Cupertino Review: The Kings’ Latest AI Legal Drama Gets a Thumbs Up

Robert and Michelle King have built a career out of feel-good apocalypses. Their new CBS hour-long, "Cupertino," takes aim at Big Tech, artificial intelligence and the billionaires who enable it — and early reviews are promising.

Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter watched all 10 episodes sent to critics and calls the show a reminder that nobody is more comfortable with the broadcast procedural format than the Kings. The review describes it as a fast-moving, consistently entertaining treat, though not their most refined critique.

The series stars Mike Colter as Michael Price, an attorney fired from a Silicon Valley startup for shady reasons. He joins forces with Olivia Siffre (Rachel Keller), a young legal associate fired from the same company. Together they launch a boutique firm defending victims of misapplied AI, surveillance overreach and ethically challenged tech prodigies.

Each episode brings a new case — AI messing with transplant lists, security cameras, fireworks displays — while a recurring cast of legal adversaries and quirky judges keeps things lively. Renée Elise Goldsberry plays Michael’s former colleague and occasional love interest; Jackie Earle Haley and Jackie Hoffman are among the judges. The ensemble also includes Ella Stiller, Nik Dodani and Busy Philipps.

A bigger mystery involving a whistleblowing client named Bo (Rob McClure) runs through the season, though the review notes it’s less engaging than the weekly cases. The show also struggles to fully flesh out its main characters — likable chess pieces more than fully realized humans — and was filmed in New Jersey despite being set in Northern California, which causes some visual blandness.

Still, the Kings’ trademarks shine: sharp writing, clever twists, confident performances. Colter brings swagger and goofiness; Keller offers warmth and openness. The review says the show starts promisingly and doesn’t fall off, even if it hasn’t yet found the next gear of "Evil" or "The Good Wife."

It’s enough to land on Fienberg’s must-watch list — rare for a broadcast drama this early. If you’re a fan of the Kings’ previous work, "Cupertino" sounds like a solid addition to your weekly rotation.

• CBS
• Cupertino
• Michelle King
• Mike Colter
• Rachel Keller
• Robert King