabel]

Aw thank you! Glad you enjoyed my review, and I couldn't agree more - this show was fantastic from beginning to end. Such a fitting a well done finale (and the use of Peter Gabriel was perfect).

[@ludwigvansolo1999]

Not only is H&CF criminally underrated, so is this video of yours praising how awesome it is

[@ana-isabel]

Aw you're sweet - thank you! Really wish more people would get into this gem!!!

[@disco.lemonade]

IMDB's 8.4 is about right. Good show overall.

[@CriticalThinker-42]

Excellent Video, thanks! I was the nerd sitting at the other end of your table. I loved HCF but missed the last season when it aired. I started watching to relive the tech but got caught up in the characters. Will be watching it all again, and tracking down Mr. Robot and HumAns.

[@MoloSolo]

I love this show! I'm watching it for the third time!

[@nessfoenander4168]

Thank you for making and posting this review!! I’ve been telling everyone I know that they HAVE to watch this show! And now I can send them this to help explain why! It’s as close to perfect television as I’ve seen in a very long time.

[@ana-isabel]

Aww thank you! 🤗 And I can't agree more. This series was stellar - from the actors to the writing to its stylish direction. I couldn't help but recommend it to everyone I knew too haha; hope you convince a few new watchers from your end! 😉

[@BigBossBeta]

I just finished the finale, Ten of Swords. Basically spent the past 4 days binge watching it and ... Wow. I can’t believe I slept on this show when it aired. Anyways, I loved your review! “Computers aren’t the thing. They’re the thing that gets us to the thing.”

[@ana-isabel]

Absolutely loved that quote, and how it spoke to the broader theme of the show: human connection. Glad you liked my review of the series and super happy to hear you enjoyed it just as much! 😊 Ten of Swords was such a fitting and beautiful sendoff. Can't believe I overlooked it while it was still airing, either; but boy am I glad to have picked it up!

[@hv8546]

after Mad Men, I just couldn't watch anything, but then, I found this series the soundtrack is worth watching by itself, great characters and amazing actors

[@MaddSketchonline]

one of my favorite show, they did such a great job in taking us through the history of tech. also the last season is wow.

[@irahazda]

I will use your video every time I am trying to convince someone to watch Halt and Catch Fire. Great review! Fantastic editing!

[@kasunlee7489]

Mackenzie Davis is the best actor I've ever seen for playing an socialy awkward, authority hating, messy nerd character. I loved the hell outta her performance in this series

[@davelemon6908]

Im watching it for the third time in a row, just started. The 6th time over all

[@strage88]

I had to come back to this video so I could leave this comment. I started watching this series a week ago and I'm on season 2 now. Thank you for the recommendation, I'm looking forward to watching other shows you may recommend in future videos.

[@jeffmagic32]

Great characters and top-notch acting. I particularly enjoyed the performances by Scoot McNairy, Toby Huss and Kerry Bishé.

[@ana-isabel]

Scoot McNairy was my favorite performance! (With Lee Pace being a veeeery close second 👌)

[@JulianaFigueira]

I tried to make friends watch it, but I can't sell nothing T.T it was so underrated

[@ana-isabel]

Same problem here haha! I don't even think this video's been able to convince anyone in my circle, lol.

[@ddave7026]

"Those brothers from Sunnyvale, remember? They were, like, six booths away from us in '81." ℙ𝕣𝕠𝕥𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕩 ℙ𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤

[@Christobanistan]

Donna is still the perfect human. It's simply impossible to get more beautiful than that, AND she's an engineer! ♥

[@Truebeckons]

Okay, on paper this show only piqued my interest. Upon Viewing, It had my full attention. I just finished the final two episodes today and Wow that show was great. You really can feel how character driven the show is with each episode. One of my all-time favorite moments was Gordon's speech about bringing along The Giant to go kill it at Comdex in season one, and "Red Eyes " plays on the way. This show is truly criminally underrated. 🤙

[@ana-isabel]

It truly is - and I absolutely agree! It's not often I find a show that grips me with such compelling characters and their arcs - but this was a masterclass in that. Loved that scene as well - my favourites were definitely "that" moment with Gordon in S4 (one of the most beautifully done deliveries for that type of scene 💖) and the entire sequence in season one when they get the group together for Comdex. Such a fantastic series. :)

[@Truebeckons]

@@ana-isabel You're absolutely right! That scene was really well done, and had a ton of weight and you can really emotionally resonate in it's delivery. The dynamics between character's is constantly changing while also growing, like Bos and Cameron's relationship. I thought you gave a great review and look forward to more of them for other titles.🤙

[@ana-isabel]

@@Truebeckons Aw thank you so much! I find these reviews are pretty good outlets for all my fangirl high once I've finished watching an amazing show haha - so I'm super glad this one was able to resonate with you. 😄 And ahhh, I thought Cam and Bos' relationship was one of the best ones in the show; the evolution of their friendship was one of the most moving plotlines of the series, imo. 😊

[@aladdindinnk5854]

The best show I ever seen in 2020!! Love all the characters.

[@ChadKeck]

Thank you for making this video! HACF is in my top 3 all-time series :)

[@ana-isabel]

No worries, glad you enjoyed it! HACF is absolutely among my top shows too. :) What are the others in your top three?

[@theaceco]

I don't know if it's partly due to being a software engineer who loves tech/silicon valley history, but this is one of the greatest shows ever made imo. One of the rare ones that I can happily rewatch over and over.

[@celadonsound1001]

Amazing review, you captured the spirit of the show perfectly. Thanks for this, will use to sell the show to others! 🙃 as a tech entrepreneur myself the show resonated with me to the core

[@ana-isabel]

Aww thank you, so glad to hear! 😊 Hope you bring more people on the bandwagon! I'm not even a techie, but the storytelling and characters had a greater impact on me than most other shows :3 So well done.

[@blazejs76]

Watched it 3 times during just 1 month. And I say all 4 seasons.

[@jimgriffin96]

10/10. As a boomer who lived in Texas and experienced this (and programmed a little in ALC - where the term HCF came from) -- it's a great nostalgic look back. I love the flawed characters a lot, especially Cameron.

[@ana-isabel]

Cameron was definitely a favorite of mine, second only to Gordon. :) The flawed characters gave the show so much depth. Glad to hear you found it a nostalgic viewing experience; from what I gather from the other comments, it was a pretty accurate portrayal, too!

[@eugeneslament20]

I watched this show 6 times, all 4 seasons. I can't properly explain why I'm obsessed with it. I absolutely love this show, and netflix recently removed it from their list, and you can't buy it on dvd/blueray.

[@EclecticDD]

i'm watching the series for the second time within 2 weeks of watching it the first time

[@ana-isabel]

Haha niceee - I think I did pretty much the same thing! 😆

[@MayaTraykova]

@@ana-isabel Same here!

[@TUB_HUB]

Bro go get a life

[@petalchild]

YESSS I have loved this show from the beginning and I'm so glad it's on Netflix now so that more people can appreciate it!

[@DanielleWhite]

I just started rewatching this show. I first found it back in early 2017, there's a way to pass some time at my apartment during my divorce. I didn't expect much for it, then I remember waiting with bated breath for the final season to go up. I work in tech, and was exposed to it back in the mid-1980s due to my mother being in the field, so this show was very relatable in a lot of ways, but I also liked how it wasn't just another tech show.

[@ana-isabel]

Very true about it not being "just another tech show" - one of my favourite things about it was how it explored more realistic themes of ambition and failure rather than just having a bunch of mega-smart tech geniuses do their mega-smart tech thing (which can be entertaining in its own right, but HCF's more character-focused approach really sets it apart from the rest). I also loved how it showed a real cutthroat portrayal of the industry. Happy to hear it was a relatable viewing experience - I can only imagine the greater impact it must've had, having actually been through it. :)

[@DanielleWhite]

I also loved how it showed that ego and decision more by who said it than what was proposed were factors. I've noticed in the industry that a lot of dislike is about that fact. I lived it a lot in my early career. The first 15 years were in university IT where I was by far the youngest and was the only one in my department who wasn't a parent. I ended up stuck at junior job classification because of that (once, at a well known US public R1 university, I was denied a promotion because "it would be unfair to your co-workers" and rhetoric about them having families to support.) The field as a whole loves to claim "marketplace of ideas" and such but that's so much secondary.

[@juice6573]

Thank you for this video! Great review video for this show, I will send a link to this to everyone I know and isnt convinced yet to give this phenomenal show a try! I just finished binge watching it in 3 days and I completely agree with you in every point! One of the best show I've ever seen, I was literally glued to the screen XD Its so underrated and thats such a shame! I am so happy I found it and your video!

[@ana-isabel]

I'm glad, and thank *you*! I can see this becoming a future cult classic :)

[@Krennthief]

Halt and Catch Fire truly is a show that tricks you into thinking it’s another gritty prestige drama and then later reveals that it was about Love the whole time and I think that’s beautiful

[@david3119wmoore]

Excellent review. There are very few series I have watched twice, this and Hannibal being along them. HACF has got to be one of the tightest television shows ever made and its distillation of the computer revolution is into a 40 hour fictional drama accurately captures so many things.

[@ana-isabel]

Aw thank you - and I completely agree! Fast-paced, gripping, and with some of the most beautifully written characters I've seen on TV. I wasn't alive to see the 70s or 80s haha, but their depiction of the technology's evolution at the time compelled me enough to look into the innovations of the era myself. Definitely hope to see more stuff from the creators of this show :)

[@roberthimself7813]

This show is delicious. The acting, writing and characters are so beautiful. Love everything about this.

[@HiAnNutti]

Please let me APPLAUD ALL of you that have commented! My experience of this series(over three days,40 epps) has been a collective of your comments, absolutely! Not only that though, I experienced the complete saga in my lifetime. From Diodes & the first Transistor(Bells Lab.-Shockley US & Sinclair in UK.) at 8yro, in1947. My first "Crystal Set". They transposed the "grid" from the glass Triode valve and shoved it into a semiconductor "Diode" between Anode and Kathode, called it the "Gate". Bell's team won the Nobel Prize for that. The rest is History that led to..... eventually computors. Yep, I'm 81 now! And that series was a reflection of my life!

[@chameleonhrt]

I watched it while it aired and I loved it. Despite not being very technical, I was drawn to it because I work with computers (graphic design). It's great that they explained things too.

[@ALCPEREZ]

I saw this show's first season when it premiered before I lost cable due to budget issues, so I didn't get to see any more until it was released on Netflix. I really loved this show. I grew up in San Antonio and we owned a Texas Instruments 99/4A home computer, which was made in Houston. I thought this was about TI, so I was curious. That first computer we got led my dad to stop being a mechanic to become a programmer, which he still successfully does to this day. We made our own games on it, played fun knock-offs of Pac Man called Munch Man, and my all-time favorite pre-Nintendo era game Hunt the Wumpus. Good times. I would love to see more of these videos, thank you!

[@ayushshaw2065]

I don't know how your channel suddenly pop up on my KZbin , but it's actually nice.. I was thinking about watching this series, but after this video I'm definitely watching Halt and Catch Fire immediately... Keep posting videos relating to tv series & films... I'm crazy af when it's come to tv series & films...love you ♥... from incredible India

[@ana-isabel]

Aw, happy to hear the YT algorithm has blessed me somehow haha! 😄 Thank you so much for the lovely comment - hoping you get hooked onto the show (I definitely did from the first ep)! And ahh yes, will definitely be sharing a ton more tv/movie-related videos since they take up a huge chunk of my life hahaha 😛 Stay tuned!

[@ayushshaw2065]

@@ana-isabel sure.. will'be waiting for your next video..

[@BrokenDarkFire]

I love this show! I also discovered it in 2020 during my “oh my god, so this is what prestige television is?! I love it” phase and I’m rewatching before it leaves netflix next month. If you haven’t seen The Americans, it’s similar to HACF in that the characters are very flawed but they are fascinating to watch, and you end up rooting for characters to do bad things to survive, and it HURTS.

[@ana-isabel]

I've seen The Americans, and despite a slow couple of seasons I love it! ❤ You absolutely feel for the characters despite the awful things they're forced to do. Thought it wrapped up pretty well too.

[@maggiemcfly5267]

OMG I love this show! I watched it in its original run and let me tell you, waiting to know if it was gonna be renewed every year was torture! I firmly believe it lived so long thanks to the amount of success The Walking Dead was giving to AMC. Seriously, with those ratings any other show would've been cancelled by the 3th episode, the fact that it got 4 seasons was a miracle! I wish I could watch it again for the first time ❤️

[@deepannathan7049]

Hi. Thanks for this video. Seen it twice as well. Loved it! Cried twice..... such a good show

[@ana-isabel]

Ahhh I feel you! The finale was so beautifully and emotionally done. Bittersweet feelings all around. I'll definitely give it a third round sometime in the future haha.

[@michaelb6349]

great review! I watched the first two seasons while they were coming out thought it had been cancelled after that until netflix picked it up!

[@lorag7362]

Love this show, old enough to have lived it, lucky enough to have viewed the original run on AMC. Watching it currently on Netflix and it has lost none of its impact.

[@ana-isabel]

Ahhh damn, I wish I could've caught it's original AMC run; can't believe this awesome series flew completely under my radar at the time. And amazing how you got to live through the evolution too - I'm sure it adds a ton more to the viewing experience 😊

[@deckard210000]

Thank god. So glad you gave this the due it deserves. This is the best show ever made.

[@disposablepal]

yes! love it, i kept trying to get people to watch this but no one listened. i jumped right into because i work in IT but also Mackenzie Davis and Lee Pace at the same time kept me glued to the screen with my fill of crushes. so glad it got to end on its own terms, i would have been heartbroken if they got canceled between seasons.

[@Wrcallofduty420]

This show came out of nowhere. I think it premiered during the walking dead break back in mid 2015 I believe or 2014.. and for some reason, I sat down and saw the first episode because the intro to the show was so cool and I love 80s related things so I gave it a shot at least the first 10 or 15 minutes hooked me. end up watching the entire series and I’m glad I did

[@blinkenlights]

Thank you for talking about this. I watched all 4 seasons when they first aired, and it's an absolutely amazing character bassd show, and more people need to see this. Also, I'd totally go gay for Lee Pace.

[@ana-isabel]

If I were a dude, I'm sure I would too 😎 And I couldn't agree more! I can see this becoming a beloved cult classic in the years to come. 😊 Thanks for stopping by and watching my review - happy to meet another fellow fan 👋

[@sweetlows1]

I freaking loved this show when it was airing and was so bummed it wasn't getting attention, I did an essay on it on why it needed to be recognized along side silicon valley. I'm rewatching it now and oh man does it hold up. I almost never rewatch shows but I'm loving it. it seems to be picking up some traction the last year or so, I noticed it in the "popular shows" kind of category on Netflix, rightfully so!

[@s977382]

It’s one of my favorite shows ever, for,all the reasons Ana mentions. Truly underrated!

[@SamanthaIreneYTube]

The first time I watched this show, it was during its premier and I think I lasted until about the mid season. I just fell out of interest with it. Weirdly, it was at the back of my mind and I binged the whole show when it was put on a streaming platform, and I ended up watching the whole thing twice. Now it’s back in my mind and I think I can go for another viewing.

[@ana-isabel]

So glad you went and gave it another chance! 💛 I think I'm due for a third viewing myself :D

[@LiamLagan]

Great review, just for balance, if you ARE tech obsessed; each series focusses on a different tech evolution so each episode one has you going "oh cool this series is about xyz" in a similar way you got with the Wire being about different parts of society

[@DarrenHughes-Hybrid]

I love this show. I remember these days! I was a little younger than the characters, but I remember the 1st PC, the 1st Laptop, the 1st Mac, etc. and so this show hits directly at my heart memories. I also agree 100% with Ana assessment of the characters (mostly because she can say it way better then I can), but it a great ride, following these characters along! But when is Season 3 and 4 coming out on DVE/Bluray? I need to own this show forever!

[@Stephensouraski]

Binged watched it after putting it off for so long. Definitely loved the series. Loved Davis in this and Station 11.

[@fireball0762]

i am going back to uni, for programming because when i was younger i loved computers. Still do but we give up so much and never really get to where we should have. This show inspired me

[@palexstarks5553]

I happened upon this while on vacation and just ended up binge watching three seasons. I'am sorry,everyone on the show does a excellent job but the actor that plays Joe Mcmillan...Lee Pace is phenomenal,some of the best acting I've witnessed in years.

[@ana-isabel]

Omg yes, Lee Pace literally IS Joe McMillan. One of the best and most memorable portrayals of a character I've seen on TV!

[@Combatwhombat]

Growing up as someone who dialied into bbc, seeing aol and all the various well researched and nuanced references in this series was amazing. It treats much of the ongoing evolution of technology as secondary to the story. I actually had a Data General One Model II... (look it up if you watched the series and it might blow your mind). The evolution and the specific part of it in tech's history were not the objective of the storytelling here. This is a wild west story in a near history that isn't so stretched.

[@Phobos_Nyx]

I don't know how you expect me to watch the whole video if you use that picture of Lee at 1:04. Like how am I supposed to get past that? I discovered this show 3 weeks ago and since then I saw all 4 season at least 3 times. It's safe to say I have no life anymore, I've been Lee Paced, there is no turning back now!

[@japancash]

Love the series when it was on TV. I was going through a few things in life. Probably going to watch it again end to end. Thanks for your review.

[@ana-isabel]

Thank _you_ for watching! I recently just rewatched it end-to-end myself and it's still just as brilliant an experience as my first watch. :D

[@stickhrk]

The views on this video is criminally underatted

[@RegginaldRiglet]

If you like this show. You MUST watch next. “Kingdom (mma)” all seasons on Netflix. It’s THE greatest never talked about show of all time. Superb job on this video. Editing, your script. Very well produced

[@Bekka_Noyb]

♥ Halt & Catch Fire. Wanted to add that it's also very (and kinda surprisingly given the era) LGBT friendly. Few shows I'd suggest you check out: The Americans, Black Sails, The Newsroom. Also Once & Again (if you can find it).

[@ana-isabel]

Ahhh thank you so much for these recommendations! 😍 I'm actually currently watching The Americans (just started the fourth season last night) and its been fantastic so far. Will definitely check out the other stuff you've listed!

[@ntmdisco]

came across this series and liked it. Brought back some memories of the 80s computers. Would also recomend "The micro men". This one is similiar but set in the UK with two rival computer companies Sinclair who made the spectrum and Acorn who made the BBC micro and Electron

[@smthngintherain]

I will go as far as saying that it's the best show of the 2010s decade

[@kylorenkardashian79]

I love this show. I'm in my 3rd run through. only other series I've watched more is Breaking Bad (5) I'm probably autistic.

[@champstar9669]

Excellent review. Such a great series! My spouse and I watched all 4 seasons in a few days. As entrepreneurs, we both related to the blending of business & personal challenges & triumphs. We both wished we had more friends & acquaintances like the characters in the show. Like-minded folks. Perhaps in the venture capital world, it's a nonstop parade of dynamic individuals 24/7. But in small towns in the Midwest (U.S.), it takes a minor miracle to swing a dinner party or afternoon at the beach. If you didn't sit with someone at lunch in the 8th grade, the concept of friendship is almost out of the question. The Kung Flu PLAN-demic didn't exactly help things. If you're a socially-challenged "misfit" (couple or individual)...with ambition and dreams...feel welcome to extend a friendly hello. We're always looking to expand our horizons. “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

[@champstar9669]

@Ana Isabel, you remind me of when I skipped school "many moons ago" to go to a comic + sportscards sales convention. I know very little about comics. Got a 'kiss on the cheek' photo with the Vampirella girl/rep though. Guessing that would be a role + look that you'd be perfect for. Leave it to HaCF to unite people from such different walks of life. Didn't even know "cosplay" was a word or thing before today.

[@6lucario]

So sad I missed the third season when it came out because my network dropped the channel, even had the website up when it would air for extra stuff they would put there live lol

[@ana-isabel]

Aw, damn! Thankfully Netflix has picked it up to indulge the binge-watcher in all of us😁

[@kevinadams9468]

Proof that a good series doesn't require the never-ending recycling of the 'Usual Suspects' of Hollywood. I am tired of seeing the same people over and over in the same type-cast roles. Shows like this are needed and are refreshing.

[@dead-endjobproductions5259]

Loved this show.

[@cosmomusic]

Great review! You make us HACF fans proud. Come join our Facebook fan group facebook.com/groups/724546927609997/?ref=share

[@sabbirs2423]

Agreed, really good show. Caught me by surprise.

[@ana-isabel]

As it did with me! Glad you enjoyed it as well. 😊

[@userasdf]

Was on my never ending list but gonna finally move it up and watch it next. :)

[@Christobanistan]

The theme song and visuals are the best I've ever seen on any show, even better than GoT and The Sopranos.

[@akfreed6949]

I think of the show as a Dallas for the computer nerds living through the years this show is based on . It's a fun watch .😎👽🤖

[@CloveCoast]

this show is SO underrated, I’m sad that it’s over and I’m sad I don’t know anyone else to share it with. I’m gonna miss the Mutiny gang..