StartUp

This series is just something unlike any other other show... I've never felt so immersed into a show before. Went through all 3 seasons in about 2 days, it was that good. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't "perfect". Season 3 was a little rough and a bit underwhelming compared to season 2, but the finale completely made up for it. I feel like this show is even more relevant today than when it was years ago. If only I had watched this when it came out and invested in Bitcoin lol. This is a MUST watch, believe me, I have good taste. Hopefully this show blows up on Netflix, it deserves to be saved. Also, production quality was great, I usually notice the slightest errors throughout scenes and it was all done so professionally. NOW STOP WASTING TIME, GO WATCH THE SHOW AND BUY SOME GENCOIN... I MEAN BITCOIN.

..There is a lot to admire in this series. Would I recommend it, yes but with reservations. I really admired the cinematography and the sets. The interiors of the upscale houses and apartments reminded me of Michael Mann's Miami Vice. The lighting of the outdoor scenes that were shot at night was exceptional, whether it was the slums or downtown. This Miami was part of the story and its contrasts beautifully rendered.

On the other hand I felt the narrative dragged too often for my liking. There were many scenes where I felt "what was the point of that?" It was not quite plodding but pretty close to it. There are many long scenes where 2 or 3 people are just in conversation. I understand that the point of these scenes is for the viewer to gain insight into the characters personality and motivations (as they were not about developing the plot), but at the same time they needed to be witty or dramatic or insightful or clever. There are too many conversations that don't meet any of those criteria or increase our empathy.

The acting was almost uniformly good. Edi Gathegi is an actor with huge screen presence, something you can't learn, you either have it or you don't. His performance here is magnetic and one of the best things (if not the best thing) about the series.

The plethora of sex scenes (particularly in the early episodes) felt gratuitous. Sadly this seems to be fashionable, maybe it's an attempt to appeal to a certain demographic. But I don't like it.

I enjoyed the interesting and often ingenious plotting. Its an old story i.e. one innocent act sends a characters life spiralling out of control into dark and dangerous places. We have seen this many times before. But in this series we are intimate witness to 4 lives simultaneously spiralling out of control in very different but connected ways.

The final acts in episode 10 are moving and very powerful, nicely setting up a second season. Starup has the potential to develop as one of the best series in the genre. For that to happen season 2 needs to build on what is good i.e. direction, acting, plot, cinematography, lighting and remove what is less good i.e. gratuitous sex and pedestrian narrative pacing.

I look forward to season 2.

One of the most up to date and relevant dramas I've binge watched in recent times, it starts off in explosive, dramatic, hard hitting style, and continues through the series. It's super relevant with all the recent news surrounding Bitcoin, and it certainly does make you wonder how a 'different' currency can actually work, the concept is outrageous to many of us, this drama helps to bring the concept to life. Miami serves as an intriguing backdrop, it conjures up beautiful beaches and sun, but of course the reality is a different matter. Great acting all round, Edi Gathegi, Martin Freeman, Adam Brody and Otmara Marrero all shine in particular. It's hard hitting, sometimes violent, but the violence is delivered with a sense of reality, it isn't needless or done to be sensationalist, just shown in a real way. As a drama it absorbs you, and makes you want to watch just one more episode.

If I were to choose a key word to describe this show it would be evolution. On so many levels, the characters evolve as the story matures - even the content of the story is about evolving technology.

Another revolving theme would be pursuit of dreams at all cost, while up against great challenges. The science fiction show Farscape had a similar episode formula. Basically in Farscape a series of impossible challenges are presented in the first 10 minutes. The rest of the episode is spent solving these issues, generally with lives on the line. But are lives on the line? Even in that show that I love, the threat of real harm is rarely felt - just awesome entertainment!

But here in StartUp? The threats are very real. The stakes are super high. Choices effect multiple characters. And harsh, harsh scenes allow for tremendous acting opportunities. The cast is up for it! Incredible, breath taking scenes - at least one every two episodes, will reward and punish viewers. It's a Breaking Bad kinda punish though - so artistic and well executed, can't help but continue, because? The characters are so compelling!

StartUp is about a small cast of characters who are trying to get a tech business off the ground and make it viable. One character is the brains, one businessman the other muscle - but they all desire financial success for various reasons. Knowing this hardly can set the viewer up for a truly diverse cast from widely different backgrounds - all with various forms of personal baggage. Nor can one guess at the losses along the way of the journey, each blow the team takes making success more important and worth striving for. Lastly - this show does violence as well as any movie or TV show has to date. Weapons are assigned their extreme destructive potential. Violence is presented how it would actually occur -awkward, shocking - unbelievable scenes that are as stunning as they are captivating. This isn't three rich kids in the bay making an idea a reality. StartUp is a struggle for life for all the major characters.

Humor is present where it should be, as well as the whole gambit of emotions. StartUp wouldn't work without the victories either. It isn't just a slog of difficulties - I'd say StartUp is way less punishing than a Breaking Bad in general, but the hard hitting scenes pack just as much emotional punch.

My one critique is the dialog heavy nature of the show at times feels like it may be, perhaps... dragging on a bit. I guarantee that this is my opinion. I feel this way because the pacing and (all) the dialog may be needed for the show to work. These scenes set the groundwork and anticipation for the more explosive action sequences. At times the suspense is overwhelming - the viewer can really feel the big scenes coming.

StartUp has vision! The tech ideas are awesome, and like Mr. Robot - some of the choices in this show effect the entire landscape of the environment - i.e. World changing stuff. TV with big ideas is easy to like, especially if the presentation, story and characters are solid.

Lastly, as a viewer you'll know pretty quick if this is a show to invest yourself in. If the characters aren't liked a few episodes in? Maybe not your show. I was curious about the casting in the first couple episodes, but after 4 or 5? I couldn't see anyone else in these roles. All the characters are a nice mix of the performer + the writers initial abstraction.

So much to recommend! And the online format by which this exists? Pretty incredible! StartUp is a TV show well worth supporting, and seasoned viewers will be rewarded.

9/10.

There are moments in this show where the editing, cinematography and vision are pure genius, such as a fuel gage on empty, or a lone figure in basketball court. There are lazy moments as well, but less so, such as flashes of the same pair of tennis shoes shown dangling from a telegraph wire. To the overall viewing experience, not a big deal at all. The leads are all brilliant actors, and wonderfully charismatic. Lesser characters are also engaging. The action is brilliant, timely, brutal, meaningful, visceral, moving. The script is punchy, fast, true. Culturally illuminating.

My only real concern is why the leads, whom are all portrayed as highly intelligent, keep bumbling into disasters that basic prudence could have avoided. Such is the currency of great character plays and situation dramas I suppose.

Despite scratching my head once or twice, StartUp was riveting. Highly recommended.