Could not be better! The entire episode was one glowing recommendation for bitcoin. It made bitcoin sexy, cool and mysterious. They even explained how it works.
Spoilers ahead!
They devote a good half a minute showing a remade version of justmoon’s WeUseCoins video explaning bitcoin. The teenagers are enthusiastic about the currency and explain to their mother about how it works. The video covers the same points as the WeUseCoins video, only with different graphics and a different voiceover.
During the court cases, we see explanations of how one person paid for his hotel, food and a ‘special’ movie using bitcoins on a holiday trip. The episode goes to great lengths to show bitcoin’s legitimate utility in online commerce.
Particularly is the anti-authority message. And this is where the episode really shines. It paints the treasury official as a bitter and petty robot that cannot stand being challenged. He turns the case into personal feud against the show’s main character based on a past case he lost against her. The judge even remarks in the beginning with a snide remark against an old treasury ruling on silver. Then questions his manhood.
The federal agents that do the treasurers bidding are shown up twice by the main female characters in a demasculising manner. Whereas the antagonistic treasurer is a grumpy petty man, the episode is on bitcoin’s side. All the trendy hipsters on the internet are using it. Bitcoin is cool and fashionable.
The main character is amicable and likable. He is shown as being an honorable person, donating his time as a lawyer to defend Occupy Wallstreet protesters. The show aludes a few times to Occupy Wallstreet, echoing a fraction of how bitcoin is part of a larger social revolution. It hints several times at bitcoin’s idealistic origins.
In a possible tip of the hat to Max Keiser, they show a crazy finance TV personality in the court room whom the judge remarks that he loves his show. This being after the treasurer tried to discredit the personality. Unlike Max, he testifies that bitcoin is not real money. [It's Jim Cramer playing Jim Cramer. We know what he thinks of bitcoin now.]
The show’s presenting of technology is entirely comical as usual, but I will let them pass here since they did an entirely great job on the rest. Bitcoin blocks manage to act as a plot device with nonsense about ghosting and hacking.
Not in my wildest dreams could I have expected a better episode. The good guys emerge on top as winners in the end, the good guys being bitcoin and justice. Entertaining and educational- a volatile mix!
Update:
Check the latest addition to the blockchain:
(WKwQv0/////Stack is innocent/////KaZMl82
Alluding to the string put into a block by Mr. Bitcoin in the show. Unlike the real bitcoin, only the creator is able to embed messages in the blockchain in the show. Nobody controls the real bitcoin network, and anyone can place messages there. This is a nice joke by a miner.
“bit coin” is hot on Google:
The crazy tv finance personality is Jim Cramer. The guy played himself. It’s not a tip of the hat to Max Keiser.
You’re right. Thanks for that (not American
).
Thanks for the run down. I haven’t seen it yet, but am looking forward to downloading it.
The crazy finance TV personality is actually a crazy finance TV personality…It’s Jim Cramer of CNBC. He has a daily show called Mad Money at 6pm ET. I’m going to tune in tomorrow to see if he talks about his appearance on the show or about Bitcoin.
Well, well, well…
I’m holding my breath here. Turning various shades of purple and red…
We’re on the right side of history.
Toni
somebody spare a few bucks? i want to buy more bitcoin now..but don’t have money on reserve for it.
i blame you all if you get rich without me!!
no joke!
I think there is a vary good chance you could still get ritch using bitcoin as a vehicle for investment. It is only at $7 now. I beleve we are in a strong bull period right now, and could at the vary least test the $32 high water mark that was set before if not brake it before we retrace.
Nice write-up Amir.
I had the same reaction.
It will sadden me if Jim Cramer really thinks that about Bitcoin… :-/
Bitcoin is a commodity not a currency. There is nothing bad about that. A rose by any other name….
Vary nice write-up Amir
I just watched the show. It most certainly painted bitcoin is a good light. Never was there a bad word spoken about bitcoin at all…, well maybe the incorrect accusations that bitcoin is illegal. I guess also the hotel guy saying it was a hassle to use, but I guess it is arguably more of a hassle then cash for a face-to-face transaction (at this time but may people are working on that). Bitcoins real strength is in on-line transactions i.e. no need to keep sensitive customer information that could, and most likely will be compromised, no need to deal with all the legal crap and fees with credit cards, and no charge backs… (this list could go on for a long time… bitcoin is so much better at these transactions then credit cards). I don’t know why they were calling the creator of bitcoin “Mr. Bitcoin.” Why not just call him “Satoshi Nakamoto” ?
All in all, I think watching this show will certainly motivate a whole new group of people to take a look at bitcoin. They demonstrated that it can be used to buy may things already like book, hotel rooms, and Snickers bars. They made it seem like an entirely ligament and normal way to transfer fund. Which it is without a doubt. They made it seem cool. Which is always good. They made it seem like it was something that will give people more freedom and kind of associated it with the Occupy movement (why do we pay banks so much to maintain a data base, and in such a stupid exploitable way no less?). Which is good.
I am vary happy with what I saw
but, I am not happy with all my spelling mistakes… Sorry guys….
great write-up! and episode!
Jim Cramer is obviously PRO Bitcoin. He appeared on a PRO bitcoin episode. It doesn’t matter what character he played. I don’t think he needs the money.