The essential episodes of Silicon Valley
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Silicon Valley — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Attending an elaborate launch party, Richard and his computer programmer friends - Big Head, Dinesh and Gilfoyle - dream of making it big. Instead, they're living in the communal Hacker Hostel owned by former programmer Erlich, who gets to claim ten percent of anything they invent there. When it becomes clear that Richard has developed a powerful compression algorithm for his website, Pied Piper, he finds himself courted by Gavin Belson, his egomaniacal corporate boss, who offers a $10 million buyout by his firm, Hooli. But Richard holds back when well-known investor Peter Gregory makes a counteroffer.
- 02
After a celebratory party at the Hacker Hostel, Richard and Erlich learn that Peter Gregory won't pay up until they deliver a viable business plan that includes a slimmed-downed staff. A desperate Richard hires former Belson underling Jared, and they set about trying to trim the fat. While Gilfoyle and Dinesh prove essential, Big Head's place in the company is less certain.
- 03
While Gavin Belson begins to hype Nucleus, a competing compression platform, Richard learns that the name Pied Piper is already registered to a sprinkler company, forcing him to negotiate. Meanwhile, Erlich goes on a vision quest for a new company name, and Peter Gregory proves elusive when one of his companies asks for money.
- 04
Erlich convinces a graffiti artist to create Pied Piper's logo, with controversial results. Jared tries to make the company more efficient. After Gavin Belson and Peter Gregory unexpectedly come face-to-face, Richard learns that he only has eight weeks to prepare for a live demo at TechCrunch Disrupt.
- 05
Richard feels threatened when the team hires "The Carver", a hacker with a notorious reputation, to help with Pied Piper's cloud. Jared finds himself taken for a ride when he seeks out Peter Gregory's signature. Erlich and Dinesh compete for the attention of Tara, Gilfoyle's visiting girlfriend. Later, Dinesh faces a sexual dilemma.
- 06
Poised to compete at TechCrunch Disrupt, the guys of Pied Piper become worried after an impressive presentation by Gavin Belson. As Jared tries to pivot the company, Richard is inspired to make big changes at the last minute.
- 07
Season 2 begins with the Pied Piper guys being wined and dined by every venture capitalist under the sun, while Monica adjusts to a new managing partner at Raviga as the company faces major changes.
- 08
Maleant Data Systems Solutions
The Pied Piper guys struggle to phone it in; Erlich faces competition; Monica takes a stand; Gavin makes a decision about Nucleus.
- 09
Cracks in Richard's latest partnership become more apparent when he's forced to deal with an unexpected interloper. As things get more serious, Dinesh scrambles to find a way out of his new relationship. After learning of surprising developments afoot at Raviga, Monica has trouble deciding which horse to back.
- 10
On the hunt for financial support, Richard looks outside the tech bubble, and crosses paths with a contentious figure from Pied Piper's past. Erlich reaches out to Monica and Laurie in search of a new endeavor. A launch gone wrong finds Dinesh and Gilfoyle at war as Jared tries to keep the peace.
- 11
When Richard decides to stand up to a patent troll, his defiance ends up coming back to haunt him. Gilfoyle goes to desperate measures to battle Jian-Yang's new smart fridge. Jared embraces multiple identities in his quest to reduce costs. Erlich tries to hang with the alpha males.
- 12
Richard finds himself in a web of lies; Jared plans his exit; Jack bets big; Gavin plots a comeback.
- 13
Encouraged by Jared to strike up a friendship with Dana, a like-minded CEO, Richard instead finds himself charmed by Dana's COO, who challenges his loyalty to Gilfoyle. Facing limited housing options thanks to his impulse purchase, Dinesh searches for a new roommate.
- 14
The launch of PiperNet finds Monica suspicious of an early success, and the team must race against the clock as their future is threatened. Realizing he's made more enemies then friends, Richard makes a surprising move.
- 15
Richard and the Pied Piper team look to pull off a spectacular feat on the day of a big launch.
Shows like Silicon Valley
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Comedy·Drama·CrimeThe essential episodes of Fargo2014·FX
Fargo is a seasonal anthology crime drama with some dark comical elements, inspired by the film Fargo written by the Coen brothers. - 02Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of The Simpsons1989–present·FOX
The Simpsons is the longest running scripted show in US television history. - 03Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of Family Guy1999–present·FOXFamily Guy follows Peter Griffin the endearingly ignorant dad, and his hilariously offbeat family of middle-class New Englanders in Quahog, RI.
- 04ComedyThe essential episodes of South Park1997–present·Comedy Central
South Park is an adult comedy animation show centred around 4 children in the small town of south park. - 05Comedy·FamilyThe essential episodes of American Dad!2005–present·FOXIn American Dad!, Stan Smith leads the all-American family in this animated sitcom filled with wild and crazy extremes.
- 06Comedy·Adventure·Science-FictionThe essential episodes of Rick and Morty2013–present·Adult SwimRick is a mentally gifted, but sociopathic and alcoholic scientist and a grandfather to Morty; an awkward, impressionable, and somewhat spineless teenage boy.
