Friday, April 26, 2019

What I’m Watching: Billions


Billions: Season 4, Episode 5 “A Proper Sendoff” (B-)

Theatrics are key here, and I’m sure most will contend that this show jumped the shark a while ago. I’m still in because I’m curious to see where the characters go, even if their arcs are long since become even wilder and more excessive than they were then the show started. Axe charging Chuck with going after Taylor for him did not seem to be anywhere near the top of his priority list yet it’s still already started, but Chuck appears to be much more interested in getting his own revenge first. After Bryan jutted out and startled him on his way into office, it looked like he wasn’t going to be able to get anything done, a likelihood confirmed by the governor’s acknowledgment that he was not in fact looking forward to working with him. Preempting his eulogy for Jack Foley and having all of his former cohorts arrested during the funeral was the definition of grandstanding, and this is only the start of what he’s going to do. Axe demonstrated a true penchant for vengeance of his own after his former protégé John Rice tried to cash him out, and the complex nature of his takedown indicated that he wasn’t ever really giving him a chance to undo his mistake. I didn’t immediately peg Seth Gabel, who once played a far less buttoned-up heir on “Dirty Sexy Money,” as John, but I did recognize Jade Eshete, a standout player from the sadly departed “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency,” as Lauren Turner, Taylor’s new secret weapon. The multiple hip movie references were mildly interesting, and I’m curious to see what becomes of the now-greenlit business venture between Taylor and their father. I don’t have much to say about Wendy other than that she’s understandably angry and whatever happens next will likely be more engaging than her role in this hour.

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