Take Three: The Dropout

The Dropout: Season 1, Episode 3 “Green Juice” (B+)

The Elizabeth we saw at the end of the episode, with the red lipstick and the all-black outfit similar to Steve Jobs’, is what I picture from having seen the documentary, though it’s probably not fair that I’m constantly making comparisons to what I know to be true when I don’t know much about the basis for other recent series like “Inventing Anna” and “Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber.” She did do a remarkable job of pivoting from a crying meltdown in front of the whole board to suggesting that she remain as CEO if Sunny came in as COO with an investment of $20 million, which was a smart power play but also means that she looked weak in front of those who will now have to have confidence in her. It was quite the gamble, especially since she hadn’t yet pitched the idea to Sunny, and we’ve also seen the temper he has that might make him a volatile business partner for Elizabeth. The exodus of Avi and Anna once they realized that she was moving ahead despite still not being able to deliver on the design concept that was the crux of all this was disconcerting, and Edmund being escorted out was also a sign that this whole thing just isn’t sustainable. Richard was upset that Elizabeth didn’t come to him for advice, and now he’s furious that she’s suing him for patenting something that she’s going to need. I kept trying to figure out who Don Lucas was and only in the middle of this episode did I realize that it was an unrecognizable Michael Ironside under all that makeup. I liked when Elizabeth was putting on her deep voice on the phone and he asked her if she was sick, exactly the kind of reaction she’s not going to appreciate in this new professional phase of her life.