Tag: Chuck Rhoades

“From The Trader’s Desk”: Is This the End of the Beginning? Or the Beginning of the End? Billions S5 E11 Victory Smoke

Is this the end of the beginning?
Or the beginning of the end?
Losing control or are you winning?
Is your life real or just pretend?
End of the Beginning – Black Sabbath

 

After a quick trip to the West Coast, the Trader’s Desk is back for your Friday enjoyment. I have thoughts, so let’s get right to it.

I have always felt the idea of Axe turning Axe Capital into a bank was a bad idea. Why go through all the changes, and deal with all different types of rules and regulations? It’s not worth it. Also, this whole bank idea was purely emotional. Axe got the bee in his bonnet about the bank after Prince rattled his cage and “stole his shaman” at “The Mike”. It was a frustrated Axe no longer wanting to be the player at the casino but be the house. The problem is, Axe is a gambler, and I went into detail on why I believe that all the way back at the beginning of Season 2. He has become a deca being a speculator. He is good at trading and deal making. Why change and give up that shot of adrenaline?  This bank is all ego and emotion, and it may finally be the nail in Axe’s coffin. Continue reading ““From The Trader’s Desk”: Is This the End of the Beginning? Or the Beginning of the End? Billions S5 E11 Victory Smoke”

Billions on Showtime, Season 5 Episode 11: Victory Smoke

WOW. Is this it? Is this checkmate?

I don’t think a scene-by-scene recap like I always do will not do justice to this utterly crazy episode. That is why I have decided to talk about how Chuck has made sure that Axe gets caught in the trap he set up for him along  with the personal costs of doing that for everyone involved.

So shall we? Continue reading “Billions on Showtime, Season 5 Episode 11: Victory Smoke”

Billions Season 5 Dining Guide, Episodes 1-10

One of my favorite things about my favorite TV show is how it showcases the New York dining scene from hole-in-the-walls to neighborhood gems to Michelin-starred restaurants. And it has been my pleasure to share the information about restaurants appearing on the show first in my weekly recaps and then in a full dining guide by the end of the season for Season 1,  Season 2, Season 3. and Season 4.

Fan Fun Billions dining guides are some of the most popular posts  on the blog and even some leading media outlets have noticed. Look what Forbes Magazine says about us!

“There are posts on actor Damian Lewis’s official website, that diligently track, with screenshots, all the food locations featured in every season. These posts even manage to name-check the take-out Chinese in one scene as the beloved eatery Wo-Hop.”

Continue reading “Billions Season 5 Dining Guide, Episodes 1-10”

Billions on Showtime, Season 5 Episode 10: Liberty

Ladies and Gentlemen: WOW. WOW. WOW.  I called last week’s episode as the most Billions-y in a while, and as a game theorist, I declare this week’s episode the most game-theoretic to date. Hats off to Billions writers who are at the peak of their powers. I cannot imagine better or smarter writing.  And since alliances shift like sand in this show, I really cannot see where we will end up by the end of this season, but I know we are in for an epic roller coaster. Bring it on!

They gave the first hints of Covid-19 hitting New York in  Episode 9 Implosion with Chuck telling Kate to “go home and stock up on canned food for the coming plague” and Swerdlow (I cannot bring myself to call that man Dr. Swerdlow!) telling Chuck it is great Senior is having his operation before the hospitals are overrun because of the “Chinese bug”. And now Covid-19 has arrived at Axe Capital. Continue reading “Billions on Showtime, Season 5 Episode 10: Liberty”

“From the Trader’s Desk” – Horsemen are Drawing Nearer! Billions S5 E9 Implosion

The Horsemen are drawing nearer
On leather steeds they ride
They’ve come to take your life
The Four Horsemen – Metallica

Happy Friday from the Trader’s Desk. Once you add Wendy (who I think will be majorly pissed at Axe for his role in Tanner flying the coop) Chuck, Prince, and Taylor will officially become the Four Horsemen who will be riding to finally bring Axe to his demise. I’ll get into why I believe that the bullseye on Axe’s forehead is rightfully earned, but first the tranya!

Continue reading ““From the Trader’s Desk” – Horsemen are Drawing Nearer! Billions S5 E9 Implosion”