The series creators also created another series I like and follow, 'Billions'. That being said, what I immediately noticed, and in every episode of the first season, was how the series used actual names of individuals portrayed in the series. Lots of well known personalities. The founder of UBER, Travis Kalanik, delightfully played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the key character, is portrayed as an egomaniac, acting like a grownup child with no redeeming values, all hype, and controlling. He sought individuals with equally low virtue or qualifications to work for him, basically anyone who would buy into his cult leader like personality. This is was the start of a... no, not a beautiful relationship, a most unhealthy climate for any business to develop; but we're in the 21st century so no rules like common sense apply anymore. It's full speed ahead and the people the company hurts as it grows, be dammed.
Other characters who were or are in real life who they are in the series, Larry Page, cofounder of Google, Bill Gurley, venture capitalist partner at Benchmark, Arianna Huffington, founder of Huffington Post, Anthony Levandowski, the inventor of the first self driving car, Sergei Brin, cofounder of Google, Tim Cook, Apple CEO, Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur (who doesn't know him) played himself. By the way Cuban and Gurley were not unlikable characters in the series, but I can't speak for how they are in real life; I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. David Bonderman, a billionaire investor cofounder of TPG Capital, played by an actor I always like, Chelcie Ross, was a character who walked a fine line between common sense good guy and sneaky bastard. The series has an abundance of known actors, actors we've seen umpteenth times in variety of roles and movie or series genre; that was a plus for me.
I was not aware of the rollercoaster ride the company, Uber, had gone through before 2020, but now I do. It doesn't make me sympathetic to it regardless. And, I certainly did not know all the connections the odious Kalanik made as he grew the company, let alone all the illegal and unscrupulous maneuverings. It's what made me keep watching. A friend recommended the series to me and since I trust my friend's recommendation, always been on the mark, I gave it a look-see. I am surprised none of the very wealthy characters portrayed, and named repeatedly in the series, haven't sued for showing them in such a bad light; gotta give that US first constitutional amendment some credit for that I suppose. I loved the series, and perhaps some of the delight comes from watching elite SOB's being shined a blue-light on them, a form of Schadenfreude if you will. Then again, one could simply call this exposure dark humour. Okay, I'll go with that, dark humour. Don't we all like to learn the dark little secrets of companies we are suspicious of, and don't we all think those young bravado CEO's are deserving of a good kick in the... you know. If, like me you are in that mood right now, or soon, just watch Super Pumped and release some of your stress in the process.
Other characters who were or are in real life who they are in the series, Larry Page, cofounder of Google, Bill Gurley, venture capitalist partner at Benchmark, Arianna Huffington, founder of Huffington Post, Anthony Levandowski, the inventor of the first self driving car, Sergei Brin, cofounder of Google, Tim Cook, Apple CEO, Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur (who doesn't know him) played himself. By the way Cuban and Gurley were not unlikable characters in the series, but I can't speak for how they are in real life; I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. David Bonderman, a billionaire investor cofounder of TPG Capital, played by an actor I always like, Chelcie Ross, was a character who walked a fine line between common sense good guy and sneaky bastard. The series has an abundance of known actors, actors we've seen umpteenth times in variety of roles and movie or series genre; that was a plus for me.
I was not aware of the rollercoaster ride the company, Uber, had gone through before 2020, but now I do. It doesn't make me sympathetic to it regardless. And, I certainly did not know all the connections the odious Kalanik made as he grew the company, let alone all the illegal and unscrupulous maneuverings. It's what made me keep watching. A friend recommended the series to me and since I trust my friend's recommendation, always been on the mark, I gave it a look-see. I am surprised none of the very wealthy characters portrayed, and named repeatedly in the series, haven't sued for showing them in such a bad light; gotta give that US first constitutional amendment some credit for that I suppose. I loved the series, and perhaps some of the delight comes from watching elite SOB's being shined a blue-light on them, a form of Schadenfreude if you will. Then again, one could simply call this exposure dark humour. Okay, I'll go with that, dark humour. Don't we all like to learn the dark little secrets of companies we are suspicious of, and don't we all think those young bravado CEO's are deserving of a good kick in the... you know. If, like me you are in that mood right now, or soon, just watch Super Pumped and release some of your stress in the process.