Previously on Billions: “I’m ready”

Damianista’s note: Exclusively for Damian Lewis fans in Damian-land aka the UK! We know you are more than READY for Billions Episode 2 at 9pm on Sky Atlantic tonight and our Bookworm has a GREAT Episode 1 refresher here to get you fully in the mood! ENJOY!

—

‘Previously on Billions’…sadly this is no Damian Lewis voice over, but you could just pretend it is…

So ‘Previously on Billions’…

Chuck Rhoades likes  someone else to be in control when it comes to his sex life.

BEATI QUI AMBULAN IN LEGE DOMINI (Blessed are those who walk in the law of the lord), adorns the front of the US Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York. Chuck happens to be the US Attorney and at work he is the one in control and he has no love for either Spyros of the SEC (who waltzes into his office about suspected insider trading in relation to Pepsum Pharmaceuticals) or Bobby Aexlrod of Axe Capital.

Bobby Axelrod likes Pizza so much he wants to go in to partnership with the owner of his local Pizzeria who has suddenly found himself in a squeeze with his new Landlord.

Bobby Axelrod, Hedge Fund Manager wastes no time schooling two employees on the fact that it is important to know “the who” as well as the numbers in relation to what to do with Lumetherm.

Human Bobby Axelrod looks into that mirror in the bathroom struggling with his emotions before putting a brave smile on for everyone as he dishes out checks.

Rake’s widow is upset Bobby is standing there and not her husband. Lara Axelrod wastes no time threatening her not to make her beef public.

Wendy Rhoades is in session with Dansig, a Portfolio Manager who has lost his “Mojo” and he has come to her because she is “Mrs Mojo”. Be very clear that it isn’t Mrs Mojo, it is “Dr Mojo” as she assertively corrects him. Wendy Rhoades is a ‘Mrs’ at home, but not at work. At work she is all Dr and she sets about helping Dansig get his Mojo back by digging deep with her questions and offering a solution.

Wendy is at home and she immediately sees through her husband’s attempts to manipulate her about her continuing to work at Axe Capital and then embarks on a little manipulating herself. What this scene did throw into light is that Wendy had previously been giving consideration to leaving Axe Capital.

The four Axelrods are having dinner together and hilariously discussing pissing contests at the dinner table. A detail I couldn’t help noticing about the Axelrods which, may be totally irrelevant, but I found interesting anyway is that Dean is wearing similar colours to his dad and sitting right next to him and Gordie is wearing similar colours to mom and sitting next to her.

Chuck Rhoades Senior comes into his son’s office playing the concerned friend of Skip and asking for Junior to show some leniency.

Two of Bobby’s Portfolio managers, Pouch and Bill, were in Wags’ words “about to obliterate each other on Superior Auto”. So much so apparently that Wags deems it necessary to interrupt Bobby while at his son’s basketball game to make the final decision. Pouch thinks they should stay long and Bill things they should go short on Superior Auto (you can read our explanation of long and short here). The decision has to now be Bobby’s. He asks them both how certain they are and Bill’s reply of “I’m not uncertain” wins him this round.

Ari Spyros of the SEC is not just going to go quietly without his case against Axe. He sends a journalist in to get right under Chuck’s skin during a press conference and it works if the phone call made by Chuck to Spyros afterwards is any indication.

Bobby consults Wendy about the beach house he is considering buying and her advice is that he needs to exercise control, basically do not buy it.

Bobby can tell there is something up with Wendy and correctly guesses that she is thinking about leaving. He shows quit the insight. Wendy talks about her value (not monetary) and professional growth (how smart is the writing?). Bobby shows he is willing to give her what she wants and compromise to keep her around.

Chuck Senior and Junior discus Senior’s presence in his office earlier. Turns out Senior banked on his son being such a hard ass and knew Skip’s lawyer would spread it around. A discussion is had about Bobby and his beach house which Chuck has put out word Bobby should not buy. Senior is impressed and offers to get a friend to make a bid for the house to force Bobby’s hand.

Wendy is also mentioned and it is hinted that Senior is not overly fond of his daughter-in-law’s independence or career.

Bobby arranges a meet with Hall after Danny Margolis paid him a visit. In another display of quick thinking and insight Bobby cottoned on to the fact that something wasn’t right with Margolis. Hall reveals it seems Margolis is co-operating with the feds. Hall also provides Bobby with data on Arcadian Railroad and suggests he make the journalist who riled Chuck Rhoades at an earlier press conference his new best friend. Bobby mentions to Hall that Wendy ‘tried to quit today’ emphasising that Bobby realises the timing is suspicious.

Bobby meets the Journalist, who it turns out is very smart and not easily ‘railroaded’ if you’ll pardon the pun. Bobby gives the Journalist Arcadian Railroad and tells him to look at the swap deal and he’ll “find a Pulitzer in the carcass.

Bobby refuses to discuss his 9/11 project. That is not for public consumption!

At the Delivering Alpha Conference Bobby describes Hedge Funds as white blood cells getting rid of the bad companies.

This whole scene is pure testosterone as Bobby also informs us that he isn’t letting anyone in a Government office tell him what he can and cannot buy.

Bobby and Chuck’s meeting downstairs is a continuation of this: Bobby tells Chuck “I know your act” while Chuck tells him “I said you had big balls but not that big” (in relation to the beach house). Bobby becomes riled at the suggestion he has been “using 9/11” for his own gain.

Bobby gets a call advising him of another offer on the beach house he is interested in. He initially hangs up and does nothing. Then he takes a good look at poor Elmo who has been “fixed”, picks up the phone and tells Wags to get a higher offer in on the house. He wants it.

Chuck is woken for a comment by a journalist on the fact that Skip has committed suicide.

The Axelrod family are seen at their new beach house with Bobby chasing his sons about and carrying on…until he gets a phone call telling him it is likely that a file has been opened on him.

Bobby Axelrod: “I’m ready”