10 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
Mutiny, a startup co-founded by brilliant coder Cameron Howe and pragmatic engineer Donna Clark, is expanding in Silicon Valley. Cameron prioritizes innovation and creative control, while Donna focuses on growth and business strategy. Meanwhile, charismatic visionary Joe MacMillan launches his security software, "Citadel," aiming to make a significant impact in the tech world.
As Mutiny grows, Cameron's controversial actions regarding user privacy create tension, and she and Donna clash over the company's direction and potential acquisitions. Joe hires Ryan Ray, a talented young coder, who later releases Joe's software source code, leading to Ryan's suicide. This tragedy, coupled with escalating disagreements, causes Cameron to quit Mutiny after a failed IPO vote.
In the aftermath, Donna pursues her own vision for the internet's future. Joe, Gordon Clark (Donna's husband and an engineer), and Cameron eventually reconnect, considering a new collaboration to build a web browser, while Donna seeks her own ambitious path.
Season 3 of Halt and Catch Fire covers episodes 1-10. Here's everything that happened:
Season 3, Episode 1: Valley of the Heart's Delight - Mutiny celebrates its growing user base in its new Silicon Valley headquarters, but Cameron's questionable actions involving user privacy create tension. Joe unveils his free "Citadel" security software, delivering a Steve Jobs-esque presentation. Gordon struggles with his health and finds himself bonding with Mutiny's coders. The episode concludes with Joe's unsettling product reveal and the implications of Cameron's privacy breach hanging over Mutiny.
Season 3, Episode 2: One Way or Another - Donna and Cameron seek venture capital for Mutiny's expansion but face sexism and are ultimately turned down. Joe offers Gordon 50%, then 70% of his company to end the lawsuit and work together, but Gordon refuses. Ryan leaves Mutiny to work for Joe, devastating Gordon. Cameron bribes Joanie to invite Diane's daughter to her birthday party to get another chance to pitch.
Season 3, Episode 3: Flipping the Switch - Gordon and Donna's marital issues spill into Mutiny, causing tension. Mutiny acquires SwapMeet, but Bosworth finds the company is in bad shape and renegotiates the deal. Joe takes a coding class and meets Cameron. Ryan begins working at Joe's house. The episode concludes with Gordon and Cameron airing their grievances and seeming to reach a better understanding.
Season 3, Episode 4: Rules of Honorable Play - Gordon embraces teamwork during laser tag, while Donna lies to Cameron about Diane's stance on firing Doug and Craig. Joe sabotages a potential investor meeting. Cameron and Donna disagree about the Swap Meet acquisition. The episode concludes with Cameron questioning Gordon about when he knew he was losing Cardiff.
Season 3, Episode 5: Yerba Buena - Donna and Gordon's stay-at-home vacation is strained by work tensions, while Cameron and Bos take a road trip to Texas, where they clash with family. Joe faces an HIV scare but learns he is negative. Cameron meets with Tom, and Mutiny's future is uncertain as Donna makes a decision without Cameron's input. The episode concludes with Cameron drinking alone on the Mutiny roof as fireworks go off.
Season 3, Episode 6: And She Was - Mutiny receives a $20 million offer from CompuServe, creating tension between Donna and Cameron. Donna, alone at Diane's vineyard, hallucinates a conversation with Cameron while under the influence of mushrooms. Joe confesses to Gordon's software theft, effectively destroying his own position at MacMillan Utility. Cameron tells Gordon about her marriage.
Season 3, Episode 7: The Threshold - Cameron and Donna's conflict over Mutiny's future intensifies, leading to Cameron quitting Mutiny after an IPO vote. Ryan, distraught over Joe's ousting, releases MacMillan Utility's security software source code. Gordon, regretting his actions, partners with Joe again. The episode concludes with Joe leaving Ryan after Ryan admits to sabotaging MacMillan Utility.
Season 3, Episode 8: You Are Not Safe - The episode reveals Ryan's suicide after he releases the MacMillan Utility source code. Donna and Diane proceed with Mutiny's IPO, which ultimately fails. Joe asks Cameron to help him find Ryan. Cameron and Tom make plans to move to Japan. Joe, distraught, tells Gordon he is done. The episode concludes with Ryan's note being read, warning of the dangers of the coming internet age.
Season 3, Episode 9: NIM - Donna tries to reunite everyone at Comdex, pitching her vision for the internet's future. Joe and Cameron reconnect, leading to them sleeping together. Gordon's personal life is a mess, with Joanie sabotaging his date. Joe reads Donna's memo about the World Wide Web. The episode concludes with the possibility of a new collaboration.
Season 3, Episode 10: NeXT - Donna's vision for the future sparks debate about achieving the "next big thing". Joe, Gordon, and Cameron reunite to create a browser, but animosity flares, especially between Tom and Joe. Cameron sides with Joe, further distancing herself from Tom. Donna, feeling excluded, seeks a meeting with CERN. The episode concludes with Donna's ambition potentially leading her down a darker path.
