The pilot was surprisingly promising. This is an underdog story, but the underdogs are app programmers in a world of it-geeks. So, there is no traditional juxtaposition of geeks versus jocks. I really want their app to succeed. That, in and of itself, makes the first episode a success, because that's a hook (something that Amazon's other original series, Alpha House, unfortunately lacks). There were story-lines tangential to the main one that I was much less interested in, but this is just a beginning. Plus, the acting and writing were adequately amusing, though not laugh-out-loud funny. Hopefully, the show will find its focus and heart through the humor as it develops.
32 Reviews
Underrated Programming
NWRadio23 December 2013
I don't watch TV or Movies to point out plot or theme devices and whether they are worthy or unworthy of my attention. I have a very simple guide to my viewing enjoyment, relatable characters and unless its sci-fi, realistic circumstances and overall programming has to entertain me.
Betas has all three aspects. The relationship between Trey and Nash is really fun to watch unfold. Nash being the number guys who wants to be seen as more than just that. Trey acting like his big brother but at the same time wants to be the next Steve Jobs. Hobbes is great as the train wreck who you can't help but love. Overall, the entire cast has a really nice chemistry.
The show is miscast somewhat as a comedy though. It's written similar to Entourage, a show with comedic moments but that can also be serious as this group tries to evolve from startup to success business. I am not sure this show will get more love from Amazon or a second season but it's a pretty good show that is very watchable and has a lot of entertaining moments. It might take more than one episode but the characters alone will keep you coming back for more.
Betas has all three aspects. The relationship between Trey and Nash is really fun to watch unfold. Nash being the number guys who wants to be seen as more than just that. Trey acting like his big brother but at the same time wants to be the next Steve Jobs. Hobbes is great as the train wreck who you can't help but love. Overall, the entire cast has a really nice chemistry.
The show is miscast somewhat as a comedy though. It's written similar to Entourage, a show with comedic moments but that can also be serious as this group tries to evolve from startup to success business. I am not sure this show will get more love from Amazon or a second season but it's a pretty good show that is very watchable and has a lot of entertaining moments. It might take more than one episode but the characters alone will keep you coming back for more.
Waiting for season 2
dominoes21030 May 2014
Betas is a highly entertaining series, that advances quickly. The plot is quick and interesting, and not over-complicated. We find ourselves relating to the cast, and overall hoping that their app makes it. You will also see a lot of character progression, as the characters seem to grow personality-wise throughout the series. The actual characters themselves do seem a little reminiscent of the cast of the big bang theory, but in general, it is as original as a show can be, what with all the other competition. I would not say that it is worth paying for amazon prime, solely to watch betas, but if you have other uses for a subscription, then maybe you could rationalize it. Overall, a very good program. I can't wait for season 2 to come out :)
Another awesome show which got canceled!
chris-3-98754313 January 2015
Betas was a really great show focusing on a silicon valley startup creating a dating app. All characters in the show are really fresh and exciting, the acting was great, the humor was realistic with enough drama to make it feel real. Centering the show around a high-tech startup and bringing in all the entrepreneur related problems and the Steve Jobs, Bill Gates inspired characters was very smart and leveled Betas to the top of all actual shows by making it the show for this generation and the ones to come. So canceling this excellent show is the stupidest thing I have seen in the last years! Shame on you Amazon for creating such a great show and not realizing what a gem you have there!
Snappy - Now - Enjoy!
gooroov21 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
You know, I don't get all the haters that seem to want to establish their credibility by pooping on everything. This is a SITCOM, and a reasonably entertaining one, with a unique concept and some fun if somewhat cheesy characters, not "Rashomon". Joe Dinicol, who plays the requisite straight lead/audience surrogate, reminds me a bit of Zach Braff and, come to think of it, the spirit of energy and snappy-jargon-fun is not unlike Scrubs, a show that was always a pleasant waste of time (and that's not in any way a bad thing). And it's actually ABOUT something without taking itself too seriously, not just a framework for tacking a succession of tired one-liners to like "Whitney", or "Two Broke Girls", not that it lacks gags.
Having watched four episodes I can see it is definitely built on the skeleton of the Classic American Sitcom, but they hang enough freshness on it to allow you to tell your friends you watch it without losing your dignity. And there are little moments that are genuine jewels (Moby sidling up with, "Ever f*ck an octopus?", Dane's art photography featuring what initially appears to be an abstract desert landscape but ends up being a photo of his ex's bush, and others) that keep this thing from slipping into the depressing pit of anonymity where you find stuff like "New Girl". (Respect yourself, Zooey!)
(And let me take a second to thank Jah for a show featuring tech that is not just one long Apple commercial. I like Apple stuff, but the real world has other tech, and I'm just glad to be spared having the ubiquitous AppleWorld pushed into my face for a change.)
If nothing else, it's a way to study up on wacky jargon that's new to most people even if it's history to others. Maybe it doesn't have QUITE enough momentum to ensure it won't end up becoming just grating and tiresome, but I can honestly see this thing growing some legs. It's not HBO, but it's a lot better than I expected for an early effort from an outfit mostly known for selling books and kitchen gadgets that are delivered in just two days.
Having watched four episodes I can see it is definitely built on the skeleton of the Classic American Sitcom, but they hang enough freshness on it to allow you to tell your friends you watch it without losing your dignity. And there are little moments that are genuine jewels (Moby sidling up with, "Ever f*ck an octopus?", Dane's art photography featuring what initially appears to be an abstract desert landscape but ends up being a photo of his ex's bush, and others) that keep this thing from slipping into the depressing pit of anonymity where you find stuff like "New Girl". (Respect yourself, Zooey!)
(And let me take a second to thank Jah for a show featuring tech that is not just one long Apple commercial. I like Apple stuff, but the real world has other tech, and I'm just glad to be spared having the ubiquitous AppleWorld pushed into my face for a change.)
If nothing else, it's a way to study up on wacky jargon that's new to most people even if it's history to others. Maybe it doesn't have QUITE enough momentum to ensure it won't end up becoming just grating and tiresome, but I can honestly see this thing growing some legs. It's not HBO, but it's a lot better than I expected for an early effort from an outfit mostly known for selling books and kitchen gadgets that are delivered in just two days.
My new favorite show
soccerrocker24430 November 2013
Being an entrepreneur myself and enjoying comedies, I have to say this is one of the best shows I've come across. The acting is great, story is hilarious, and I love all of the characters! It's what I imagine being in an accelerator and working my ass off to build a company from the ground up these days in silicon valley. 10/10 would recommend to anybody.
It's - raunchy - smart - hilarious - exciting - feel good. I didn't realize the quality of an online web series could be so high. I truly seek this type of lifestyle hustling everyday and working with my partners to build an incredible product that we truly believe in.
It's - raunchy - smart - hilarious - exciting - feel good. I didn't realize the quality of an online web series could be so high. I truly seek this type of lifestyle hustling everyday and working with my partners to build an incredible product that we truly believe in.
Vocal fry
thecoolestcharli9 August 2018
Unfortunately, there's too much vocal frying and forced/intentional dialogue and sarcasm. It totally takes away from what could actually be a decent story line. I stuck with it because it's was funny at times, but there's nothing worse then dialogue that tries to make people sound way smarter than they really are.
Hilarious! Brilliant!
tmcarroll6 December 2013
Finally someone has done a comedy series about Silicon Valley, and it's good! The show is sort of Entourage in Silicon Valley. Smart, savvy and hilarious! It's not perfect, but better than 95% of what you'll find on TV.
The show has the same nervous energy that permeates Silicon Valley startup culture. The creators obviously did their homework. They get a lot right, though the drug references are overdone and at times silly. The characters are interesting, though sometimes over the top.
The show is addicting. Can't wait for the next episode to be uploaded. Netflix and Hulu watch out, Amazon is in the game!
The show has the same nervous energy that permeates Silicon Valley startup culture. The creators obviously did their homework. They get a lot right, though the drug references are overdone and at times silly. The characters are interesting, though sometimes over the top.
The show is addicting. Can't wait for the next episode to be uploaded. Netflix and Hulu watch out, Amazon is in the game!
Inferior Show... Watch Silicon Valley Instead!
imdbtruth2 November 2014
HBO has a show called "Silicon Valley" that is far superior to this show. If you're going to spend your time watching one show about start-ups in the Valley, it should not be Betas.
Unlike Betas, Silicon Valley is actually funny, it has much better acting, and a much more enthralling storyline and cast of characters. I downloaded and watched the entire first season of Betas, it did not make me laugh once. Just another one of those shows that wants to be both a comedy and a drama but fails equally at both. This is the type of show that would typically air on one of those crappy channels like "the CW".
This did not effect my rating, but I did notice that this show also has a massive amount esoteric symbolism that is typically associated with the Freemasons and/or "the Illuminati". Most people will not even recognize any of this symbolism, so it really doesn't matter, but if you have knowledge regarding esoteric and occult, then it will jump out at you in each and every episode. Numerous Baphomet symbols, tons of all seeing eyes, more pyramids than one can count, owls, and those are just the obvious and easily explainable examples. Again, these symbols don't really affect the viewing experience, but they weren't put in there by accident either. I only mention it because I think the symbolism says a lot about the director. Make of that what you will.
Unlike Betas, Silicon Valley is actually funny, it has much better acting, and a much more enthralling storyline and cast of characters. I downloaded and watched the entire first season of Betas, it did not make me laugh once. Just another one of those shows that wants to be both a comedy and a drama but fails equally at both. This is the type of show that would typically air on one of those crappy channels like "the CW".
This did not effect my rating, but I did notice that this show also has a massive amount esoteric symbolism that is typically associated with the Freemasons and/or "the Illuminati". Most people will not even recognize any of this symbolism, so it really doesn't matter, but if you have knowledge regarding esoteric and occult, then it will jump out at you in each and every episode. Numerous Baphomet symbols, tons of all seeing eyes, more pyramids than one can count, owls, and those are just the obvious and easily explainable examples. Again, these symbols don't really affect the viewing experience, but they weren't put in there by accident either. I only mention it because I think the symbolism says a lot about the director. Make of that what you will.
If you work at a Tech Start Up be prepared to see yourself
joshthedudeoflife8 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
My roommate recommended this to me last night and I wound up watching the first 3 all the way through. It doesn't help Im a developer working in the Tech startup scene here in Boston, but it feels as if they have been recording parts of my life (minus the coke use). The acting is superb, the writing is witty and the characters are on par with any single person you would meet in the startup scene at say Boston, SF, Seattle etc. Watch it and ignore the lame reviews at the bottom. Its probably people that hated the new Star Trek series and pee on everything that isn't Kurisawa or Taxi Driver. Keep going strong on this.
Nope! ... generic and weak!
leopordo86-111 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I thought the idea is pretty interesting. And it is. I kinda like the business/marketing/programming atmosphere they are creating so as far the plot goes things are good. Yet, Everything else is below bar. The main character has a really annoying voice and limited acting skills. Leave that alone I just had to get it out of my system.
I just think the old school writing where you create extreme characters that are not realistic just don't work anymore. So you have the nerd Indian programmer who is social retarded and for some reason he has to not like pants! cuz this makes him nerdy and odd and a "Typical" introvert programmer. And there is the unattractive guy who is in love with a much cooler girl! and of course the extreme version of Barney Stenson who is the "bad ass" of the grope. And the main character of course is good looking, smart but also cool! I think they just overdid the characters and the script is very generic. Add a lot of marketing terms and concepts combined with "cool" clichés and you have every conversation in every scene! like this is how normal people communicate over lunch!
Clichés themselves are killing me. Liking when the "couple" have the usual "we work together but sleep together" fiasco and they have to have the "usual fight". It was so cheap and expected and unrealistic. Because any 18 years old can understand the situation and just accept it without breaking up.. but it had to be done that way, right!?
All in all.. I don't like it, I don't recommend it.
I just think the old school writing where you create extreme characters that are not realistic just don't work anymore. So you have the nerd Indian programmer who is social retarded and for some reason he has to not like pants! cuz this makes him nerdy and odd and a "Typical" introvert programmer. And there is the unattractive guy who is in love with a much cooler girl! and of course the extreme version of Barney Stenson who is the "bad ass" of the grope. And the main character of course is good looking, smart but also cool! I think they just overdid the characters and the script is very generic. Add a lot of marketing terms and concepts combined with "cool" clichés and you have every conversation in every scene! like this is how normal people communicate over lunch!
Clichés themselves are killing me. Liking when the "couple" have the usual "we work together but sleep together" fiasco and they have to have the "usual fight". It was so cheap and expected and unrealistic. Because any 18 years old can understand the situation and just accept it without breaking up.. but it had to be done that way, right!?
All in all.. I don't like it, I don't recommend it.
Love this show
halleaux13 January 2014
I started watching this because it's about tech so I thought great a show about tech, but it's so much more than that. The character development is incredible, the underlying stories of love, loss, heart ache, riches to be made, and losses that come have me anxiously awaiting each new episode.
I have found myself not only rooting for the app, but also feeling for the characters. I feel for their heart ache, smile for their wins, and love the story line because it does revolve around life in a start up and this new world of social apps. Great story line, amazing writing, and I can't wait to see what comes next!
I am hooked and really hope this goes on for a many seasons. I'm also curious to see what else Amazon brings out. So far they are hitting the mark very nicely! Very nicely done Amazon. +1, :Like:, moar please!!!
I have found myself not only rooting for the app, but also feeling for the characters. I feel for their heart ache, smile for their wins, and love the story line because it does revolve around life in a start up and this new world of social apps. Great story line, amazing writing, and I can't wait to see what comes next!
I am hooked and really hope this goes on for a many seasons. I'm also curious to see what else Amazon brings out. So far they are hitting the mark very nicely! Very nicely done Amazon. +1, :Like:, moar please!!!
This is a great New Show
taogemss17 January 2014
This is a great new show. It has great actors, great actresses, and it is starting to exhibit complex and subtle writing and plot progressions. Though I do not agree or condone the portrayal of drug use at all, the show has an eclectic, inventive, and natural expression of their version of how some people actually view life. I really hope they do many more seasons and I wish the best for all the young and mature thespians involved. It starts off a little slow, but quickly builds steam and becomes more and more a reflection of real peoples lives.Maya is an amazing actress, and the other female actresses are great, though I miss the actress from the first few episodes.Where did she go? Good luck to all involved and I will be truly heartbroken if there is no season 2.
Freshnesh
ThomDuflos12 May 2014
Betas is fresh, dynamic and very realistic. Geeks will love it but not only them. If you are interested in good cultural references, and new technology you will like it. Imagine you have found an app which can change the world, what would you do ? Betas gives us an answer. The actors are all very good. The music is well chosen and fits perfectly to the story. This is very different from big bang theory even if the same public can watch both shows with the same interest. It's indeed a good comedy about friendship and the over connected youth which try to change the world. Some characters will make you think about the movies Jobs or The Social Network. You will witness many funny moments too.
Seemed promising but weak story and even more weaker acting made it intolerable
tarekbd-429749 August 2017
When I searched for shows similar to Silicon Valley, this one popped up as a match. The rest is history. This weakly made TV series is no way comparable to Silicon Valley. The acting were poor (lame, perhaps), the story was weak, everything seems not to work. This TV series is a complete and utter disappointment.
Margo Harshman. Where have you been my whole life?!
rocketman-zach2 December 2013
Warning: Spoilers
I have seen the first three episodes of the new series on Amazon prime. So far this show has been way more than I have expected. The best two characters in the show so far are Jon Daly as (Hobbes-consistent comedic relief) and the beautiful Margo Harshman as (Lisa).
The lead man Joe Dinicol playing Trey the co-founder and CEO of the BRB social app in the show is a good character and solid fit for the character. There is an issue though and it isn't Joe's fault I believe. I am Perceiving his character as weak in confrontation too often thus far in the series. I would hope that this is fixed because I don't see it necessary for him to act this way. His character is extremely enthusiastic about his product and should be a definite alpha but in a couple of instances thus far he has been oddly weak and out of character. I am hoping It isn't Joe, although it is possible. (is it the dialog? no.. Its the perception of the character and somewhat the body language I would guess) Either he or his character is the reason for the 9 out of 10...
Margo Harshman might possibly be the most beautiful lead female I have ever seen in a TV series or maybe even movie for that matter. Many women in the industry are pretty and are solid actresses, but the way she talks, stares, moves and even kisses in portraying her character so perfectly is beyond feasible description. In a world of geeks and programmers she is easily the smartest person in the room everywhere she goes. Her character is perfect and has that weight of authority within her character's career as well as the balance of such gratifying playfulness that was perfect for the development of her character in the second episode. The last episode has made me worried that I might not get to see her ever again and is likely why I'm so excited for the next episode. Her relationship with the main character is so important for this show considering the lead character will seem to need her so much. In the words of Jerry McGuire "You complete me" Margo/Lisa and "you had me at hello" ...
Hobbes is by far the most entertaining/comedic character in the show and has definitely given the audience a reason to buy into and believe his character. I am really surprised this guy hasn't burst onto the scene in any other "Major" role yet. He definitely will following this a successful Betas tenure. ( yes the Hobbes review was an afterthought although he is very entertaining and I found myself rolling in laughter with his cold humor ... kind of a funkier Dr.House humor I think is what it is... )
The lead man Joe Dinicol playing Trey the co-founder and CEO of the BRB social app in the show is a good character and solid fit for the character. There is an issue though and it isn't Joe's fault I believe. I am Perceiving his character as weak in confrontation too often thus far in the series. I would hope that this is fixed because I don't see it necessary for him to act this way. His character is extremely enthusiastic about his product and should be a definite alpha but in a couple of instances thus far he has been oddly weak and out of character. I am hoping It isn't Joe, although it is possible. (is it the dialog? no.. Its the perception of the character and somewhat the body language I would guess) Either he or his character is the reason for the 9 out of 10...
Margo Harshman might possibly be the most beautiful lead female I have ever seen in a TV series or maybe even movie for that matter. Many women in the industry are pretty and are solid actresses, but the way she talks, stares, moves and even kisses in portraying her character so perfectly is beyond feasible description. In a world of geeks and programmers she is easily the smartest person in the room everywhere she goes. Her character is perfect and has that weight of authority within her character's career as well as the balance of such gratifying playfulness that was perfect for the development of her character in the second episode. The last episode has made me worried that I might not get to see her ever again and is likely why I'm so excited for the next episode. Her relationship with the main character is so important for this show considering the lead character will seem to need her so much. In the words of Jerry McGuire "You complete me" Margo/Lisa and "you had me at hello" ...
Hobbes is by far the most entertaining/comedic character in the show and has definitely given the audience a reason to buy into and believe his character. I am really surprised this guy hasn't burst onto the scene in any other "Major" role yet. He definitely will following this a successful Betas tenure. ( yes the Hobbes review was an afterthought although he is very entertaining and I found myself rolling in laughter with his cold humor ... kind of a funkier Dr.House humor I think is what it is... )
No good for women in tech or any modern geek
erhen-o10 January 2015
Thankfully it's not Big Bang Theory
I couldn't rate it 0 so it gets a 1. I watched the first episode that's all it took me to see all the red smelling flags. I'm a geek and I like watching shows about geeks, it can always be inspiring and fun content. Last year I traveled to San Francisco and I saw the poster for this show everywhere, so I wanted to check it out. Also I noticed that it was made by Amazon, in other words, a geek show for geeks by geeks, so I had the hope of not stumbling upon the nonsensical stereotypes of geeks from the 80's who love Star Wars and RPG (like the dummy Big Bang Theory).
It is a hipster show
Well indeed, you don't find that in the show. Instead you find the young hipster almost like a teenager whose big revolutionary idea is to create a dating app, duh. If it was not the dating app, it would have been maybe a restaurant app, to be more original? For that matter maybe the show wanted to illustrate the shallowness of the tech culture in the Valley where they want to create popular but fundamentally useless apps. I mean forget all about the "change the world" motto, this show is absolutely not about that. If it was just that, and we actually learned a bit more about the ropes of the business culture it could have been OK.
Filled with misogyny
But unfortunately the show was just not funny and still stereotyping in a way. Basically, you had the tech guys, the networking founder and the marketing girl.
What I hated was the need to inject misogyny in the show like it is a requirement because it is the tech field. Best way to repulse women from the field really. The misogyny is so blatant! Within a few minutes of the show we see the 35 years old cave man developer skyping with a naked girl and drooling over the sight of her stripping for him. The image is very crude and disgusting. And this is how they depict the geek. I thought it was offensive for developers because I work with them, and it is not true that they are like that. The guys who are like that and openly misogynous in the workplace are actually the incompetent ones, those who desperately need approval from their peers to look cool by stating misogynous comments. But those who are competent and who are more likely to end up creating their own start-ups are actually really smart in that sense, they are not misogynous. 35 and misogynous like a pig is a really pathetic representation of how geeks really are.
But the misogyny doesn't stop there. The women are depicted as total angry bitches, you do not want to know them or be friends with them, because they are horrible human beings! The marketing girl is always shutting down men like she is so superior and wanted by everybody. The investor is an old sex hungry billionaire. Within a few minutes, I detected the "sex-hungry cave men chasing the female preys" pattern mixed with the lousy dating app plot. So I thought, OK I get it. It's another show for teenagers where all the guy wants is to get the girl, and the girl is just there to decorate or to act as the guy's carrot. No link whatsoever with technology. So lame.
So please, reboot and innovate
I am really concerned about how unconscious the producers are to perpetuate clichés about geeks and their unwillingness to innovate in storytelling when they're in the very business of innovation in the tech field. They don't make the tech field progress with this kind of show, they just make it regress. This type of show repulses the women in tech and developers, but it also doesn't motivate anyone to join the field. It celebrates the cave man sex-hungry style that should be so banned from tech culture like bad hygiene. The modern geeks are really not like that.
So to the producers: go get an update in reality and make another show. By doing so, you might also see that the women in that field 1. exist and 2. are very normal people, not horrible human beings like you think. I wrote this review also to notify that there IS a female geek audience to this type of show, and making good geek shows for all the audience can only be better for the tech field so that everyone gets inspiration, motivation and fun out of it, instead of stupid drooling for the cave men and disgust for the women.
Anyway, I'm glad that as I write this, the show has been canceled. I hope they come in here to check the logs and try to understand why it was such a massive failure and then reboot. I will give a shot to the Silicon Valley show, hopefully their big idea is not the dating app.
I couldn't rate it 0 so it gets a 1. I watched the first episode that's all it took me to see all the red smelling flags. I'm a geek and I like watching shows about geeks, it can always be inspiring and fun content. Last year I traveled to San Francisco and I saw the poster for this show everywhere, so I wanted to check it out. Also I noticed that it was made by Amazon, in other words, a geek show for geeks by geeks, so I had the hope of not stumbling upon the nonsensical stereotypes of geeks from the 80's who love Star Wars and RPG (like the dummy Big Bang Theory).
It is a hipster show
Well indeed, you don't find that in the show. Instead you find the young hipster almost like a teenager whose big revolutionary idea is to create a dating app, duh. If it was not the dating app, it would have been maybe a restaurant app, to be more original? For that matter maybe the show wanted to illustrate the shallowness of the tech culture in the Valley where they want to create popular but fundamentally useless apps. I mean forget all about the "change the world" motto, this show is absolutely not about that. If it was just that, and we actually learned a bit more about the ropes of the business culture it could have been OK.
Filled with misogyny
But unfortunately the show was just not funny and still stereotyping in a way. Basically, you had the tech guys, the networking founder and the marketing girl.
What I hated was the need to inject misogyny in the show like it is a requirement because it is the tech field. Best way to repulse women from the field really. The misogyny is so blatant! Within a few minutes of the show we see the 35 years old cave man developer skyping with a naked girl and drooling over the sight of her stripping for him. The image is very crude and disgusting. And this is how they depict the geek. I thought it was offensive for developers because I work with them, and it is not true that they are like that. The guys who are like that and openly misogynous in the workplace are actually the incompetent ones, those who desperately need approval from their peers to look cool by stating misogynous comments. But those who are competent and who are more likely to end up creating their own start-ups are actually really smart in that sense, they are not misogynous. 35 and misogynous like a pig is a really pathetic representation of how geeks really are.
But the misogyny doesn't stop there. The women are depicted as total angry bitches, you do not want to know them or be friends with them, because they are horrible human beings! The marketing girl is always shutting down men like she is so superior and wanted by everybody. The investor is an old sex hungry billionaire. Within a few minutes, I detected the "sex-hungry cave men chasing the female preys" pattern mixed with the lousy dating app plot. So I thought, OK I get it. It's another show for teenagers where all the guy wants is to get the girl, and the girl is just there to decorate or to act as the guy's carrot. No link whatsoever with technology. So lame.
So please, reboot and innovate
I am really concerned about how unconscious the producers are to perpetuate clichés about geeks and their unwillingness to innovate in storytelling when they're in the very business of innovation in the tech field. They don't make the tech field progress with this kind of show, they just make it regress. This type of show repulses the women in tech and developers, but it also doesn't motivate anyone to join the field. It celebrates the cave man sex-hungry style that should be so banned from tech culture like bad hygiene. The modern geeks are really not like that.
So to the producers: go get an update in reality and make another show. By doing so, you might also see that the women in that field 1. exist and 2. are very normal people, not horrible human beings like you think. I wrote this review also to notify that there IS a female geek audience to this type of show, and making good geek shows for all the audience can only be better for the tech field so that everyone gets inspiration, motivation and fun out of it, instead of stupid drooling for the cave men and disgust for the women.
Anyway, I'm glad that as I write this, the show has been canceled. I hope they come in here to check the logs and try to understand why it was such a massive failure and then reboot. I will give a shot to the Silicon Valley show, hopefully their big idea is not the dating app.
For the techies and not-so-savvy out there, great series for the online generation
mad4tonic22 March 2014
I loved this series. Another home run for amazon. A great mix of characters, and a solid storyline to build on for the second series.
I've worked in the industry in different guises over the years, and it's great to see they have really latched onto the mindset, as well as the different types and individuals that make up this quirky yet highly lucrative and competitive world.
Mitch has got to be my favourite character. He's the glue that binds everyone together, and provides the everyman perspective in the show.
The only stumbling bloke I see, may be the lack of interest from the general public. We all love an app, but how many of us want to delve into the world of the e-startup?
Fingers crossed it'll be greenlit for a second series, but just like the internet itself, it's never for certain it will cut to the mustard to survive or not, sufficed to say, I will keep an eye out for this show appearing in the fall.
Watch it, love it, like it. :)
I've worked in the industry in different guises over the years, and it's great to see they have really latched onto the mindset, as well as the different types and individuals that make up this quirky yet highly lucrative and competitive world.
Mitch has got to be my favourite character. He's the glue that binds everyone together, and provides the everyman perspective in the show.
The only stumbling bloke I see, may be the lack of interest from the general public. We all love an app, but how many of us want to delve into the world of the e-startup?
Fingers crossed it'll be greenlit for a second series, but just like the internet itself, it's never for certain it will cut to the mustard to survive or not, sufficed to say, I will keep an eye out for this show appearing in the fall.
Watch it, love it, like it. :)
Brilliant and funny
travel-994-6735687 May 2014
What a absolute gem to have stumbled across this (hopefully not too short) series.
Hobbs (Jon Daly's character) is a classic Kramer that keeps you asking how someone gets themselves into such predicaments.
The characters and storyline are everything you want from a comedy. Even the small supporting roles are brilliant. I hope this gives "Silicon Valley" (as good as this is too) a run for its money.
Great casting and sets add for a memorable plot with me wanting more and more episodes. There is nothing I can flaw about it.
Fingers crossed for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th..... series.
Cant get enough of it.
Hobbs (Jon Daly's character) is a classic Kramer that keeps you asking how someone gets themselves into such predicaments.
The characters and storyline are everything you want from a comedy. Even the small supporting roles are brilliant. I hope this gives "Silicon Valley" (as good as this is too) a run for its money.
Great casting and sets add for a memorable plot with me wanting more and more episodes. There is nothing I can flaw about it.
Fingers crossed for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th..... series.
Cant get enough of it.
Inspirational and real
rian-mas20 April 2014
When is the second season coming out? This is the best comedy since Bing Bang and 2 Broke Girls. The series heavily shows drug use amongst the characters, but that must only reflect the situation in 'valley'. Also, some of the characters seem to be copycats of BBT - Nash versus Rajesh and Maya versus Penny. Overall the first series has been very enjoyable to be watching and inspirational, particularly for viewers who understand a fair bit about VC and start-ups. I watched all chapters in 24 hrs. Some of the jokes are quiet 'strong' hence not sure how this comedy would do on a regular TV. It possibly would have to be shown late at night.
Devolving into mindless crap
walterhpdx3 December 2013
I really had high hopes for Betas; it was a great concept, and as a Silicon Valley (now Silicon Forest transplant) type guy, I wanted a show that showed me what I lived through during the height of the tech boom.
Started out strong, but it just devolved into "kitschy" crap to be honest. There are 4 guys on the show, and 2 women as regulars. The women are treated as nothing but sex objects. One is a love interest for the male lead, and the other is there to basically titillate the sex-started male actors - whether it's her talking about her bisexual phase or letting guys take pictures of her in her underwear. Seriously? There are female engineers that could kick some ass - but of course that's not the type of story that Betas want to do.
Also, there's the subtle homophobia, from Hobbes hooking up with his ex wife and screaming - twice, "Stay out of my ass!" to Stuart's saying that he was basically so horned up for sex that he "put up with ass play".
We get it - you're straight.
So while I watched the first couple of episodes, and held high hopes, all of those were dashed. Too bad; good concept, but oh well.
Started out strong, but it just devolved into "kitschy" crap to be honest. There are 4 guys on the show, and 2 women as regulars. The women are treated as nothing but sex objects. One is a love interest for the male lead, and the other is there to basically titillate the sex-started male actors - whether it's her talking about her bisexual phase or letting guys take pictures of her in her underwear. Seriously? There are female engineers that could kick some ass - but of course that's not the type of story that Betas want to do.
Also, there's the subtle homophobia, from Hobbes hooking up with his ex wife and screaming - twice, "Stay out of my ass!" to Stuart's saying that he was basically so horned up for sex that he "put up with ass play".
We get it - you're straight.
So while I watched the first couple of episodes, and held high hopes, all of those were dashed. Too bad; good concept, but oh well.
Short lived, with long term viability, even with immediate competition
mrbrendonjones17 June 2017
No words can describe the absolutely crippling move Amazon made by cancelling this show after one amazing season.
What Betas had, SV didn't. It had a few young people before even entering the space of an incubator as the scene at the time. It was way more relatable than its counterpart.
I don't want to stay in the past, but I genuinely believe that it should be revived, and I am damn sure plenty of other people can agree.
I'll even start a crowd fund page if it means it will be back on the screen.
What Betas had, SV didn't. It had a few young people before even entering the space of an incubator as the scene at the time. It was way more relatable than its counterpart.
I don't want to stay in the past, but I genuinely believe that it should be revived, and I am damn sure plenty of other people can agree.
I'll even start a crowd fund page if it means it will be back on the screen.
It's like The Big Bang Theory without likable characters.
killian_d7 March 2015
Let's sum up Betas: Hipster stereotype, nerd stereotype, Red Bull product placement, hipster stereotype. Add in a buttload of clichés and sadly stretched engineering jargon and there you have Betas.
It's a shame since Alphas was such a great show I had high hopes that Amazon would have another winner with this show. The storyline is predictable, the acting is hit or miss, and the dialogue is painful is so painful I wonder if the writers have actually had conversations in their entire life.
I'm iffy about giving HBOs Silicone Valley a try because it follows a similar format.
It's a shame since Alphas was such a great show I had high hopes that Amazon would have another winner with this show. The storyline is predictable, the acting is hit or miss, and the dialogue is painful is so painful I wonder if the writers have actually had conversations in their entire life.
I'm iffy about giving HBOs Silicone Valley a try because it follows a similar format.
I like this better than Silicon Valley, hope they bring it back
szearc7 July 2017
I just binged the first season of this show and I am so disappointed that it got cancelled! This show is hilarious! If you like Silicon Valley, check this out, it was made shortly before Silicon Valley came out...
I watch silicon valley too and enjoy it as well, but somehow I felt more emotionally invested in the characters here. After watching the first season of this, I found myself rooting for this startup and wanting their app to succeed, they actually have an inspiring idea.
This show seems more thought out, and has better writing and acting to be honest. The characters seem more believable, the app they have seems more real, I feel like I know a number of real people from that show, and having seen some of the same situations working in tech startups in silicon valley, this feels more authentic. Somehow Silicon Valley feels more like a Hollywood version of a startup story, whereas Betas feels like it was written by somebody who has experienced it.
Amazon, please bring this show back for a second season! This is my favorite show on Amazon Prime Video...
I watch silicon valley too and enjoy it as well, but somehow I felt more emotionally invested in the characters here. After watching the first season of this, I found myself rooting for this startup and wanting their app to succeed, they actually have an inspiring idea.
This show seems more thought out, and has better writing and acting to be honest. The characters seem more believable, the app they have seems more real, I feel like I know a number of real people from that show, and having seen some of the same situations working in tech startups in silicon valley, this feels more authentic. Somehow Silicon Valley feels more like a Hollywood version of a startup story, whereas Betas feels like it was written by somebody who has experienced it.
Amazon, please bring this show back for a second season! This is my favorite show on Amazon Prime Video...
Better Than Silicon Valley!!
spokanegolfer13 April 2016
Wonderful show! Great show that follows a group of people as they develop an app and figure out coming of age issues in their life. Smart, well written, and flows well. While I really like Silicon Valley, Betas is a better show! To a large degree, I would say that Silicon Valley copied the Betas show and put a slightly older character twist to it. The original is always better! If you get the chance to watch Betas, take it. Both shows have a single female in the programming group, however, Betas treat theirs as an equal, and are more of a team. Silicon, on the other hand, seem more cut throat and competitive. Instead of working together, they are often undermining one another.
Dayne
Dayne
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