Cupertino Season 1 Premiere Review: Mike Colter and Rachel Keller Make CBS's New Legal Drama a Must-Watch
My most highly anticipated series premiere of 2026 was Cupertino. A legal drama starring Mike Colter (best known for Luke Cage) and Rachel Keller (most recognized for her role in Legion).
I went into the show with little knowledge, other than having watched the trailer a few times. I didn't want too many preconceived notions. It was worth it. Cupertino is a fast-paced, punchy, and modern legal drama with lovable characters.
What is the Show?
Cupertino's first episode quickly allows us get to know the two main characters even before we've seen their faces. We see the objects they pile into the boxes provided to them on the day they're fired and quickly get a sense of their personalities.
Viewers quickly realize that Olivia Siffre (Rachel Keller) and Michael Price (Mike Colter) have both been wrongfully terminated, albeit for wildly different reasons. Olivia was terminated after the co-founder was concerned about receiving a sexual harassment complaint pointed at him. Meanwhile, Michael was terminated after false accusations of leaking proprietary documents. (A fabricated claim so the very same co-founder could take Michael's equity share.)
The first episode follows Michael and Olivia as they forge a tentative friendship that quickly blazes past awkwardness and becomes a friendship worth rooting for. (I'll say it now: it better stay platonic between these two because their friendship is already so refreshing and fun.)
The two lawyers team up to represent each other in court for their respective cases. Two individuals against a massive Silicon Valley start-up with a pile of lawyers ready to wipe the floor with them. But Michael and Olivia won't back down.
Why Watch It
Aside from engaging characters and a snappy script, Cupertino feels modern. And not in an annoying way. The show takes on modernity in a way that feels natural and isn't afraid to point out some problems along the way.
Cupertino didn't shy away from lambasting Artificial Intelligence in its first episode. This first episode felt inspired by the legal case in which Scarlett Johansson sued OpenAI for replicating her voice without consent. A very real concern and something many people would feel deeply violated by. In the case of Cupertino's first episode, Olivia was a lawyer in the first year of her career who found herself taken advantage of.
The show promises to take on Silicon Valley in the following episodes, which makes it clear the show has every intention of taking on subjects related to rampant, unchecked companies with few scruples or morals. Cupertino didn't shy away from name-dropping companies like Apple and Google, even if they won't ever have a plotline involving them.
The show is not escapism. If you want to curl up and watch a show to forget how frustrating the real world can be, then Cupertino isn't your first choice. This show tackles the frustrations of everyday people and lays them out, plain as day. Their first target was AI.
The Characters
Mike Colter and Rachel Keller deliver great performances, bringing to life two opposites who somehow still feel like they work well together. Michael Price is a promising lawyer who's done well enough for himself, but most people know him because of his father's work. His father is the "celebrity lawyer." Otherwise known as the guy who the rich hire when they've killed someone and want to get away with it.
Meanwhile, Olivia Siffre is a small-town girl who moved to Cupertino to practice law. She's self-described as a Christian and a conservative, but the character isn't shoving morals down anyone's throat. She's sweet, kind, and perhaps a touch sheltered. However, she seems eager to become less sheltered.
The One Gripe
If I had to name one issue with the show, it's the product placement. It feels surprisingly natural and not overtly in your face, but it is somewhat rampant. IHOP, Rivian, and TGI Fridays all have their showcase moment. Or, in many cases, moments, plural.
I know times are tough, and I can't blame a show for looking for a little extra funding. The characters didn't monologue about the wonderful attributes of any brand. Instead, it felt more as if the characters lived in the real world. Our world. And that does mean brands and products will be swirling around you at all times. It can feel jarring on television, though, as we've become used to unbranded diners, chips, and phones in most shows. I can forgive the product placement, but it really is prominent in the cases of IHOP and TGI Fridays.
To Watch or Not to Watch?
Is Cupertino right for you? Well, I can't answer that. However, I will unequivocally say that I recommend watching Cupertino. I haven't been this excited about a show in a long time. If you like legal dramas: watch Cupertino. If you like fun characters: watch Cupertino. If you feel as if a lot of shows have become stale or boring: try watching Cupertino.
Cupertino airs Thursday evenings at 10:00 pm EST on CBS.
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