Billions, the Drama TV series created by David Levien (Ocean’s Thirteen), Brian Koppelman (Knockaround Guys), and Andrew Ross Sorkin (Too Big to Fail), premiered on Showtime January 17, 2016. The show is a story about power and politics set in the high stakes world of New York high finance where U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades and Billionaire hedge fund maven Bobby “Axe” Axelrod square off in a battle of wits and will.
Chuck Rhoades is tipped off by less-than-cordial colleague Ari Spyros of the SEC on suspicious trade activity from three firms connected to Bobby “Axe” Axelrod.
That’s the set-up! And the show wastes no time getting here. However, Rhoades is hesitant to take the case for multiple reasons.
Firstly, he’s very careful of what cases to prosecute to maintain his perfect record of 81-0.
Secondly, Axe has been found of no wrongdoing and, as Rhoades says his self, is loved by the people. Chuck knows better than to try and take down the fresh Bull.
And thirdly, well, we’ll talk about the third reason a little later.
So what to do?
Scene cuts to the man himself. Bobby Axelrod, and what is he doing?
Sitting in a small, family pizza shop chowing on a slice of pizza.
His wife marvels at just how much he enjoys the slice.
Then, what does this “man of the people” do? He turns to the shop owner and offers to fund the shop to keep it operating.
So right from the jump, you fucking love Axe, man of the people. And even further when you see him interact with his people it’s clear that Axe is the BOSS. He’s perceptive and tenacious, as well as benevolent.
So benevolent, the next time you see Axe he’s handing out scholarships in his company’s conference room.
Rhoades’ couldn’t shake the dilemma.
In the beginning, he knew he couldn’t, make that shouldn’t, go after Axe without concrete evidence.
BUT!
On the steps of the courthouse an associate of his office tips him off that Axe was interested in an $83M house. Chuck says, “That will be widely reported.” And his assistant Bryan Connerly says, “People hate guys that buy things like that,” signifying that the thing that Rhoades can use to erode Axe’s public image JUST happened.
Now Chuck Rhoades has to confront the third obstacle, Mrs. Rhoades. Wendy has been working at Axe Capital for a very long time, even before she and Chuck were married.
When Chuck even hints at the idea that she leave and do something else, Wendy explodes and wastes no time starting a dick measuring contest, shouting “So quit your fucking job,” to her husband Chuck.
Then, Chuck is attacked by a reporter at a press conference insinuating that Chuck Rhoades’ office is weak on Axe Capital because of his conflict of interest, Wendy.
So now Axe is confronted with a random reporter, former associate Andy Margolis stopping by with signs of nervousness and Wendy coming into his office trying to quit. Something is up, time to call in the guns.
Even knowing that the snake Spyros sent the random reporter after him with those questions, poking the Bear worked on him, so he decided to poke the Bull buy telling him to NOT buy the house.
After the confrontation between Chuck and Axe at the speech, Axe then sees the once vibrant young Shepherd Elmo lying lame in his bed. His wife informs him that Elmo has been fixed.
Axe is immediately driven to buy the house. “What’s the point of having fuck you money if you never say fuck you?” Axe.
Game On!
I’m hooked! I have to see how this plays out. If you haven’t go and watch the pilot episode and if you have, leave a comment and let me know what you think.