Season 2 Bobby Axelrod – the “eyes” have it!

Hello, all! It’s officially springtime here in Minnesota. The trees are blooming and the citizens are sneezing!

the hills are alive with the sound of sniffling

I’ve been far more entertained by the critters returning to my bird feeder after the long, cold winter, than I ever care to admit. Ā I’m pretty sure the only thing that entertains me more, these days, has been Billions. And my-oh-my, season two has been mind-blowing!

source: Showtime

Today I am here to do a little comparison work between the Bobby of season one, and the Bobby in season two. As always, I’ll be viewing Damian’s work through the lens of a Delsartean. Continue reading “Season 2 Bobby Axelrod – the “eyes” have it!”

Music of Billions Season 2

Compared to Season 1, this season of Billions, for whatever reason, used a bit less music, fewer seminal tracks to accompany its richly crafted scenes. Music was still important this season, but somewhat less so than last. In my review of last year’s music, you’ll count 36 tracks. Here, the major songsĀ in all episodes amounted to 20. Interesting revelation from this exercise is that they seem to follow a certain pattern in genres from one season to the next. That is to say, the aural landscape of this season seemed to containĀ the same proportion of arena metal, 70’s funk, contemporary alternative, live ballad, perennial classics, and lovely alt-country.Ā All theĀ tracks they chose, regardless of number, hit all the marks.

Let’s follow along with Season 2’s playlist, shall we?

Continue reading “Music of Billions Season 2”

Damian Lewis Arrives with Her First “Binge”: Joyce’s Story

Hello all! Damianista welcomes you to a NEW Fan Story Tuesday!

We have made lovely friendships over the almost two and a half years we have been live. We “meet” some friends online only while we have the pleasure of meeting some others in person.

June 23, 2016. I arrived promptly at 5pm at Directors Guild Theatre to make sure I have a good seat forĀ Damian Lewis at Times Talks scheduled at 7pm. A woman, who seemed pretty organized with a pillow for herself to sit on, arrived a few minutes later. And Paige, whom I had met earlier on Facebook, arrived a few minutes after her. And it took only a few extra minutes for us to click and then we talkedĀ non-stop until the event and, by the way, got the best seats in the house, too! Joyce, the lovely woman with the pillow, is here todayĀ to share her fan story with us. Joyce, you do not know how happy I am to have known you and HUGE thanks for your lovely contribution to our Fan Stories Series. Cheers!

copyright: Joyce

Continue reading “Damian Lewis Arrives with Her First “Binge”: Joyce’s Story”

Billions Season 2 Locations in New York City and Beyond

source: Showtime

I am an immigrant. I moved to the US for graduate study in late 1990s. MyĀ husband and I, having finished our PhDs, moved toĀ New York in 2001, onlyĀ weeks before September 11, for our first jobs. The city has since given me so much in so many different dimensions and defined me as an individual: a foodie, a film buff, a theatre lover, a feminist, a wine snob, a runner and more… Even though we moved to the South five years later for new jobs, we could not give up on New York. We still have a tiny apartment onĀ the Upper West SideĀ and we are proud part-time New Yorkers šŸ˜€

And, as I mentioned a billion times before,Ā Billions is a dream show for me not only because my favorite actor is in it, but also New York, from its landmarks to city parks to its distinct neighborhoods, appears as a cast member! As someone who feels the only home she has in the world is the city that never sleeps, I particularly love it that BillionsĀ is taking over New York, the BIG film studio that it is, and shooting all over the place, from Manhattan to Queens to Brooklyn to The Bronx to Long Island and to northern suburbs. So thisĀ Billions Season 2 Location Guide is a loving tribute to my most favorite place on earthĀ and a heartfelt thank you to the Billions show creators for giving us a love letter to the city.

ENJOY!

ps. IfĀ you think I am missing a location, please let me know and I will be very happy to add it to the list. Continue reading “Billions Season 2 Locations in New York City and Beyond”

London, The Goat, and Meeting Damian Lewis

The times I can see Damian in person are few and far between. It was at Damianista’s urging, i.e. pretty much taking me by the hand and flying me out to NY, that my first “sighting” and “meeting” even happened. (I have no idea what those quotes mean or why I used them, just go with me here) I vacillate often between “I’d be fine if I never saw him in person again, good riddance to that level of stress-filled gut-wrenching fangrl angst” to “Fine, I’ll see him on stage or something, but no reason to talk to him privately, is there? Can’t we be normal people for once and just go home and not talk to him?” to “OMG, when are we going to see him again, in what circumstances, for how long, can we possibly have it go longer, and what if…etc. etc. etc.” Truthfully, I spend about equal parts brain energy on those three states of fangrl-ness. Quite similar, in fact, to the brain energy allocation of an average 17 year old girl around prom time.

So, when we heard about The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? coming to London and started talking about it, there I was, torn among those three states. “I’ve got a sister right outside London,” I said. “I can stay with her!” And maybe take a couple weeks and see London, make like I’m 19 again, but, this time, somewhat have the money to do all the London things I’ve never had the chance to do. “Make it about London and not just about him,” said the part of my brain reserved for how crazy all THIS makes me look, justifying the insanity of all THIS by diluting it with a legitimate sight-seeing trip to a legitimate world capital city with loads of things that interest me anyway, even if it weren’t Damian’s home town.

Continue reading “London, The Goat, and Meeting Damian Lewis”