Sadly, the end is near for “Silicon Valley” and we’re about to throw an epic tantrum.
HBO’s satirical sendup of the Bay Area’s dot-com culture concludes its sixth and final season Sunday, Dec. 8 with a series finale aptly titled “Exit Event.” It means we’re being forced to part ways with nerdy Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch) and his entire nutty Pied Piper crew, including Gilfoyle (Martin Starr), Dinesh (Kumail Nanjiani) and Jared (Zach Woods).
But how should the tech-savvy comedy, which debuted in 2014, end? What still needs to happen?
Will you be ticked off unless Pied Piper, once and for all, hits it big? After six seasons of watching the gang repeatedly snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and dealing with one frustration after another — including the fiasco that was “Russfest” — isn’t it only fitting that they drive off into the sunset in shiny Teslas stuffed with billions?
Or should the show remain true to its dark, defeatist core and subject Richard’s bunch to outcast status until the very end? After all, Charles Schulz never allowed poor Charlie Brown to kick that blasted football. And, as far as we know, Wile E. Coyote never caught the Roadrunner.
What else does the show need to accomplish before bowing out? Do you want to see Richard and Monica finally get together? (Or not?) What about the AWOL Erlich Bachman? Should he make one last weed-infested appearance?
Does Big Head deserve to, in some way, become incredibly famous? Will Monica punch Jian-Yang in the face? (One can only hope). Should Gavin Belson be made to suffer a hilariously cruel fate?
Some full disclosure here: We’ve already seen the finale. We know what happens and we’re pleased to report that producers Mike Judge, Alec Berg and their collaborators wring some huge laughs from the show’s waning moments.
We’ll drop no spoilers here, but will let you know that the last episode, which was written and directed by Berg, swivels between the present day and 10 years into the future. It is also stuffed with several fun and playful cameo appearances. (Again, our lips are sealed).
The HBO log line? It simply says “Richard and the Pied Piper team look to pull off a spectacular feat on the day of a big launch.”
“Silicon Valley” airs at 10 p.m. Sunday on HBO.