Ep 1. SETI

Set in the Silicon Prairie of Texas during the tech boom of the 1980s, Halt & Catch Fire follows a group of ambitious and driven individuals as they attempt to create the next big thing. The show examines both the personal and professional obstacles that the characters face, and season 2 kicks off with a new set of challenges.

In the first episode, titled "SETI," we see the aftermath of the first season's finale. The team at Cardiff Electric, led by Joe MacMillan, is still reeling from the failure of their Giant personal computer. Joe himself is in a bad place, having lost his job and his girlfriend. Cameron Howe, the talented young programmer, has also left Cardiff and is struggling to make ends meet by working on her own projects.

Meanwhile, Gordon Clark, the brilliant but often-drunk engineer, is still at Cardiff, working on a new project. He's joined by Donna Clark, his wife and a talented engineer in her own right. Together, they're trying to develop a new operating system for Cardiff's computers. While they make progress, they soon realize that they need a new, more powerful computer to run the OS.

Joe, desperate to get back into the game, hears about a project at the nearby Texas Instruments plant. The project is called SETI, and its goal is to search for extraterrestrial life using a supercomputer. Joe sees an opportunity to get his hands on the powerful computing technology he needs for the new OS project. He convinces Gordon and Donna to help him steal the SETI computer.

Cameron, who has been struggling to find a new project to sink her teeth into, is intrigued by the plan. She agrees to come back to Cardiff and help the team with the heist. Along the way, we get glimpses into each character's struggles and motivations. Joe is desperate to prove himself after the failure of Giant. Gordon and Donna are dealing with their troubled marriage and the pressures of work. Cameron is searching for meaning and purpose in her life.

As they plan the heist, tensions rise. The team has to deal with the logistics of stealing a massive supercomputer, as well as the moral implications of their actions. Is it worth it to potentially ruin their careers and risk jail time for this new project? They're also dealing with the looming threat of competition. A new company, led by a young and ambitious executive named Jacob Wheeler, is trying to steal Cardiff's thunder by developing their own personal computer.

"SETI" is a tense and exciting episode that sets the stage for the rest of the season. We see the characters facing new challenges and struggling to find their place in the constantly evolving tech landscape of the 1980s. The heist itself is a thrilling sequence that showcases each character's skills and intelligence. But it's also a reminder that there are consequences to their actions, both personal and professional.

Overall, "SETI" is a strong start to Halt & Catch Fire's second season. It's a testament to the show's ability to delve into complex characters and situations, while also presenting an exciting and engaging story. Fans of tech history and character-driven dramas will find a lot to enjoy in this episode and the rest of the series.