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The Worst Episodes of Halt and Catch Fire

Every episode of Halt and Catch Fire ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Halt and Catch Fire!

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During the rise of the PC era in the early 1980s, an unlikely trio - a visionary, an engineer and a prodigy - take personal and professional risks in the race to build a computer

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Halt and Catch Fire Season 1 Episode 3 - High Plains Hardware
    7.5/10(955 votes)

    #1 - High Plains Hardware

    S1:E3

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

    Director:Karyn Kusama
    Writer:Jason Cahill

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  2. Halt and Catch Fire Season 3 Episode 4 - Rules of Honorable Play
    7.6/10(518 votes)

    #2 - Rules of Honorable Play

    S3:E4

    A game of laser tag teaches Gordon the importance of teamwork; Donna and Cameron disagree on their acquisition.

    Director:Jake Paltrow
    Writer:Alison Tatlock

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  3. Halt and Catch Fire Season 1 Episode 7 - Giant
    7.7/10(834 votes)

    #3 - Giant

    S1:E7

    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.

    Director:Jon Amiel
    Writer:Jamie Pachino

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  4. Halt and Catch Fire Season 2 Episode 2 - New Coke
    7.7/10(650 votes)

    #4 - New Coke

    S2:E2

    Joe begins a new job after meeting Sara's father. Gordon grapples with his newfound freedom.

    Director:Phil Abraham
    Writer:Jonathan Lisco

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  5. Halt and Catch Fire Season 3 Episode 1 - Valley of the Heart's Delight
    7.7/10(583 votes)

    #5 - Valley of the Heart's Delight

    S3:E1

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

    Director:Daisy von Scherler Mayer
    Writers:Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell

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  6. Halt and Catch Fire Season 3 Episode 5 - Yerba Buena
    7.7/10(525 votes)

    #6 - Yerba Buena

    S3:E5

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

    Director:Andrew McCarthy
    Writer:Mark Lafferty

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  7. Halt and Catch Fire Season 2 Episode 1 - SETI
    7.8/10(743 votes)

    #7 - SETI

    S2:E1

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

    Director:Juan José Campanella
    Writers:Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell

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  8. Halt and Catch Fire Season 1 Episode 2 - FUD
    7.9/10(1064 votes)

    #8 - FUD

    S1:E2

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

    Director:Juan José Campanella
    Writers:Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell

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  9. Halt and Catch Fire Season 2 Episode 3 - The Way In
    7.9/10(661 votes)

    #9 - The Way In

    S2:E3

    John attempts to reconnect with his old life. Gordon and Donna get a surprising invitation.

    Director:Jeff Freilich
    Writer:Jason Cahill

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  10. Halt and Catch Fire Season 2 Episode 5 - Extract and Defend
    7.9/10(643 votes)

    #10 - Extract and Defend

    S2:E5

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

    Director:Michael Morris
    Writer:Zack Whedon

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  11. Halt and Catch Fire Season 3 Episode 3 - Flipping the Switch
    7.9/10(532 votes)

    #11 - Flipping the Switch

    S3:E3

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

    Director:Jeff Freilich
    Writer:Lisa Albert

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  12. Halt and Catch Fire Season 4 Episode 1 - So It Goes
    7.9/10(603 votes)

    #12 - So It Goes

    S4:E1

    Gordon enjoys success while Joe works to keep their web project afloat. Cameron extends a business trip. Donna launches a new venture.

    Director:Juan José Campanella
    Writers:Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell

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  13. Halt and Catch Fire Season 4 Episode 4 - Tonya and Nancy
    7.9/10(501 votes)

    #13 - Tonya and Nancy

    S4:E4

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

    Director:Stacie Passon
    Writer:Alison Tatlock

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  14. Halt and Catch Fire Season 1 Episode 1 - I/O
    8.0/10(1381 votes)

    #14 - I/O

    S1:E1

    The Texan company Cardiff Electronics gets a new employee from New York. He's apparently working for IBM, but after the he gets the new job it gets clear that he has a hidden agenda, and is not exactly what he claims to be.

    Director:Juan José Campanella
    Writers:Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell

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  15. Halt and Catch Fire Season 1 Episode 6 - Landfall
    8.0/10(844 votes)

    #15 - Landfall

    S1:E6

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

    Director:Larysa Kondracki
    Writer:Zack Whedon

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  16. Halt and Catch Fire Season 1 Episode 10 - 1984
    8.0/10(846 votes)

    #16 - 1984

    S1:E10

    Gordon and Joe prepare to transport the Giant. A suspicious defect causes a rift in the partnership.

    Director:Juan José Campanella
    Writers:Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell

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  17. Halt and Catch Fire Season 3 Episode 2 - One Way or Another
    8.0/10(549 votes)

    #17 - One Way or Another

    S3:E2

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

    Director:Kimberly Peirce
    Writer:Michael Saltzman

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  18. Halt and Catch Fire Season 1 Episode 4 - Close to the Metal
    8.1/10(903 votes)

    #18 - Close to the Metal

    S1:E4

    As Cameron nears completion of the BIOS, a crisis threatens the project's future and requires all hands on deck to save the machine.

    Director:Johan Renck
    Writer:Jonathan Lisco

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  19. Halt and Catch Fire Season 1 Episode 5 - Adventure
    8.1/10(871 votes)

    #19 - Adventure

    S1:E5

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

    Director:Ed Bianchi
    Writer:Dahvi Waller

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  20. Halt and Catch Fire Season 2 Episode 4 - Play with Friends
    8.1/10(639 votes)

    #20 - Play with Friends

    S2:E4

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

    Director:Kimberly Peirce
    Writer:Dahvi Waller

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  21. Halt and Catch Fire Season 2 Episode 6 - 10Broad36
    8.1/10(654 votes)

    #21 - 10Broad36

    S2:E6

    Gordon is back in California, hoping to reconnect with his brother. Joe uses the leverage that he has.

    Director:Larysa Kondracki
    Writer:Jamie Pachino

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  22. Halt and Catch Fire Season 4 Episode 5 - Nowhere Man
    8.1/10(515 votes)

    #22 - Nowhere Man

    S4:E5

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

    Director:So Yong Kim
    Writer:Angelina Burnett

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  23. Halt and Catch Fire Season 2 Episode 7 - Working for the Clampdown
    8.2/10(640 votes)

    #23 - Working for the Clampdown

    S2:E7

    Gordon and Donna are keeping secrets from one another. Gordon sets up a new venture.

    Director:Karyn Kusama
    Writers:Christopher C. Rogers, Christopher Cantwell

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  24. Halt and Catch Fire Season 2 Episode 8 - Limbo
    8.2/10(644 votes)

    #24 - Limbo

    S2:E8

    Cameron and Tom attempt to come to terms at Mutiny's user picnic. Gordon looks for some answers.

    Director:Daisy von Scherler Mayer
    Writer:Zack Whedon

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  25. Halt and Catch Fire Season 4 Episode 2 - Signal to Noise
    8.2/10(607 votes)

    #25 - Signal to Noise

    S4:E2

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

    Director:Meera Menon
    Writer:Mark Lafferty

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Worst Episodes Summary

"High Plains Hardware" is the worst rated episode of "Halt and Catch Fire". It scored 7.5/10 based on 955 votes. Directed by Karyn Kusama and written by Jason Cahill, it aired on 6/15/2014. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Rules of Honorable Play".