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Halt and Catch Fire

2014 – 2017Show4 seasons40 episodesTV-14

Drama
83
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb8.4Metacritic758.5Rotten Tomatoes90%91%

A nostalgic, cathartic drama series about technology and history, with standout performances and characters.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Skip it if you want fast pacing · you want to half-watch while scrolling

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs or scares.

Shows with

Episodes

4 seasons · 40 episodes · best: S4E7 "Who Needs a Guy" 9.4

Episodes

8.1
8.1
8.3
8.6

Story

What are you searching for?

During the rise of the PC era in the early 1980s, an unlikely trio - a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy - take personal and professional risks in the race to build a computer that will change the world as they know it.

Feels like

  • Silicon Valley Origin Story
  • Deep Character Study
  • Nostalgic Tech History
  • Found Family Dynamics
  • Intellectual Drama
  • Human Cost of Innovation
  • Period-Accurate Atmosphere
  • Emotional Catharsis
  • Slow-Burn Narrative
  • Philosophical Tech Critique

Cast

24 of 194 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
Juan José Campanella, Karyn Kusama, Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Written by
Jamie Pachino, Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell
Produced by
Jeff Freilich, Zack Whedon, Alison Tatlock
Music by
Paul Haslinger

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

June 1, 2014 · October 14, 2017 · Ended

First aired
June 1, 2014
Last aired
October 14, 2017
Status
Ended
Length
4 seasons · 40 episodes
Age rating
TV-14
Content
Strong Language, Drug Use
Genres
Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Available in
36 countries

Tropes

Cue Card, Manipulative Bastard, Driven to Suicide +9

  • Cue Card
  • Manipulative Bastard
  • Driven to Suicide
  • Intergenerational Friendship
  • One-Hit Wonder
  • Know When to Fold 'Em
  • Wide-Eyed Idealist
  • Wham Episode
  • Lens Flare
  • It's All About Me
  • Chekhov's Gun
  • Imagine Spot

12 of 176 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

7 questions, like "Where can I stream Halt and Catch Fire?"

Questions about Halt and Catch Fire

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Halt and Catch Fire?

PhiloAMC+The RokuSpectrum On Demand

In the United States, Halt and Catch Fire streams on Philo, AMC+, and Spectrum On Demand, and it is free with ads on The Roku. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 32 other countries.

Is Halt and Catch Fire worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83 (IMDb 8.4, Rotten Tomatoes 90%, and Metacritic 75).

Does Halt and Catch Fire get better after season 1?

Yes: season 1 has an IMDb average of 8.1, and season 4 peaks at 8.6. The highest-rated episode is Who Needs a Guy (season 4, episode 7) at 9.4, and the lowest is High Plains Hardware (season 1, episode 3) at 7.5.

Is Halt and Catch Fire okay for kids?

TV-14Strong languageDrug use

Yes: it's rated TV-14 in the United States for strong language and drug use, and the viewing guide lists it for family nights.

Is Halt and Catch Fire plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and dialogue centrality (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Can I half-watch Halt and Catch Fire?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for complexity and 8 for philosophical.

What tropes does Halt and Catch Fire use?

Cue CardManipulative BastardDriven to SuicideIntergenerational FriendshipOne-Hit WonderKnow When to Fold 'EmWide-Eyed IdealistWham EpisodeLens FlareIt's All About MeChekhov's GunImagine Spotand 164 more

TV Tropes lists 176 tropes for it, including Cue Card, Manipulative Bastard, and Driven to Suicide.