Ep 1. Part 1: Print ("hello, world")

Valley of the Boom season 1 episode 1, named Part 1: Print ("hello, world"), kicks off the series with a bang. The show unpacks the rise of Silicon Valley in the 1990s, framing it around three tech companies: Netscape, TheGlobe.com, and Pixelon.

The episode begins with a young Mark Andreesen and his team at Netscape, who are working on building the world's first commercial web browser. As they race against time to launch their product, we also see the story of Jim Clark, the founder of Netscape, who has just left his previous company, Silicon Graphics, to start his own internet venture.

The scene then transitions to TheGlobe.com, a start-up with a very different story. Stephanie, one of the co-founders, struggles to deal with her overbearing business partner, Todd. Together, they build a social media platform that proves hugely popular with college students across the nation.

Lastly, the episode introduces us to Pixelon, a video streaming company founded by tech entrepreneur Michael Fenne. Fenne's story is one of greed and deception, as he convinces investors to pour millions of dollars into his company with the false promise of proprietary technology that actually doesn't exist.

The episode expertly weaves together these stories, using a combination of documentary-style interviews with key players and scripted re-enactments of pivotal moments in each company's history. The result is a fast-paced, engrossing look into the chaotic early days of the internet boom.

Part 1: Print ("hello, world") serves as an excellent introduction to the world of Valley of the Boom. With its charismatic cast of characters and high-energy pacing, the show promises to be an entertaining deep dive into one of the most significant periods of technological innovation in modern history.