Summary
WeWork burn through the 4.4 billion dollar investment as Adam takes on his competitors and Rebekah worries she’s been pushed aside. The drama continues with a hilarious and highly entertaining fifth episode.
This recap of the Apple TV+ series WeCrashed season 1, episode 5, “Hustle Harder,” contains spoilers.
Read the recap of the previous episode.
WeCrashed may have the glitz and glam of a shallow, two-dimensional series, what with the big names on display and showy aesthetics, but there is more to this drama. There are character arcs and themes running throughout the show, adding depth to the carnival madness. In “Hustle Harder” Adam takes that 4.4 billion dollar investment and continues to grow the company, whilst his wife Rebekah has an existential crisis, struggling to find her place in the business.
WeCrashed season 1, episode 5 recap
A comedic montage introduces us to episode five, in which WeWork open premises globally. The building in Shanghai has a staircase but no second floor, Poland’s structure is infested with mice and in Paris the toilets don’t work. Adam finds quick and pragmatic solutions to all these issues as he strives for global domination. He’s made the Time 100 list and has a Vanity Fair photoshoot scheduled. Things are looking extremely positive after last episode’s financially disastrous escapades.
The crux of this chapter is Rebekah’s need for purpose though. After years of motherly duties, she now wishes to return to work, although the company’s attitudes are changing. She discovers that her office is being used for meetings and employees are disrespecting the workspace. Rebekah starts firing people on the sole basis that she doesn’t like them. She feels side-lined and inconsequential, airing these concerns to Elishia, her new friend, who now inconveniently works for Adam as well. Elishia suggests a branding expert to help Rebekah find her identity once more.
Rebekah’s personal struggles are perfectly portrayed by Anne Hathaway, encapsulating a spoilt and pretentious snob who’s quickly losing her grip on the business. The writers hammer home this motif in style, this is a show that plays into the ridiculous and extravagant, yet has depth to it too. Rebekah tries to keep a hold on WeWork and forces Adam to make the company vegan, whilst also battling her friend Elishia for rank.
The ending
Working in unison with Rebekah’s subplot, Adam is also on his own mad adventure. His billionaire investor Masayoshi has dared Adam to think bigger and crazier. The bonkers entrepreneur leans into this and starts to take out the competition, in tandem with buying jets and mansions. Jared Leto’s Tommy Wiseau impersonation works a lot better when he’s channeling the mad scientist in Adam Neumann, which works a treat in “Hustle Harder”.
The Apple TV+ series has its critics, yet this continues to be a highly entertaining biography that explores the insanity of the billionaire company and those crazy enough to create such a beast. Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto are as compelling as ever. The destructive decline is on the horizon and it’s going to make for one hell of a finale.
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