Ep 3. Flipping the Switch

In Halt & Catch Fire season 3 episode 3, titled "Flipping the Switch," the tech industry is in a state of frenzy over the launch of a new search engine called Comet, which promises to revolutionize the way people use the internet. Joe MacMillan, who has been hired by Comet's founder Donna Clark to help her market the product, is still reeling from the news that he has a daughter named Haley, whom he has never met before. Meanwhile, Gordon Clark is struggling to keep up with the demands of his job at Mutiny and his family's needs, and Cameron Howe is feeling the pressure of being the CEO of a rapidly-growing company.

The episode opens with Joe meeting with a group of marketing executives to pitch his idea for a Comet commercial. He envisions a high-concept ad featuring a young woman running through a field, which he believes will capture the spirit of the product. However, the executives are skeptical, pointing out that the ad is too abstract and won't resonate with users. Undeterred, Joe sets off to shoot the commercial himself, with the help of Cameron and Gordon.

Elsewhere, Donna is dealing with a crisis of her own. Comet's launch date is looming, but the search engine is still plagued by bugs and glitches. When Donna tries to resolve the issues, she discovers that the problem lies with the server Mutiny is using to host the site. Desperate for a solution, she turns to Gordon, who agrees to help her upgrade the server so that Comet can launch on time.

As the launch date approaches, tensions are running high among the Mutiny team. Cameron, who has been struggling with her new role as CEO, lashes out at her colleagues when they question her decisions. Meanwhile, Gordon is feeling the strain of working long hours at both Mutiny and Comet, and his health begins to suffer as a result.

When the day of the launch finally arrives, Joe's commercial is a hit, and Comet quickly gains popularity among users. However, as the team celebrates their success, they realize that they may have inadvertently created a monster. With millions of users now relying on Comet for their search queries, the system is struggling to keep up with demand, and Donna is forced to make some tough decisions about the future of the product.

"Flipping the Switch" is a tense and dramatic episode that explores the complex relationships and high-stakes decisions that are inherent in the tech industry. As the characters grapple with the pressure to succeed and the challenges of bringing a new product to market, they learn important lessons about teamwork, communication, and the true cost of innovation. This episode is a must-watch for fans of Halt & Catch Fire, as well as anyone interested in the history of the tech industry and the people who shaped it.