Olivia, Michael, and Christy take big steps for their firm’s longevity in Cupertino Season 1, Episode 2, “Vik & Bo.” This episode, written by Robert King & Michelle King and directed by Ron Underwood, pulls its proverbial foot off the gas just enough for the show to settle into itself a bit more. Cupertino doesn’t miss a beat in this second episode. The legal drama remains confident and endlessly entertaining as it introduces more streamlined stories.
Not to mention, the ever-evolving dynamic between Michael and Olivia continues to be such a strong pull for the series. “Vik & Bo” builds on the first episode to really earn Michael telling Olivia, “You are always surprising me.” They are such a solid pair that it’s exciting to watch Cupertino build its ensemble. All the while, the show continues to establish serialized stories while excelling at the procedural ones. But does anyone expect anything less from the Kings?
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Vik
Procedurals can sometimes struggle with creating attachment opportunities to the characters that come in for the case of the week. Their presence on the show is usually so fleeting. It’s sometimes easier to focus on what the case means for the serialized players and stories. “Vik & Bo” is Cupertino’s first chance (the cases in the series premiere are about the leads) to make those stars count. This episode more than succeeds with Nik Dodani as Vikram Malhotra.
It’s really no wonder that he will be a series regular on the show. I look forward to how that manifests this season. Dodani instantly makes Vik feel like a real person, a rarity in this world. The most pivotal moment for the character is when Vik is met with someone else who is openly human – the widow Frances Moore. It seems obvious to be affected by her husband’s death. Olivia is visibly affected when watching the video. But then there’s the incredibly on-the-nose named CEO of Moonchaser. Cupertino does such a great job of making these tech giants near caricatures of who they want to be perceived as.
The Moonchaser CEO is devoid of empathy or sentiment until his intelligence and masculinity, which are deeply intertwined, are questioned. And questioned by a woman in a position of power, no less. The Kings make these scenes even better with Evan Handler’s character playing a middle man. It’s a great micro story to watch Price and Siffre win him over. Michael and Olivia’s partnership and the building trust in it – between them and those witnessing their teamwork – is developing so well.
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Natalia (and Michael & Olivia)
“Vik & Bo” also continues Olivia and Michael’s serialized efforts to find funding for their film. Their work is hard and important and even brave in the face of the Magnificent 7. But those things need to transfer to compensation for their work to continue. Cupertino could’ve brushed aside or easily rectified these problems, but that wouldn’t have reflected the financial insecurity the characters face.
Then, this episode wouldn’t have that great scene where Michael and Olivia open up about their parents. Mike Colter’s delivery of the line about Michael’s sister leading into Bayard showing up at the building is one of my favorite moments from the episode. It’s such a good way of building and layering stories. That sequence between Colter and Joe Morton is excellent. It spotlights the brewing subtext between their characters. Bayard’s “I’m investing in you, son. Your talent. That’s trust” emphasizes how trust is transactional rather than earned with him. Still, Mike won’t fold to his father.
That financial difference that he has with Olivia sets them apart from the Goliaths and sets up the introduction of Busy Philipps as Natalia Boutella. This character is instantly brilliant. She is externally defined by her ex-husband’s success, but “Vik & Bo” gleans much more about her than Google. At first glance, Natalia is fun and stubborn and smart. It’s already very obvious that her ex-husband underestimated her. She also recognizes a determination in Olivia, who takes a risk to meet Natalia. Now, Cupertino gets to see how it pays off.
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Bo (and Christy)
All the while, Christy is trying to get a new client, Bo, which becomes a much larger story than meets the eye. Life (and movies) have taught me not to trust phone calls with strangers. “Vik & Bo” proves that right on a monumental skill. I’m glad that I never would’ve guessed that Bo is the fully sentient AGI computer.
It’s unexpected. It’s also a really disarming and terrifying throughline for the show. Michael’s rejection of Bo will surely come back around for not only the firm but maybe even the world. That threat building in the background of the season gives the show’s renewed stakes that couldn’t be higher.
The threat to humanity, the suit for guardrails, it’s almost all too real given recent headlines. Cupertino has the chance for piercing commentary and satire about all of this. The more real that all of this gets, it’ll be interesting to see how the show continues to balance levity and prioritize humanity.
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Other Thoughts:
- Olivia immediately and repeatedly asking Vik if he’s okay is very sweet.
- Christy’s focus on building walls is a bit that I hope never ends until all the walls are built.
- I want to see more about the relationship between religion and the tech world
- Michael punching an electric vehicle parking sign is satisfying.
- Michael and Olivia already have a handshake!
- Every time we see Christy’s large family, I want to see more of them.
- Olivia humming Annie as she drives down the foggiest, scariest road ever is deeply relatable.
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