It's slightly ironic that SV/tech people will enjoy watching something where they're somewhat mocked vs. fawned over, I think.

fair point. but, op was contrasting HBOs version with Bravos version, both of which presumably do a great job of mocking and fawning. which suggests the proposed source of irony is elsewhere.

I thought it was that Bravo failed by being "earnest/fawning", ie the opposite of cynical/ironic