
Halt and Catch Fire
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Halt and Catch Fire is set roughly one year after IBM all but corners the market with the release of its first major product – the IBM PC. In this fictional drama, a former IBM executive, Joe MacMillan plans to reverse engineer the flagship product of his former employer and forces his current company, Cardiff Electric, into the personal computer race. MacMillan enlists the help of Gordon Clark, a great engineer whose unrealized dreams of creating a revolutionary product have created tension in his marriage to Donna, and Cameron Howe, a volatile prodigy who puts her future in jeopardy to join MacMillan's rogue PC project. Halt and Catch Fire thrives on the spirit of innovation and explores what it's like to stand at the forefront of something world-changing and work towards it, no matter the risk.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01
Ten of SwordsDonna celebrates a milestone with her closest allies; Cameron contemplates saying goodbye; Joe confronts an uncertain future. - 02
You Are Not SafeDiane, Bos and Donna hit the road in hopes of building support for Mutiny; everyone else awaits the big day; Joe approaches Cam for a favor. - 03
The ThresholdJoe and Ryan face the consequences of Joe's decision; Gordon experiences a crisis of conscience; Donna and Cameron fight about the future.
Cast
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01
Season's bestI/OJune 1, 2014The Texan company Cardiff Electronics gets a new employee from New York. He's apparently working for IBM, but after the he gets the new job - S01E02
FUDJune 8, 2014Joe's team must overcome internal differences and start building the new machine. - S01E03
High Plains HardwareJune 15, 2014Despite IBM's raid on Cardiff Electric's clients, Joe has convinced those concerned, most specifically Gordon and Cameron, to continue with - S01E04
Close to the MetalJune 22, 2014With a mid-project success with the BIOS code, Joe makes two bold moves within the office. First, he destroys the book that contains the IBM - S01E05
AdventureJune 29, 2014The Wall Street Quarterly article and Cameron being able to complete the BIOS code have created renewed public interest in the PC project, u - S01E06
LandfallJuly 6, 2014Cameron and Gordon clash over their differing plans for the computer's operating system while Joe struggles to connect with his colleagues. - S01E07
GiantJuly 13, 2014The next phase of the PC project is design. Believing it could be aesthetically beautiful and not just another beige box, Joe is able to cal - S01E08
The 214sJuly 20, 2014Scandal rocks Cardiff Electric as the team finalizes preparations for COMDEX. Bosworth makes a sacrifice for the good of the PC program. - S01E09
Up Helly AaJuly 27, 2014Unforeseen adversaries and new complications threaten to derail all that the Cardiff Electric team has worked for at COMDEX. - S01E10
1984August 3, 2014As Gordon and Joe prepare to ship the Giant, a suspicious defect calls their partnership into question. Cameron takes her future into her ow
Season02
- S02E01
SETIMay 31, 2015In the Season 2 opener, Cameron and Donna's fledgling gaming company, Mutiny, finds itself at a crossroads. Meanwhile, Joe and Gordon are re - S02E02
New CokeJune 7, 2015After meeting Sara's father, Joe begins a new job. Meanwhile, Gordon grapples with his new freedom as Donna is blindsided by Cameron's surpr - S02E03
The Way InJune 14, 2015The Clarks receive a surprising invitation as Bosworth tries to reconnect with his former life. Meanwhile, a problem from within Mutiny thre - S02E04
Play with FriendsJune 21, 2015Joe and Gordon reunite to make Joe's vision a reality. Meanwhile, at Mutiny, tensions between Cameron and Donna run high in the aftermath of - S02E05
Extract and DefendJune 28, 2015Cameron and Joe cross paths again, putting Cameron in a tailspin. Meanwhile, Gordon searches for connection as he processes difficult news. - S02E06
10Broad36July 5, 2015Gordon returns to California to reconnect with his brother, Henry, as Joe uses his newfound leverage to change Wheeler's thinking about comp - S02E07
Working for the ClampdownJuly 12, 2015Gordon and Donna harbor secrets from one another as Gordon launches a new venture. Meanwhile, at Mutiny, an acquisition puts Cameron's princ - S02E08
Season's bestLimboJuly 19, 2015Cameron and Tom try to come to terms at Mutiny's user picnic. Meanwhile, Gordon searches for answers as Joe and Sara say goodbye to Dallas. - S02E09
KaliJuly 26, 2015Left reeling by the launch of a rival, Mutiny takes measures to ensure its survival. Meanwhile, Gordon pays a price in an attempt to quell h - S02E10
Heaven is a PlaceAugust 2, 2015In the Season 2 finale, Gordon aids Joe as the Clark family descends into crisis. Meanwhile, Cameron envisions a new future for Mutiny that
Season03Best season
- S03E01
Valley of the Heart's DelightAugust 23, 2016In the third-season premiere, Donna and Cameron explore their options to expand beyond chat. Meanwhile, Gordon settles in at Mutiny; and Joe - S03E02
One Way or AnotherAugust 23, 2016While Cameron and Donna struggle to find venture capital, Joe hires a key coder, leaving the rest of the team at a loss. - S03E03
Flipping the SwitchAugust 30, 2016Gordon and Donna's personal life bleeds into work, causing tension at the office; Joe meets with the MacMillan board. - S03E04
Rules of Honorable PlaySeptember 6, 2016A game of laser tag teaches Gordon the importance of teamwork; Donna and Cameron disagree on their acquisition. - S03E05
Yerba BuenaSeptember 13, 2016Donna and Gordon treat themselves to a vacation at home instead of camping; Joe and Ryan have a revelation; Cameron and Bos return to Texas. - S03E06
And She WasSeptember 20, 2016An offer to purchase Mutiny creates tension; Gordon and Cam bond over video games while Donna has a weekend to herself; Joe faces off agains - S03E07
The ThresholdSeptember 27, 2016Joe and Ryan face the consequences of Joe's decision; Gordon experiences a crisis of conscience; Donna and Cameron fight about the future. - S03E08
Season's bestYou Are Not SafeOctober 4, 2016Diane, Bos and Donna hit the road in hopes of building support for Mutiny; everyone else awaits the big day; Joe approaches Cam for a favor. - S03E09
NIMOctober 11, 2016Donna tries to bring everyone together at Comdex with her vision of the internet's future; Gordon faces a strong-willed Joanie. - S03E10
NeXTOctober 11, 2016Donna's vision creates a spirited discussion over the next big thing, and how to achieve it. The end result may not make everyone happy.
Season04
- S04E01
So It GoesAugust 19, 2017Gordon enjoys success while Joe works to keep their web project afloat; Cameron extends a business trip; Donna launches a new venture. - S04E02
Signal to NoiseAugust 19, 2017Joe and Cameron talk on the phone; Donna promotes her assistant; Gordon's business buckles under pressure from a larger competitor. - S04E03
MiscellaneousAugust 26, 2017Cameron promotes her game at an industry conference; Donna squares off against old rivals; Gordon struggles to support Joe's newest idea. - S04E04
Tonya and NancySeptember 9, 2017Cameron buys a plot of land to recenter; Joe and Gordon hire a team of websurfers to map the web; Donna focuses her team on the mission ahea - S04E05
Nowhere ManSeptember 16, 2017Donna struggles with suspicion; Bosworth hits a breaking point; Joe confesses to Gordon while Cameron faces past mistakes. - S04E06
A Connection is MadeSeptember 23, 2017Donna makes a play for a heavy-hitter; Gordon confronts his daughter about an issue at school; Cameron finds a new fan; Joe sees a new side - S04E07
Who Needs a GuySeptember 30, 2017Joe and Gordon discuss Comet's future; Donna takes a vacation; a new collaborator challenges Cameron; Bos and Diane make a life-altering cho - S04E08
GoodwillOctober 7, 2017Cameron helps Donna pack up; Bos makes his famous chili; Joe helps Haley recover a memorable keep sake; Gordon and Donna fight. - S04E09
SearchOctober 14, 2017Donna faces a professional crossroads; Joanie takes a trip; Joe unveils Comet's new look; Cameron asks a favor from a one-time collaborator. - S04E10
Season's bestTen of SwordsOctober 14, 2017Donna celebrates a milestone with her closest allies; Cameron contemplates saying goodbye; Joe confronts an uncertain future.
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