New office. New problems.
Jian Yang is back and that’s maybe my biggest takeaway from “Two in the Box.” The bane of Erlich Bachman’s existence returned, but Erlich was not the only one suffering in Sunday’s episode. Pied Piper took its fair share of hits in a Silicon Valley episode full of callbacks.
Admittedly, an episode that references two of Silicon Valley’s finest dick jokes — snack dick and the best joke ever— is taking a risk in not creating many new touchstones of its own. The callbacks themselves were subtle enough, but felt like they carried us through a pretty joke barren episode. The horse sex (interhorse?) felt like it was trying a little too hard to become a new classic. Although Erlich’s “You’re not gonna get me to change my opinion about myself” and Jared’s tenant provided serious lols.
Zach Woods put on quite a show this week. Jared is an outsider to the startup culture that surrounds Pied Piper, and we don’t usually get to see into his private life. It’s satisfying that the absurdity of his situation match up with his quirkiness. It’s rare to see more outside the professional life of these characters, as their work is so intrinsically linked to their pride and egos. Jared is quite different in this regard, and I’m glad the show is exploring that.
Jimmy O. Yang was hilarious as the ever oblivious, but still scheming Jian Yang. Perhaps one of my favorite tertiary characters on television, on the account of him being a dickhead to our favorite dickhead. He is Erlcih’s Erlich and it never gets old.
A major addition to the Silicon Valley oeuvre was the sales crew. Planting the seed for humor and conflict in equal measure. As someone who spent a year at a tech startup, all I’m going to say is I think Silicon Valley knows its audience. Hyperbole is well within the show’s wheelhouse, but it uses it to such great effect.
Richard took the brunt of the abuse and it leaves us wondering if he is in for a world of hurt. We already know of all Pied Piper employees only Jared, and maybe Erlich, will stay by his side through absolute thick and thin. Problems are already arising with Barker’s road map for the company and the Nucleus pressure doesn’t ease any of that.
“Two in the Box” did not make any major leaps in plot that didn’t feel like set up. The episode was the project road map for Season 3. Let’s hope HBO is not set as off track as Pied Piper. Either way, you gotta watch out for the competition.
Tumblr’s gonna love: Jan “the man”
Best Tech Dig: Sales Guys
Biggest Asshole: Jian Yang for that ballsy table turn (and shredding the kimono)
