'Masterpiece' drama is lesser known but 'one of the best ever' - streaming free in UK

A "masterpiece" drama series is hailed as one of the best of "all time" - and fans can't stop watching. Halt and Catch Fire, which first hit the small screen in 2014, is initially set in Texas during the rise of the personal computer in the 1980s.

Inspired by the frantic race among early developers to dominate the space, it follows a fictional trio of tech innovators putting everything on the line to build a machine that can compete with IBM's trailblazing offering. Entrepreneur Joe MacMillan (played by Lee Pace) leads the team, which also includes computer engineer Gordon Clark (Scoot McNairy) and Cameron Howe (Mackenzie Davis), a programming prodigy.

The show concluded in 2017 after four seasons but continues to be lauded by audiences. One fan on IMDb described it as the "best show no one watched" alluding to it being much lesser known than other AMC shows, including the wildly-popular Mad Men series.

One fan writing on the review aggregator site said: "This is the first show I have seen, and I've seen plenty, where after binging all four seasons in two weeks, I just started all over again."

Another wrote: "One of the best drama series of all times. Can't remember when I last cried watching a TV series, but "Halt and Catch Fire" made me sob. Wonderful characters. Compelling mixture of fact and fiction. Great actors.

"I lived through most of the computer history that is being presented in the plot-line, and I have to say: it is SPOT ON. I will remain a fan forever."

A third called it a "masterpiece", saying the "story is engaging, the editing is sharp, and the actors are of the highest caliber".

"It's amazing sometimes how smart it is! And I love the way it can be dreadfully suspenseful in one scene, and then stumble on the most sensitive over-looked aspect of life in another.

"I cannot pick a favorite character because they are all good, and that's saying something!" The show has a strong 8.4/10 IMDb score.

The show deals with some upsetting themes including mental health struggles, trauma, and suicide - so may not be for everyone.

Halt and Catch Fire is streaming free on ITVX now.

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