Hulu Original Series The Dropout delivers a nail-biting account based on the true story of wannabe millionaire Stanford dropout Elizabeth Holmes, portrayed by Amanda Seyfried, in her Icarian pursuit to revolutionize healthcare technology. Elizabeth’s unwavering ambition, fueled by the insatiable desire to become a household name like her idol (and fashion influencer) Steve Jobs, ultimately results in disaster. In her desperation to succeed, Elizabeth makes a series of highly unethical and illegal decisions under the false pretense that her alleged groundbreaking medical device is functional. Beginning by framing her as a supposedly well-intentioned and brilliant tech company founder, The Dropout observes Elizabeth Holmes’s astronomical descent from Forbes’s wealthiest self-made woman to a convicted felon. The show’s timely release follows the former Theranos CEO’s conviction in January 2022.
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Series creator Elizabeth Meriwether crafts an intense narrative following the magnetizing saga of a fascinating individual who seems unable to help but dig herself into an increasingly deeper hole. In the show, Elizabeth Holmes initially claims to have a desire to help people. Her innovative idea to adapt existing blood-testing technology into an at-home diagnostic system requiring only a single drop of blood is exciting to renowned biochemists such as Ian Gibbons (Stephen Fry). The clever concept evidently appeals to investors, too. After charming her way into their pockets, Elizabeth manages to siphon millions upon millions of dollars from huge names such as Walgreens and former Secretary of State George Shultz. They have unwittingly committed to investing in a device that, even after years of research and development, still does not work the way Elizabeth claims it does.
When pharmaceutical companies refuse the bait after the inevitable failure with human trials, Elizabeth pursues retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, and Safeway, potentially putting thousands of unaware customers and their health at risk. How far is she willing to push this lie in order to achieve renown alongside technology greats like Jobs and Bill Gates? The burden of her conspiracy is overwhelming, establishing the foundation for a thrilling television miniseries. With Seyfried’s uncanny likeness, the narrative efficacy of dramatic irony, and a naturally engaging story, here is everything we love about The Dropout so far.
Amanda Seyfried’s Masterful Performance
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The part of Elizabeth Holmes originally belonged to Kate McKinnon, but when she left the project, Amanda Seyfried was cast in the leading role instead. Thus far, Seyfried has given an eerie performance, capturing Holmes’s unsettling mannerisms, facade, and antisocial traits. Elizabeth Holmes is an interesting person whose unique personality, perception, and inclinations demand ambitious acting. Seyfried succeeds in achieving a delicate balance by giving an evocative performance from an unfeeling character.
Elizabeth Holmes presents textbook antisocial behavior; she risks her own livelihood at the expense of many others to get what she wants. Regardless of how hard she tries, she cannot force herself to fake sympathy for people. Her apathetic nature and ability to effortlessly lie allow her to climb on top of others to reach the top. There are many pointed scenes in which Elizabeth stares intently at her reflection in the mirror, forcing tears to her eyes with great strain. Antisocial behavior to this extent is fairly rare, especially in women, but Seyfried succeeds in underlining these traits in Elizabeth’s character.
One of the real-life Holmes’s defining characteristics is her infamously affected manner of speech; she intentionally lowers her voice because she believes a deeper voice lends itself to her credibility. She believes people will take her seriously and perceive her as mature and knowledgeable. Seyfried’s uncomfortably realistic portrayal reveals Elizabeth’s innate emotional disconnection and consequent frustration with her own detachment. Elizabeth struggles to form emotional, interpersonal bonds, which is highlighted by her tumultuous, aromantic relationship with Theranos COO Sunny Balwani (Naveen Andrews). Seyfried adopts Holmes’s mannerisms and quirks with an ease that is almost disturbing. She artfully captures Holmes’s uncanny ability to win over intelligent individuals with utterly superficial conviction.
The Excruciating Power of Dramatic Irony
The Dropout’s narrative relies heavily upon dramatic irony as an effective storytelling device. The purpose of dramatic irony, in which the audience is privy to key information that certain characters are not, is to pull the audience in by building suspense and, in certain contexts, adding an element of humor. The entire premise of The Dropout is centered on Elizabeth’s false promises that continue to snowball into a lie of epic proportions. She manages to fool brilliant, powerful individuals, from highly educated scientists to wealthy corporate executives.
In Episode 4, titled “Old White Men,” Elizabeth has intentionally double-booked meetings with Walgreens and Safeway in an elaborate setup to pressure Walgreens into accepting a business deal without actually observing the laboratory, as per protocol, to confirm the legitimacy of the Theranos device. The scene is objectively hilarious; members of each executive team are fuming, sweating in their suits, and glaring at one another. Meanwhile, the audience is on the edge of their seats, watching and hoping as the Walgreens team is leaving, having bowed out, only to change their minds at the last minute. The entire episode is brilliantly agonizing.
A Naturally Gripping Narrative
The true story upon which The Dropout is based is fascinating in itself. A woman who was at one point the most wealthy woman in the United States has successfully conned millions of dollars out of prominent, public male figures. It is an unprecedented feat – appalling, yet impressive nonetheless. How did a 19-year-old female college dropout manage to found a company and convince powerful, accomplished men to shell out serious chunks of money and nothing to show for it? How did someone with minimal scientific knowledge persuade several acclaimed scientists to take on an infeasible project? The premise is compelling on its own and makes for a brilliant television series. Elizabeth Holmes is a person of intrigue; she is an incredibly high-profile individual due to her “success” and the publicity of her federal court case.
Yet another aspect lending to the story’s allure is that the stakes are very high. In her propulsion to success, Holmes sowed the seeds of her own monumental downfall. She flew too close to the sun and paid a hefty price for her arrogance. Watching these events unfold on the screen is a rollercoaster of excitement and anxiety. Hulu releases episodes every Thursday and are available to watch on Hulu and Disney Plus. There will be eight total installments in the miniseries.
