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- Who made this and why their voice matters in TV’s tech conversation
- Core premise: a boutique law firm for victims of tech gone wrong
- Team dynamics and the supporting cast
- How episodes are structured: weekly cases with a season-long mystery
- Themes: AI, surveillance and billionaire culture
- Tone and comparisons with earlier King projects
- Performances: leads, scene-stealers and guest stars
- Production choices: location, look and authenticity
- What the series does well and where it still needs work
- Early outlook from the critic sample
Robert and Michelle King return with Cupertino, a CBS hour-long that pits scrappy lawyers against the unseen dangers of modern tech. The show mixes courtroom drama, tech paranoia and pop-culture barbs to explore how artificial intelligence and surveillance reshape lives. If you care about legal fights, Silicon Valley power plays or charismatic ensembles, Cupertino aims to deliver.
Who made this and why their voice matters in TV’s tech conversation
The Kings have built a signature career probing institutions on the edge. Their past series — from satirical sci-fi to courtroom epics — repeatedly interrogate politics, religion and tech.
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Cupertino continues their pattern of blending dark warnings with sharp humor. The creators treat technology as a force that can be both miraculous and corrosive. That tension is the engine of the new series.
Core premise: a boutique law firm for victims of tech gone wrong
The series follows two attorneys who leave a Silicon Valley start-up and begin defending people harmed by algorithms and corporate surveillance. The show centers on the idea of protecting the Davids in a world dominated by tech Goliaths.
- Michael Price (Mike Colter): a high-energy lawyer dismissed from his company under suspicious circumstances.
- Olivia Siffre (Rachel Keller): a younger associate with firm ideals and a complicated personal life.
- Bayard (Joe Morton): Michael’s father, a notorious celebrity lawyer whose shadow looms large.
Together they create a boutique practice that takes on cases about misapplied AI, invasive surveillance and unchecked tech entrepreneurs.
Team dynamics and the supporting cast
Each episode adds to the roster. The team grows with both comic and practical strengths.
- Christy (Ella Stiller): the resourceful assistant with family ties across the region.
- Vik (Nik Dodani): a coder and problem-solver who bridges legal and technical worlds.
- Natalia (Busy Philipps): an investor with personal reasons to oppose a slimy billionaire.
These characters bring levity and situational expertise. Their chemistry turns familiar archetypes into engaging teammates.
How episodes are structured: weekly cases with a season-long mystery
Cupertino blends a case-of-the-week format with an overarching storyline. The weekly proceedings flow like a classic broadcast procedural.
- Typical case examples: flawed transplant lists, errant fireworks programming, security-camera errors.
- Recurring legal adversaries: an onetime lover and courtroom rival, and a rotating slate of eccentric judges.
- Season arc: a whistleblower named Bo (Rob McClure) carries a central secret that threads through the episodes.
This mix keeps momentum steady while giving the show room to develop longer mysteries.
Themes: AI, surveillance and billionaire culture
Technology is the antagonist more than any single company. The series rails against algorithms that harm real people and the wealthy executives who shrug off consequences.
Malignant artificial intelligence and the surveillance state are presented as modern threats. The show satirizes corporate hubris and explores how convenience can erode autonomy.
Tone and comparisons with earlier King projects
Cupertino leans into humor and procedural clarity rather than the bleak rage that fueled some of the Kings’ earlier highs. It’s less raw than The Good Fight at its angriest moments.
The weekly cases often outshine the longer arc in emotional pull. That leaves some season-long material feeling less urgent than expected.
Performances: leads, scene-stealers and guest stars
Mike Colter anchors the series with charm and physical confidence. He balances swagger and comic timing well.
Rachel Keller offers a warmer, more open turn than recent roles. Her faith and background are woven into her character, but the show sometimes treats those details inconsistently.
Supporting players, including Busy Philipps and Ella Stiller, add texture and frequent laughs. A parade of guest stars — from seasoned character actors to surprise cameos — enhances the series without ever feeling purely stunt casting.
Production choices: location, look and authenticity
Although set in Silicon Valley, the series was filmed elsewhere. That decision affects the show’s sense of place.
Viewers familiar with Northern California may spot mismatches in geography and demographic texture. Visually, the series prefers clean broadcast polish over gritty or region-specific realism.
References to real companies appear, but the main corporate villains remain fictional. Product placements turn up at moments, creating a mild tonal clash with the show’s critique of big tech.
What the series does well and where it still needs work
Strengths:
- Sharp writing that keeps episodes moving.
- A comfortable fit for broadcast procedural pacing.
- A reliable ensemble with recurring dramatic and comedic beats.
Areas that could improve:
- The central whistleblower plot could gain urgency.
- Character backstories sometimes stay surface-level.
- Visual identity and regional authenticity feel muted.
On balance, Cupertino is a lively and enjoyable legal drama that benefits from the Kings’ knack for ensemble storytelling.
Early outlook from the critic sample
With ten episodes available to reviewers, the show shows steady promise. It rarely falters and frequently entertains.
There is room for deeper emotional stakes. If future episodes sharpen the longer arc and ground the characters more fully, Cupertino could grow into one of the Kings’ more resonant network efforts.
