Last week, Paramount+ unveiled a new anthology series in the form of Super Pumped.
The first season, subtitled The Battle For Uber, tracks the rise and fall of Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick (Joseph Gordon-Lovett).
When we first meet Travis, he opens a job interview with the pivotal question: “Are you an asshole?” He expects a yes and he isn’t exactly likeable. Travis wants his rideshare service ‘Ubercab’ to become popular like Google, and in doing so, he manages to secure venture capitalist Bill Gurley (Kyle Chandler). But at the same time, his business practices are questioned by Randall Pearson (Richard Schiff), a power-broker for the San Francisco Mass Transit Authority, who is determined to see the entrepreneur fails unless UberCab pays its fair share.
There is a solution, which isn’t entirely legal, but throughout the first three episodes offered for review, it’s clear that Travis will do anything to succeed, and that’s when things will come crashing down…
Created by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber is a compelling story that follows of wrong-doings and pitfalls of trying to be a giant.
Gordon-Lovett is compelling in a role that is very different to what we usually see him in and he delivers a measured performance.
The rise and fall of Travis Kalanick provides some engrossing TV that you won’t want to miss.
3.5 Stars
Super Pumped: The Battle For Uber is now available on Paramount+.
