The Unbeatable, Unstoppable, Unparalleled MVPs from Billions Season 4 Episode 4

Welcome back to our ‘Billions MVP Fanbook,’ a compilation post commemorating all those in honor of achievement for the utmost brazen, uber shameless, ultra scheming, unmatched bad asses to date – from sports references, music, and tasty food to pop culture remarks, shocking twists and ultimate paybacks.

In case you missed our previous awards, you can catch up with season four episode one, episode two and episode three. Now, let us continue with that tradition as we award our Most Valuable Players (MVPs) this week.

Here are our Billions awards for Season 4, Episode 4, “Overton Window.”

Gingersnap

Stellar Scene – Axe Capital trading old school. The tenderfoots watching in awe at the nuance of it all as Axe and Wags kept jamming it with voice trades. Props to Dollar Bill and his filofax of un-hackable ink! And the best leverage was Axe’s U.S. Open box on Arthur Ashe, which was passed around like a shared joint at a Dead concert. Finally, Spyros giving it up to his masters on bended knee with a Shakespearean “All hail our Lords and Saviors – RRRrrrrobert of Axelrod and Michael of Waggggggnarrrrr!” (nar, not ner)

‘A’ for Admission – Both Axe and Chuck get an ‘A.’ First Axe admitting to Chuck that he was his most formidable opponent, then Chuck admitting to the world that he is a sadomasochist.

Flawless Wardrobe – Axe’s suede jacket. It’s a wicked color and he looks delicious in it.

Dazzling Nickname – Vomit Comet, aka the zero-gravity flight aircraft.

Best Line – Carter Calloway on the gas sector, “Gonna go up like a bullfrog with an M-80 in its ass.”

Lady Trader

Worst Punch to The Gut – Damianista and I have debated this, but the betrayal of Wendy by Chuck was heartbreaking. I’ve not been a big Wendy fan, but I felt her pain. To be blindsided by the person you most trust in the world is the lowest feeling one can have, and hats off to Maggie Siff for expressing that without words. This isn’t about Chuck telling his truth (good for  him) it was about doing it at the expense of the only good thing in his life. He broke her trust, and if a relationship doesn’t have trust, it doesn’t have much.

The Best “I feel your pain” Moment – I literally was on the edge of my seat when Axe Capital was flying blind and could not trade. I have been in that situation (open positions, then a server, or power going down) and you feel like you can’t breath. One minute in the market can feel like and hour, and can cost millions of dollars.

Worst Fashion Choice – Rebecca, you are a billionaire – ain’t no one wearing those high waist jeans. They were awful.

One of the Many Reasons to Have Axe as Your Boyfriend – Go for a test drive, get a Mercedes. I can do that!

Damianista

Top Saboteur – Grigor Andolov

It seems Andolov has had access to Axe Capital computer systems and the phones connected to the system for some time and he has just been waiting for the right time to strike. And the moment he found out about the natural gas disaster in Baton Rouge thanks to Axe’s phone call, he started the cyber attack on Axe Capital.

Supreme Conspiracy Theorist – Damianista! 😀

I am not typically into conspiracy theories and it is all Billions to blame for the conspiracy theory I have developed over the last couple of days.

I have been thinking about Hall ‘s words since I saw the episode. Hall figures the cyber attack happened because of a Russian-made circuitry planted at Axe Capital. He tells Axe and Wags someone that came to a meeting at the company was probably not who s/he said. And I was thinking… OK I do not want to say it but I will say it: Rebecca cannot be a mole for Andolov, huh?

But when you think about it, she is a recent addition to the Axe Capital crowd, and she seems to have already familiarized herself with the office. As she was having Michter’s with Axe and Wags in this episode, she wanted ice and when Axe offered to bring some she was like “I’ll get it”and left Axe’s office to go who knows where 😀 And, after all, who dares to monitor the boss’ new girl friend? Food for thought.

Best Chemistry – Axe and Wags

Axe and Wags are one of the best, if not the best, TV duos ever! And the “old school” way they get out of the natural gas positions is second to none. Old Burners. Dusty Dossiers. Carrots. Sticks. Done.

Wags: “Honey, baby, sweetie… It’s your dear old uncle Wags. Haven’t seen you since that tray of Kamikazes we stared down after Sohn…”

Axe: “You, me, at the Open. Uh-huh. Oh, my box on Arthur Ashe.”

Wags: “What do you mean you are not a buyer? How’d you just satisfy your need? I’ll believe you that you’re satisfied when I hear you moan and shake like an old washing machine and tell me who finished you off…”

Axe: “I’m sitting on half a mil Bay Pipeline and I want to exit silent and quiet like as Le Samourai.”

Well, they can make an episode only with Axe and Wags on the phone with the primes and I am in!

Loser of the Week – Black Jack Foley

The kingmaker of New York is a true criminal. He has been bribing people to mark his low-grade steel as high-grade for decades. His empire is built on selling sub-par material to state-run projects at top dollar and thereby risking public safety.  And now that he is dying, all of a sudden, Foley becomes this principled man who is determined to keep New York AG office pristine! Oh, and he liberally uses the information he has about Chuck’s sex life – which is not criminal – in return for immunity for his family so they can keep the wealth after he is gone. What a hypocrite. Bye, Foley!

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Scene – Chuck’s Speech

Chuck’s speech is the single most remarkable scene in the history of Billions in my opinion. I know many see it as a betrayal to Wendy, but I see it as brave, honest, and necessary. You cannot hold a threat hanging over your head forever especially when what those people hold against you is some consensual, if unusual, sex life. And I seriously hope this scene helps shift the Overton Window in real life.

Paul Giamatti storms the scene giving a compelling performance and the characters’ immediate reactions to Chuck’s revelations are to die for! Long live Billions! Now who do you think is voting for Chuck? I put my money on Axe, Wags and Chuck Sr 😀

TheTailThatWagsTheDog

Best BDSM Line – Bronze Medal: Wendy “Hey I’ve seen it before” Silver Medal: Bobby “She’s gonna beat your ass for it” Gold Medal: Chuck Sr “Let her give you a good smack later, a win for everyone involved”

The Sean Spicer Award for Most Outstanding Spin – Chuck Rhoades for his speech in which he makes voting for a Sadomasochist a vote for a better society. (not that he is necessarily wrong either – it was just a brilliant play).

Potential Fissure in the Cracks Sign – Sarah and Taylor after they successfully played off of Axe’s troubles. Taylor congratulates Sarah but Sarah just acknowledges it as just her doing her job. Very unemotional, detached. Is she secretly harboring feelings for Taylor but is not sensing anything back and so is trying to play it cool? I would pay attention to their interaction in the coming episodes.

Food for Thought: What’s behind that reaction to Chuck’s speech? Is Wags actually a little bit jealous of Chuck and how free he looked there? Was he maybe taking notes, as if “Hmm, I may want to try a couple of those ideas. Sounds like fun.”

Author: Gingersnap

Management Analyst, part-time Adjunct Professor and Computer Software Consultant by day and Damian Lewis aficionado by night. View all posts by Gingersnap