Billions is back and so is our MVP series! We continue to award our Most Valuable Players for Billions season seven in our series compilation, the ‘Billions MVP Fanbook,’ which commemorates all those in honor of achievement for the utmost brazen, uber shameless, ultra scheming, unmatched bad asses from the episode – from sports references, music and tasty food to pop culture remarks, shocking twists and ultimate paybacks. In case you missed it, catch up with the MVPs of the season seven premiere Tower of London, as well as episode two Original Sin.
Now let’s dive in. Here are the Billions MVP awards for Season 7, Episode 3, “Winston Dick Energy.”
Gingersnap
Overall Episode MVP: Dr. Eleanor Mayer. What a rich character. Small but mighty! It’s that very allure why you don’t see her coming.
Wendy accuses her of rustling up her cattle (patients), but Dr. Mayer counters they weren’t noticeably branded until she dug deeper and found their burns. Ouch!
She goes on to school Wendy stating their shared patients’ compulsive behavior is disguised as purpose by Wendy and her performance-based modality keeps them imprisoned on the hamster wheel. Yikes!
Compulsive behavior? Don't know her. #Billions pic.twitter.com/uiw8ZfuZOZ
— BILLIONS (@SHO_Billions) August 29, 2023
And the Billions writers keep on giving when Dr. Mayer pronounces, “So, you’re either an errand girl or Christ-like in your desire to serve the wastrels – feeling their pain, making it your own. You salve them and ready them again to put their souls in peril.” Wow! Nail Wendy to the proverbial cross, why don’t ya! Woooo chile, Wendy has met her match. Checkmate.
Wags’ Words of Wisdom – While at Harry’s Bar to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the book Liar’s Poker, Michael Lewis tells Wags “People see in it what they want to see” to which Wags retorts, “Like disco balls and coke mirrors.” LMAO 🙂
Supreme Seniorism – OMG while trying to give Chuck a pep talk, Charles Sr. claims to have become, in Chuck Jr’s words, “groin cousins” with Ivana Trump! “I attended the opening of Bedminster Golf Club. Did you ever meet his first wife? That woman was an athlete! We made the beast right on the green of the second hole. Which is all very ironic considering where she now lies once again, rest in peace.”
Best Song – She Sells Sanctuary by The Cult. Whoohoo, bring on the 80’s! Now we just need to hear Fire Woman.
Rubbish Regurgitation Award – I’m disappointed in the Billions Writer’s Room for recycling a diss from season 3, episode 1 Tie Goes to the Runner!
Season 3: “You have about as much edge as Mr. Rogers!” – Axe
Season 7: “You got about as much edge as Barry Manilow.” – Eric Scott
Oh hi!!!! The Breakfast Club called and they want their Barry Manilow innuendo back!
But kudos to the Writers for giving Wags a line that only a Wolf of Gotham like himself could deliver – when he threatened to slap Eric Scott’s face with his privates (Molly whoppin) LOL! No one tells Uncle Wagsy he doesn’t have edge! No one puts baby in the corner!!!!!!
The Scandoval Award – And the winner is….Rian…for giving us a new portmanteau by combining Prince + incident into “Princident” to describe their *ahem* tryst. Shippers gonna ship, just like when the reality world was shook by Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval for cheating on his girlfriend of nine years, Ariana, with her best friend Rachel. I don’t watch the show, but even I heard about it. Quickly the scandal was dubbed Scandoval and it was everywhere, seemingly breaking the internet.
Best Cinematography: This shot of the New York skyline at night, with bright lights in low-key indigo and golden hues is simply stunning.
Food for Thought:
- Hey Ben Kim, you can’t drink alcohol and take Wellbutrin. Next time lay off the Heineken at farewell parties. Tuk’s on Adderall and Ben’s on Wellbutrin. Is Dr. Eleanor Mayer an over-medicater???
- Some foreshadowing to point out – Rian divulged Winston hacked the DMV to expunge some points against her driver’s license, and DMV just so happens to be the title of upcoming episode 7.
- Browser search history is a bitch. Why does Winston care where former Subway-sandwiches-spokesperson-turned-child-pornographer is now? Gross!
Damianista
Thick Tiger Trainer – Mike Prince
If Prince cannot afford to have Chuck revert to his nature, he needs to be smarter than this. Does he really think he can fool Chuck, a man who does not only have a lot of experience under his belt as a prosecutor but also is a chess player, with this SuperPAC bullshit? I was not surprised one bit when Chuck immediately realized that Prince’s Super PAC was a bait and that he had to use it as a cover to find another way in.
Cracking Comeback – Wags
As someone who watched Season 6, I know that Wags has had a hard time adapting to MPC. And while he thinks he can still walk the walk, the “crass motherfuckers” at the “The Liar’s Poker” 35th Anniversary party treating him like shit followed by the WDE incident on his watch makes Wags feel like an “obsolete pensioner.”
It is Wendy’s magic that does the trick and we have the OLD Wags back overnight! He totally orchestrates Winston’s fall and his own rise. Like Axe and Chuck before him, Wags is now reborn out of his ashes! And his “This is Your Life” presentation goes into history as one of the top Wags moments ever. Hats off!
Teacher’s Pet – Amanda Torre
Amanda first stands out with the case she brings to Chuck for review. Ira is impressed enough to give her Prince’s SuperPAC file and Amanda delivers: There is a Canadian donor in there violating the foreign donor ban.
Chuck may have just found his new “Kate” in Amanda!
Wildest Moment – Winston’s Internet Search History Being Exposed
Well, the screenshots say it all! And thanks to Winston, I now know where Jared Fogle is. I had no idea. Disgusting.
Outstanding Opportunism – Bonnie
Bonnie, who did not leave MPC on friendly terms, shows up out of blue to share the news that Winston is pitching some Risk Management Software on the street. Since he has just left MPC, it is very likely he developed the software while working at the firm which means the software belongs to MPC.
So is Bonnie doing this because she has a big heart? Of course not! And that is why she is receiving this award! Bonnie wants a raise in her comp at her new firm. And if she receives a good job offer in writing from MPC, she is happy to forward them Winston’s pitch deck tomorrow. Amazing!
Lady Trader
Best Record Collection: I don’t like to give Mike Prince credit for much, but that record collection in his home was magnificent! And vinyl! I’d love to do a deep dive into that collection since it has been said that the type of music someone listens to can tell you a lot about them!
The Most Loyal: When every other Prince Capper has cheated on Wendy with Mayer, Wags makes sure Wendy knows she will always be his “Dr. Mojo”. This is why you want Wags in the trenches with you!
The 1984 Award: This goes to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If you know, you know.
The “Tell Me You Wrote Your Pitch Presentation with AI, Without Telling Me You Wrote Your Pitch Presentation with AI” Award: Winston. As someone who has read and had to write pitches, that description slide was as Auric Goldfinger once said “words you may have overheard which cannot possibly have any significance to you or your organization”. It said nothing at all. You disappoint me Mr. Winston!
The Tired Old Trope Award: “hold the rich and powerful criminality accountable”, trading and earning is an “addiction”, blah, blah, blahdy blah. We get it, the writers hate wealthy people, but I don’t see them doing what they do for free!
The “Do Your Research” Award”: Wendy would not have been able to give Ben Kim his prescription for Wellbutrin with a prescription pad – beginning on March 16, 2017 all prescriptions in NYS must be electronic. Also, Philip states that Winston’s risk management software is using ASI for risk mitigation. However ASI doesn’t exist yet. If I’m going to give credit when the writers get it right, well I got to call them when they flub too.
TheTailThatWagsTheDog
Best Opening Song – “She Sells Sanctuary” by The Cult. This song has a special place in my heart. It was the favorite song of one of my college hallmates and he used to do a perfect air drums to it. He lost his life after our sophomore year, and this song always reminds me of him and what a free spirit he was. So kudos to the writers for including this song in their playlist.
The Cult performs “She Sells Sanctuary” at Pacific Beat Recordings in San Diego, California at a 91X X-session.
Tallest (and most disappointing) Cameo – Kareem. Now even though I am a Celtics fan and I hate the Lakers almost as much as I hate the Yankees, I have nothing but respect for Kareem, both as a player and a person. He has lived an honorable life. That being said, he being the secret ‘get’ that the guys use to turn Chuck around seemed far-fetched at best. What possible connection would Senor, Ira and Carl have that would enable them to get Kareem? It makes no sense, and just seems like they used him because they could get him. I hate forced moves like that. The writers are (or should be) better than that.
Most Awkward Moment – Winston’s going away “party.” He makes Spyros look comfortable. Ugh. Absolutely cringe-inducing.
Most Obvious Reversal – Chuck’s decision to take on Torre’s case. It was clear in episode 2 that she was going to be the new ‘Sacker’ of the department. So when she brought her pitch in and Chuck shot it down, I knew that by the end of the episode that she would be working on the case.
Biggest Absence – Dave? No Dave? Is she out of the picture now that Chuck has his own authority back? I still don’t buy Chuck getting the SDNY position back so easily. Who was occupying that spot before, and what happened to them? Too convenient for me. I hope they keep Dave around and get her involved in this. It would be neat to see what part she plays in all of this. She is too smart a person not to make use of her talents. But whose side will she be on?
And now my update on the analogies/cultural references …
Worst Analogy Moment – Kate Sacker bringing up Phil Mickelson to Prince. This is exactly the kind of nonsensical reference that they have introduced ad nauseum over the past couple of seasons. It’s there because they want it there, not because it makes any sense. It feels totally out of character for someone like Sacker to bring up a person like Mickelson, and Prince’s response is so obvious. Their writing can be so clever – they have proven this time and time again – and yet they too often fall back on these tired clichés. I wish they would stop.
Most Encouraging Analogy Moment – I did not hear one analogy out of Dr. Mayer. Maybe she’s too old to do them? I don’t know – but it was wonderfully refreshing. I hope she stays clean.
Mind you, I do not hate all of these. Wags’ lines always seem well placed – maybe because he was the originator. But if feels like once they saw what a hit Wags’ cultural lines were, they wanted everyone to have such a moment – and that is where it feels forced. Each of them should have their own special bits which separate them from the others. If they are all doing analogies, then they aren’t as appreciated. Just MHO.
Ending on a Good Note – I love the “three-dimensional game of chess” Chuck is now playing with Prince. That is the fun stuff. I do not know how this is all going to play out, but I am definitely invested – and that is what I want in my shows – keep me aching for more. So more of this intrigue, just less culture please!
TailThatWagsTheDog – Totally agree with you that Kareem’s cameo felt forced and out of place.
Lady Trader – I completely missed the vinyl records on Prince’s shelf in the background!!
Damianista – Wasn’t it fantastic having Bonnie back?
Everyone’s pick were great this week!
I think we all would agree that was a great song to open with, and I think we all would agree that the Kareem cameo was way out of left field. I could understand if it was a NY sports legend (as it would have made more sense that Ira, Karl or Sr would know them), but this was out of place.
And Bonnie coming back the way she did was classic!
I love MVP Wednesdays!
Gingersnap – We both remembered the “as much edge as Mr. Rogers line!” 🙂
Lady Trader – you have EYES! I didn’t even notice the record collection.
TailThatWagsTheDog – I completely agree that sports references Kate uses are so out of character, I actually mention it in my recap, too, this week. But I disagree about Kareem’s cameo. One of the things Billions does very well is to show that rich people have access to anything. They really do. If they don’t know Kareem, they know someone that knows him well. Chuck was a kid in the candy store with Kareem. I think he was his childhood hero. So I actually liked the cameo very much! And I loved you calling it The Tallest Cameo – brilliant!
Damianista – Was easy to remember Mr. Rogers because I had ranked it in my “An Ode to Bobby Axelrod: Top 40” post 🙂 Also, I feel it more believable if Chuck had gotten a pep talk from an acclaimed author he reads, an accomplished chef or a high ranking politician he admires. To me, Kareem was more Prince’s speed or even Axe (Remember Kevin Durant’s cameo with Axe? He used to play basketball for OKC Thunder).