Friday, May 22, 2020

What I’m Watching: Billions


Billions: Season 5, Episode 3 “Beg, Bribe, Bully” (B)

We don’t often see the offspring of the two main characters on this show, but in this episode we saw almost all of them. Gordie was actually pretty likeable, and he seemed more disappointed by the fact that he was being seen as having done something wrong than his big plan not having worked. J.C. MacKenzie’s headmaster wasn’t at all interested in talking money with Axe, who only wanted to write a check to fix everything, and Axe deliberating about what was the right thing to do proved rather interesting. As usual, Axe figured out the perfect solution, and even managed to multitask and resolve another problem on the home front in the war he has brewing with Mike. This may well have been the first time that Frank Grillo was playing the least intimidating man in the room, though the actor, who has appeared in violent films recently like “Donnybrook” and “Black and Blue,” still doesn’t present as all that friendly as the prized artist. Wendy and Taylor’s conversations are pretty loaded, and Taylor’s efforts to best utilize Sara appeared to work until Axe stepped in to benefit from it. Chuck’s new job offer was unexpectedly contingent on paying for the legacy commitment his father had failed to honor, and Chuck Sr. and his new wife weren’t indirect about what they wanted in return. In somewhat relevant subplots, Wags reaching out to all of his many children and having the most religious one come to meet him should prove entertaining if nothing else, and Kate figuring out a way to keep the $5 million she got shows that she’s in it to win even if it doesn’t always end up being exactly what Chuck wants.

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