To the best of my recollection, no show has dealt with a major character death as well as this episode of Halt and Catch Fire.
Of the 5 principle characters (Joe, Gordon, Cameron, Donna, and Boss), it's safe to say that no character is as beloved as Gordon. He is hard working, genuine, and deeply care about people around him. He raises the bar for others to emulate. In my opinion, he's more responsible for bringing positive transformations for other 4 characters than anyone else.
All untimely death of a beloved character is filled with regrets. Haley is no doubt the most impacted. In the next remaining episodes, we will see how others will pickup the pieces, work toward healing each other, and bring "re-launch" into fruition in honor of Gordon.
Halt and Catch Fire is always beautifully shot, and unexpected lens flare in the middle of the episode was particularly effective (and I speak as someone who is sick and tired of lens flare tricks). It really stood out as something oddly unusual, foreshadowing Gordon's flashback later on.
The clash between Donna and Joe was my second favorite scene in the episode. In this final season, Joe has been the surprise understanding voice, always patient, always listening, and caring. He lost some of his composure with Donna, but the clash brought honesty and start the process of bringing Donna back into the circle.
And finally, Bos. His relationship with Cameron has always been very special. They fill much needed void they longed for. In a way, all five principle characters in Halt and Catch Fire are after filling a void. Donna falsely let her her ambitions take over, in a pursuit of filling her void. To Gordon, it has always been about family and friends. And Joe has realized the same by working with Gordon and Haley, bringing immense peace.
Silicon Valley is and has been that second wave California Gold Rush. At one point or another, all five principle characters got that piece of gold. But their dream is something else.
This penultimate episode could stand on its own as the series finale in its profound messages, beauty, and amazing performances.
Haley's heartbreak. Donna's cry disguised as she shouts "Yahoo!" Bos and Diane's touching dance.
My favorite scene is a final exchange between Joe and Cameron:
Cameron: I wanted it to work. I wanted us to work.
Joe: Yeah? Me, too.
Cameron: It did... for awhile.
Joe: For awhile. (Smiles) Yeah.
Joe: Thing that gets you to a thing.
Cameron: Huh?
Joe: It was you.
Joe: It was always you.
This episode really drove the emotional impact of last weeks event home, in a way that is at times hard to watch, because it feels incredibly familiar. No one knows what to say, what to do, and dealing with the sometimes mundane tasks that come with the death of someone. Say what you want, but the Whedons know how to write episodes about death, this one feels very close to Buffys "The Body".
You gotta love Boss's Chilli secret though, I honestly did not expect to laugh out loud this episode.
WHEN SHE HUGGED BEN!!!! I think that was one of the most emotional scenes I’ve ever watched in any show! It truly made me cry!!! Last episode when Ben was watching that video about feeling lonely made me realize that’s why he was fine being Arabella’s roommate and fine with paying the rent, cause he felt lonely and that way he had some company but now it’s more like Arabella realizing he’s a friend so that was such a cute heartwarming moment because it also meant Arabella was ready to somehow move on with her life and her friends and the good things in her life!!! That scene is for the ages!!!
I was more than okay with the first outcome! I was super nervous for them because like trusting Leonora to be responsible for the main part of the plan? And then Arabella’s disguise was ridiculous! She looked amazing for like a regular night out but for being lowkey it didn’t work. And then I realized what was going on and it was just an emotional rollercoster cause like no matter the outcome it wouldn’t give back to Arabella what was taken from her. And then that scene when she says goodbye to her abuser (I don’t wanna name him cause he doesn’t deserve it), like she commands him to leave and at the same time drags him out, that scene was so powerful.
A great closure to the story, I’m glad Michaela is safe and in a better place and can express herself and be recognized as brilliant and talented and strong!! Thank you for making this show cause it gave so many people a voice and representation and a community!
This season, though still very good, has been a bit of Groundhog Day in plotting, but this is easily its best episode so far, finally advancing forward with ferocious force. More shading in tragedy instead of wallowing in variations of cringe comedy too (only Kendall has been getting most of this during the season's latter half; the convo between Shiv and her mother here is great). Plus, after almost an entire season of one-way attack, Shiv plunging the knife into Roman when she has the chance is so satisfying to watch lol.
Holy forking shirt! The acting on this one was amazing! Every single one of them, but especially Lee Pace (Joe). He made me feel what his character was feeling every moment. And Toby Huss (Bos), what can i say, he didn't get much time, but it was INTENSE. Even Anna Chlumsky (Katie), when she froze where Gordon died... the look on her face will haunt me for a while...
This episode doesn't have anything special, it's very well done, but nothing special nonetheless. But the actors made it amazing.
