“The Dropout” is an American biographical crime drama miniseries that tells the story of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos, which was once considered a revolutionary technology company but later exposed as a fraud. The show is based on the podcast of the same name produced by ABC News.

The series manages to capture the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company in a linear fashion, starting from her preteens and all the way to her exposure as a fraud. However, despite the well-structured story, the show falls short in its execution. The pacing is slow, and it takes too long for the story to build up. The show also fails to provide a deep understanding of the motivations and psyche of the main character, which makes it hard to connect with her.

Despite the show’s shortcomings, one of the strong points of the series is the performances by the cast. Amanda Seyfried, who plays Elizabeth Holmes, gives a convincing and nuanced portrayal of the character. Seyfried’s performance captures the character’s ambition and drive, while also showing her vulnerability and her descent into madness. The supporting cast also delivers strong performances and they were able to bring a sense of realism to their characters.

Overall, “The Dropout” is a well-structured story but fails to live up to its potential. The show’s slow pacing, lack of character development, and lack of understanding of the main character’s motivations make it a hard watch. However, the strong performances by the cast are the redeeming factor of the series.