A former student recommended Billions to me back in Season 1, and though I have a rather strict policy of not watching shows until a second season is ordered and shooting (to avoid disappointment), I watched and was hooked. For what it's worth, I worked on Wall Street and then later in financial services and wrote my thesis on carried interest. That said, this is not a brain trust show - you needn't have any experience with the Street to watch, any more than you needed to have worked in the Executive branch to watch West Wing or been an attorney to enjoy Suits.
The first season was the best written, as is often the case, but the twists and turns in the second, and especially the third seasons more than make up for a little editorial slackness. Giamatti is fantastic. Damian Lewis is very good - better than he was in Homeland but still his performance seems a little forced. The characters and their relationships are the cornerstone of the show - Wags and Axe, Axe and Wendy, Wendy and all of the quirky worker-bees at Axe, etc. It is an excellent binge watch, so wait until the season is over, watch all 12 eps, and then cancel Showtime (nothing else is worth the price). Billions is guilty-pleasure at its best.
The first season was the best written, as is often the case, but the twists and turns in the second, and especially the third seasons more than make up for a little editorial slackness. Giamatti is fantastic. Damian Lewis is very good - better than he was in Homeland but still his performance seems a little forced. The characters and their relationships are the cornerstone of the show - Wags and Axe, Axe and Wendy, Wendy and all of the quirky worker-bees at Axe, etc. It is an excellent binge watch, so wait until the season is over, watch all 12 eps, and then cancel Showtime (nothing else is worth the price). Billions is guilty-pleasure at its best.
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