The Dropout

Elizabeth Holmes walks away from Stanford to sell an idea: compact blood testing that would upend medicine. The series follows how a polished persona, charismatic presentations, and rapid fundraising lifted Theranos into the headlines and into billionaire valuations. Episodes show the company’s internal choices, the pressure to deliver, and the gaps between public promises and private reality, while patients and employees face real consequences. Rather than teasing endings, the show pieces together reporting, interviews, and personal scenes to map how image, secrecy, and ambition created a fragile enterprise that slowly unraveled under scrutiny.

Released in 2022 on Hulu, The Dropout was created by Elizabeth Meriwether and adapted from the ABC News podcast "The Dropout" by Rebecca Jarvis. Amanda Seyfried leads as Elizabeth Holmes, with Naveen Andrews as Sunny Balwani, in a limited series format.

The series drew awards attention and earned multiple nominations at major television ceremonies. Amanda Seyfried’s performance was singled out by critics and industry groups, and she won a Golden Globe for lead actress in a limited series, underscoring the show's impact on awards season conversation.

The Dropout renewed public focus on the Theranos scandal and on how Silicon Valley personalities are elevated. It fueled podcasts, think pieces, and social media debates about investor due diligence, regulatory gaps, and the dangers of celebrity founders. Scenes of polished presentations and boardroom persuasion have been widely discussed and referenced in coverage of startup oversight.

Critics largely praised Seyfried and the supporting cast for bringing emotional texture to a story about deception and ambition, although some reviewers wanted deeper technical detail or more patient perspectives. The series holds a 7.3/10 average from 310 votes, and its themes center on image versus reality, accountability, and how charm and storytelling can obscure scientific and ethical shortcomings.