‘BlackBerry’ Recap: ‘Part I’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Matt Johnson and Jay Baruchel as Doug Fregin and Mike Lazaridis in ‘Part I’ of ‘BlackBerry’. (Photo Courtesy of AMC.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘BlackBerry’.
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There is a prevailing belief in our world, that innovation and technological creativity happens in a very orderly and organized fashion, and it makes sense as to why we hold to that belief. For we grow up hearing about the titans of industry, and how they focused their vision with their team, and brought forth wonders in doing so. And we’ve seen video footage of assembly lines and factories, working in harmony to give us the incredible devices that we make use of on a daily basis. But the fact of the matter is, that belief isn’t as correct as one might hope. For innovation and technological creativity are sometimes born out of outright chaos, and outright necessity. Simply because the human condition is involved in such matters, and well… we are flawed and emotional and that can bring about chaos and failure, the kind that can topple a mighty company. 

If anything, the true ups and downs of how we create technological marvels in our world are top of mind today simply because AMC has opted to dive into the rise and fall of BlackBerry. A company that changed the world by giving us the ability to connect as we do now, all courtesy of a magnificent all-in-one phone. But they did indeed disappear from the technological landscape, and that’s shocking. Since that kind of innovation should give a company staying power. But this series is clearly going to leave no stone unturned regarding how it rose to power and fell from grace so quickly, and oddly enough, it is necessity that serves as the focal theme of the show’s fascinating series premiere. For ‘Part I’ transports us back to 1996 when the company was founded under odd circumstances.

For initially, Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin, the top dogs at RIM, the company that would become BlackBerry… experienced nothing but failure in trying to get their phone backed. To the point where they were outright ignored by an executive named Jim Balsillie, making it seem as though their device would never come to life, and they would in fact… be forced to just continue working on their modems for US Robotics. But Jim’s dismissal for trying to get ahead in an important meeting, changed everything. For he saw a chance to be an industry leader if he could shepherd this product in the right direction, and that prompted him… to basically muscle his way into the company and try to take it to the top. A move that brought about immediate chaos and disarray, but a mutual understanding between Mike and Jim… that this was indeed a marriage of necessity, and a sense of urgency needed to persist.

Simply because RIM was running out of money, thanks to a dirty deal with US Robotics that they used to their advantage. One that stymied payroll for RIM. And of course, Jim needed this badly to feel a sense of accomplishment and a sense of purpose and well… that brought forth quite the miracle. For Jim’s fast actions not only allowed for the staff to stay, but for innovation to come to life. Because a meeting that Jim put together with Bell Atlantic, prompted Mike to innovate like never before and bring what would become the BlackBerry to life, and despite some speed bumps at the meeting, Mike was also able to demonstrate his expertise and wow the executives and show them… what the future was going to look like. Giving rise to a powerful moment that happened in history, one that would lead to one incredible ride.

Which made for an amazing opening episode to this journey. One that really did explore how innovation comes from chaos and necessity, and how big technological moments aren’t always brought to life via inspirational meetings and incredible teamwork. Sometimes they are just forced into existence and that’s how BlackBerry came to be, and it was simply fascinating to learn about its tenuous origins and in many ways, a lot of what we saw here, had to help lead to its downfall. Because the rushed nature of everything, combined with the tension present in the office over Jim’s arrival and his actions… are a rough foundation for success. But of course, something else could have led to its utter collapse and that is what makes the journey ahead so exciting. Since this premiere made it clear, that we will indeed learn how every single wrong turn and brilliant epiphany led to the rise and fall of a company that had a massive impact on our world and how we function. Until next time.

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