Ep 2. FUD

After a strong start to the show in the pilot episode, Halt & Catch Fire season 1 episode 2, titled FUD, continues to build up the characters and their individual motivations. The episode begins with Joe MacMillan, the suave and manipulative salesman, continuing to work on his plan to build a competitive personal computer that can rival IBM's PC.

Meanwhile, Gordon Clark, the brilliant engineer who has struggled to make a successful breakthrough in the past, becomes increasingly wary of Joe's intentions. Despite their differences, the two men decide to team up and work together, along with Cameron Howe, a young and rebellious programmer who is initially skeptical of their project.

As they begin to build their computer, they face a number of challenges and obstacles, including technical issues and a lack of funding. However, the three of them remain determined to succeed, with Gordon working tirelessly to perfect the hardware, Cameron pushing boundaries with her software programming, and Joe continuing to oversee their strategy and make big plays.

However, tensions rise when Joe brings in a new investor, Nathan Cardiff, who looks to take control of the project and steer it in a direction that the others are not comfortable with. This leads to a confrontation between the group, with Gordon and Cameron feeling betrayed by Joe's actions.

In addition to the central storyline of the computer project, the episode also spends time exploring the individual characters and their personal lives. Gordon's relationship with his wife, Donna, continues to struggle due to his obsession with work, while Cameron's rebellious attitude causes tensions with her boss at a local arcade.

Overall, Halt & Catch Fire season 1 episode 2 is a strong continuation of the show's start, building on the characters and their motivations while also ramping up the stakes for their ambitious computer project. The episode sets up several intriguing conflicts and leaves plenty of room for further development as the series progresses.