TV Review: Silicon Valley: ‘To Build a Better Beta

Beta’s are tricky, but so is caring.

They did it. Pied Piper is finally in Beta. The final moments of To Build a Better Beta felt so good. Like after two and a half years with the Silicon Valley crew, our support has helped them accomplish it. It helped that the episode reinforced our feelings for the Pied Piper crew.

Bachmanities is doomed… or is it? Jared’s finding felt unearned and saved Erlich from an impossible position, where he was left with nothing but one cannonball. This moment only worked as a slight because of the position it put Erlich in in the second half. This season is testing him. What’s his allegiance to Richard and Pied Piper? Does it run deeper than money?

Gilfoyle’s trick drove Gavin’s narcissism to a new level as Hooli was shut down completely for no reason. That whole plot was remained removed from the A plot of this season, so that connecting string was hopefully a promise of future confrontation. Gavin’s desire to win, and win on his terms, has always been his downfall. This time he may have made a crucial mistake.

Dinesh and Gilfoyle were engaged in the classic popularity contest. Dinesh seems to be working towards something this season, perhaps a reassurance of some kind that he hasn’t got yet. Nothing really ever works out for him and, unlike the apathetic Gilfoyle, he cares a lot. When Jared said “you are each others best friend” the simultaneous “f*ck you Jared” provided a hearty laugh, but also reinforced the point. Jared didn’t need to say that to make it the point of the episode, but the fact that he did just brought them closer. And I mean, that’s what Jared does. He cares… it’s why he has so many friends.

Monica’s reaction to the beta seemed like a crucial set-up. She represents the average user and for a tech company that tends to operate within a close group of associates within the valley, that demographic is vital. So when she said “I passed on Slack” it didn’t make much sense. Was Richard supposed to completely disregard her the way she did? Was this moment supposed to bring them closer? It felt arbitrary to have her hold such disdain for the product and chalk it all up to her ‘not knowing tech.’ It didn’t change much for the flow of the episode and felt like an excuse to get her and Richard talking.

So yes, To Build a Better Beta kept the status quo. Nothing went tragically wrong. The largest conflict for Richard was interpersonal. Erlich’s mess looks like it’s working itself out. We are in a great place for the public beta to go terribly and tragically south. And I can’t wait until it does.