The WORST episodes of Halt and Catch Fire

Every episode of Halt and Catch Fire ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Halt and Catch Fire!

In the early 1980s a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy combine to confront the corporate behemoths of the time. Their personal and professional lives will be challenged by greed and ego while charting the changing culture in Texas' Silicon Prairie.

Last Updated: 9/26/2024Network: AMCStatus: Ended
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High Plains Hardware
star
7.63
2167 votes

#1 - High Plains Hardware

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/15/2014

Gordon and Cameron struggle to make Joe's vision a reality; Joe and Bosworth seek the funds to make the new machine.

Directors: Karyn Kusama
Writer: Jason Cahill
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Signal to Noise
star
7.71
799 votes

#2 - Signal to Noise

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/19/2017

Joe and Cameron talk on the phone; Donna promotes her assistant; Gordon's business buckles under pressure from a larger competitor.

Directors: Meera Menon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Giant
star
7.74
1791 votes

#3 - Giant

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/13/2014

A visitor from Joe's past threatens his newfound connection with Cameron. Meanwhile, with Donna out of town, the toll of Gordon's work catches up with him.

Directors: Jon Amiel
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Yerba Buena
star
7.75
1440 votes

#4 - Yerba Buena

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/13/2016

Gordon and Donna decide to treat themselves to a vacation at home instead of camping. Bos and Cameron return to Texas. Ryan and Joe have a revelation.

Directors: Andrew McCarthy
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
So It Goes
star
7.75
1180 votes

#5 - So It Goes

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/19/2017

As the fourth and final season opens, Gordon enjoys success while Joe works to keep their web project afloat. Cameron extends a business trip while Donna launches a new venture.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Tonya and Nancy
star
7.76
1049 votes

#6 - Tonya and Nancy

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/9/2017

Cameron buys a plot of land to recenter; Joe and Gordon hire a team of websurfers to map the web; Donna focuses her team on the mission ahead.

Directors: Stacie Passon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Rules of Honorable Play
star
7.77
1453 votes

#7 - Rules of Honorable Play

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/6/2016

Donna and Cameron have a hard time coming to a mutual agreement on their acquisition. Gordon discovers the importance of teamwork through laser tag.

Directors: Jake Paltrow
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Nowhere Man
star
7.78
1078 votes

#8 - Nowhere Man

Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 9/16/2017

Donna struggles with suspicion; Bosworth hits a breaking point; Joe confesses to Gordon while Cameron faces past mistakes.

Directors: So Yong Kim
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Landfall
star
7.78
1869 votes

#9 - Landfall

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/6/2014

A breakthrough by Cameron places her at odds with Gordon, leaving Joe to make a tough decision. Meanwhile, Hurricane Alicia spurs some personal revelations.

Directors: Larysa Kondracki
Writer: Zack Whedon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Miscellaneous
star
7.78
1076 votes

#10 - Miscellaneous

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/26/2017

Cameron promotes her game at an industry conference; Donna squares off against old rivals; Gordon struggles to support Joe's newest idea.

Directors: Jeff Freilich
Writer: Zack Whedon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Valley of the Heart's Delight
star
7.83
1547 votes

#11 - Valley of the Heart's Delight

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 8/23/2016

Donna and Cameron explore their options to expand beyond chat. Gordon settles in at Mutiny and Joe launches his latest product.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Adventure
star
7.84
1926 votes

#12 - Adventure

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/29/2014

Cameron bristles under a new manager as Joe and Gordon attempt to procure a key piece of new technology for the computer.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Dahvi Waller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
1984
star
7.85
1707 votes

#13 - 1984

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/3/2014

As Gordon and Joe prepare to ship the Giant, a suspicious defect calls their partnership into question. Cameron takes her future into her own hands.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Working for the Clampdown
star
7.85
1487 votes

#14 - Working for the Clampdown

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/12/2015

Gordon and Donna harbor secrets from one another as Gordon launches a new venture. Meanwhile, at Mutiny, an acquisition puts Cameron's principles to the test.

Directors: Karyn Kusama
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
SETI
star
7.86
1725 votes

#15 - SETI

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/31/2015

Cameron and Donna's gaming company, Mutiny, reaches a critical stage; Joe and Gordon are reunited.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Extract and Defend
star
7.86
1482 votes

#16 - Extract and Defend

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/28/2015

Cameron and Joe clash, leaving Cameron in a tailspin. Gordon attempts to deal with some difficult news.

Directors: Michael Morris
Writer: Zack Whedon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
FUD
star
7.87
2332 votes

#17 - FUD

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/8/2014

After surviving a visit from IBM, Joe's team must overcome internal differences and begin the technical feat of building the new machine.

Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
A Connection Is Made
star
7.87
1022 votes

#18 - A Connection Is Made

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/23/2017

Donna makes a play for a heavy hitter; Gordon confronts his daughter about an issue at school; Cameron finds a new fan; Joe sees a new side of Haley.

Directors: Michael Morris
Writer: Julia Cho
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
New Coke
star
7.88
1618 votes

#19 - New Coke

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/7/2015

Joe begins a new job after meeting Sara's father. Gordon grapples with his newfound freedom. Donna is jolted by Cameron's surprising hire at Mutiny.

Directors: Phil Abraham
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Way In
star
7.88
1561 votes

#20 - The Way In

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 6/14/2015

The Clarks receive a surprising invitation as Bosworth tries to reconnect with his former life. Meanwhile, a problem from within Mutiny threatens its survival.

Directors: Jeff Freilich
Writer: Jason Cahill
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
One Way or Another
star
7.90
1534 votes

#21 - One Way or Another

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/23/2016

While Cameron and Donna struggle to find venture capital, Joe hires a key coder, leaving the rest of the team at a loss.

Directors: Kimberly Peirce
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Limbo
star
7.90
1525 votes

#22 - Limbo

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 7/19/2015

Cameron and Tom try to come to terms at Mutiny's user picnic. Meanwhile, Gordon searches for answers, as Joe and Sara say goodbye to Dallas.

Writer: Zack Whedon
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Play with Friends
star
7.92
1498 votes

#23 - Play with Friends

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 6/21/2015

Joe and Gordon work together to bring about Joe's vision. There is tension between Cameron and Donna.

Directors: Kimberly Peirce
Writer: Dahvi Waller
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Flipping the Switch
star
7.93
1475 votes

#24 - Flipping the Switch

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 8/30/2016

Tensions rise at the office, as Gordon and Donna's personal life spills into work. Joe meets with the MacMillan board.

Directors: Jeff Freilich
Writer: Lisa Albert
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Kali
star
7.94
1512 votes

#25 - Kali

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 7/26/2015

Left reeling by the launch of a rival, Mutiny takes measures to ensure its survival. Meanwhile, Gordon pays a price in an attempt to quell his paranoia.

Directors: Craig Zisk
Writer: Jason Cahill
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV