Showtime Series: Billions

[St. Troy]

I'm just going to go ahead and put this entire thing in a spoiler tag (you should see all episodes thus far - which includes the recent season finale - to be caught up):

Spoiler:

I was very surprised to learn that Damian Lewis was leaving the show and that he isn't likely to be seen next season (although could return in the future).

It would've been cool to see a full Axe storyline next year, doing whatever he could do, at arm's length but outside the reach of American law, from Switzerland.

It was cool that he vanished rather than turn himself in, and that Wags found a way (or perhaps Axe found it for him) of getting out of his responsibility as CEO.

I don't know shit about the law, but I do wonder how Axe can go down for money laundering 5 minutes after accepting the weed cash, but I guess I won't worry about it.

I hope they find a way for Dollar Bill to pop up in the future (nice side character - remember when he was ready to kill all those chickens and Axe had to stop him? Awesome.).

Mike Prince is a pretty different character from Axe, but he should make for good (and different) storylines going forward (and I like Corey Stoll).

[Merlin1958]

I'm just going to go ahead and put this entire thing in a spoiler tag (you should see all episodes thus far - which includes the recent season finale - to be caught up):

Spoiler:

I was very surprised to learn that Damian Lewis was leaving the show and that he isn't likely to be seen next season (although could return in the future).

It would've been cool to see a full Axe storyline next year, doing whatever he could do, at arm's length but outside the reach of American law, from Switzerland.

It was cool that he vanished rather than turn himself in, and that Wags found a way (or perhaps Axe found it for him) of getting out of his responsibility as CEO.

I don't know shit about the law, but I do wonder how Axe can go down for money laundering 5 minutes after accepting the weed cash, but I guess I won't worry about it.

I hope they find a way for Dollar Bill to pop up in the future (nice side character - remember when he was ready to kill all those chickens and Axe had to stop him? Awesome.).

Mike Prince is a pretty different character from Axe, but he should make for good (and different) storylines going forward (and I like Corey Stoll).

Spoiler:

I kinda hate, Prince as the character he has been so far. With, Axe (Lewis) leaving I'd have to take a hard look at the next season first few episodes. Prince would have to change a lot. It's been a great show so far so, maybe they can pull it off without, Axe.

[St. Troy]

I'm going to trust the writers; after all, they managed to

Spoiler:

put Axe and Wendy together

...without it ruining the show (even if it didn't last long).

As for

Spoiler:

Prince, I look forward to what they'll do with him (he's got plenty of shark under the "nice guy"), especially since (apparently) Wags has to work for him (at least for a little while), and his henchman Scooter is also an interesting character. It will also be interesting to see if any lingering loyalty to Axe remains under the people now under Prince, especially Taylor.

Speaking of Taylor, she (that's right, I said "she" - sound the TDT alarms and alert the crayon crowd; I've committed a hate crime!) really needs to do something about those tree stumps on her face; they're a major distraction.

[St. Troy]

I'm enjoying, yet struggling with, the new season of Billions.

I like Prince's m.o. of

Spoiler:

beginning with an altruistic goal, then turning shark to pursue it

...but even that's becoming predictable, in that it's happening again and again and again.

I think Chuck's

Spoiler:

crusade against the wealthy is wildly unrealistic; while he had good reasons to hunt Ax (who regularly danced on the line of illegality and employed Wendy), his new belief (and the evangelistic vigor with which he espouses and wields it) that all NY-based wealthy individuals require his personal take-down is ridiculous - although Chuck is no billionaire, he is wealthy (his life resembles theirs more than those of the people on whose behalf he supposedly is working), and his cases (if successful) will prevent big things like the Olympics from happening, so who wins if Chuck wins? No one (corrupt or no, if people like Prince and Ax don't do things, these things don't get done). Also, while it would be one thing for a new character to behave like this, it's less logical for Chuck to suddenly morph into "D.A. Don Quixote" as soon as Ax split town.

While I believe Wags had no choice but to

Spoiler:

remain with Prince (given that his huge income depended on it), it feels odd, especially since there have been no traces of remaining loyalty to Ax, some communication with him (start with "hey, boss!" and go from there).

A problem that Billions has had over the past season or two (at least) that is continuing now:

Spoiler:

In head to head battles (whether employers competing over a hire (Kate, Wendy, others), bidders competing over an acquisition (2028 Olympics, corporate property), or powerful parties competing over influence over a key third party (a governor, a union)), the cycle of "one side takes opening action - opponent reacts - both sides gather intel on each other, place obstacles, take further action, and recover from setbacks - resolution" is not only very fast moving (it's unrealistic for effective counters to be developed and implemented almost instantly) but happens again and again and again.

I still enjoy it, but it has become quite formulaic, whereas the first 3 seasons (at least) unfolded organically and unpredictably.

[Merlin1958]

I'm enjoying, yet struggling with, the new season of Billions.

I like Prince's m.o. of

Spoiler:

beginning with an altruistic goal, then turning shark to pursue it

...but even that's becoming predictable, in that it's happening again and again and again.

I think Chuck's

Spoiler:

crusade against the wealthy is wildly unrealistic; while he had good reasons to hunt Ax (who regularly danced on the line of illegality and employed Wendy), his new belief (and the evangelistic vigor with which he espouses and wields it) that all NY-based wealthy individuals require his personal take-down is ridiculous - although Chuck is no billionaire, he is wealthy (his life resembles theirs more than those of the people on whose behalf he supposedly is working), and his cases (if successful) will prevent big things like the Olympics from happening, so who wins if Chuck wins? No one (corrupt or no, if people like Prince and Ax don't do things, these things don't get done). Also, while it would be one thing for a new character to behave like this, it's less logical for Chuck to suddenly morph into "D.A. Don Quixote" as soon as Ax split town.

While I believe Wags had no choice but to

Spoiler:

remain with Prince (given that his huge income depended on it), it feels odd, especially since there have been no traces of remaining loyalty to Ax, some communication with him (start with "hey, boss!" and go from there).

A problem that Billions has had over the past season or two (at least) that is continuing now:

Spoiler:

In head to head battles (whether employers competing over a hire (Kate, Wendy, others), bidders competing over an acquisition (2028 Olympics, corporate property), or powerful parties competing over influence over a key third party (a governor, a union)), the cycle of "one side takes opening action - opponent reacts - both sides gather intel on each other, place obstacles, take further action, and recover from setbacks - resolution" is not only very fast moving (it's unrealistic for effective counters to be developed and implemented almost instantly) but happens again and again and again.

I still enjoy it, but it has become quite formulaic, whereas the first 3 seasons (at least) unfolded organically and unpredictably.

Yeah, I'm rapidly losing interest in the "Prince" regime and/or premise. Used to be one of my favorites but now it has no heart anymore.