“From the Trader’s Desk”:
Bobby Axelrod – a Man and his Music *UPDATED FOR SEASON 7*

**UPDATED FOR SEASON 7**

In each season of Billions, at least one episode has featured a song and t-shirt of a metal band that are Axe’s favorites. (Even an Axe-less Season 6 featured Mötley Crüe’s “Wild Side“.)

The writers of Billions make purposeful choices with music placement, so we know that these decisions are made to tell a story, shine a light on who the character is, or to set a tone. Gingersnap and I were holding out Season 7 will finally be the year of Iron Maiden but it was not to be. However, I do believe that somewhere out in the multiverse Bobby Axelrod is rocking a “Number of the Beast” t-shirt while listening to “Hallowed Be Thy Name” right before pulling the trigger on a billion dollar deal.

Now that the series in over,  let’s take a look back at a man and his music.

Continue reading ““From the Trader’s Desk”: Bobby Axelrod – a Man and his Music *UPDATED FOR SEASON 7*”

Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Never Came Back – Part VII

Or should I say “Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Finally Came Back”?

The Opportunity Zone project in Yonkers brings Axe a golden opportunity not only for receiving tax breaks but also for facing his past. Big time. I knew Bobby’s dad was not a good husband or a good father. I mean the guy walked out on his wife and his 12 year old son, but still I never knew that Bobby has such a heartbreaking story where the wounds are still open and excruciatingly painful.

As he sits on the floor of his childhood room, a place where he thought he would never set foot again, Bobby shares with Wendy a story – this is not the entire story but only a glimpse into a very painful childhood –  about how it was back then. Continue reading “Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Never Came Back – Part VII”

Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Never Came Back – Season 5

Or should I say “Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Finally Came Back”?

The Opportunity Zone project in Yonkers brings Axe a golden opportunity not only for receiving tax breaks but also for facing his past. Big time. I obviously knew Bobby’s dad was not a good husband or a good father, I mean the guy walked out on his wife and his 12 year old son, but still I never knew that Bobby has such a heartbreaking story where the wounds are still open and excruciatingly painful.

As he sits on the floor of his childhood room, a place where he thought he would never set foot again, Bobby shares with Wendy a story – this is not the entire story but only a glimpse into a very painful childhood –  about how it was back then. Continue reading “Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Never Came Back – Season 5”

Billions Season 5 Locations Guide

As I mentioned a billion times before, Billions is a dream show for me not only because my favorite actor is in it, but also because New York, from its landmarks to its city parks and to its quirky shops, appears as a cast member in the show! As someone who feels the only home she has in the world is the city that never sleeps, I particularly love it that Billions 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 I have put together this Billions Season 5 Location Guide as a loving tribute to my most favorite place on earth and a heartfelt thank you to the show creators for writing a love letter to the city.

Hope you pick and choose and take your own Billions tour in New York City and beyond and give us feedback – especially if you know about a location that is missing in this post! Oh, and in case you missed Fan Fun locations guide for the previous seasons, you can check them out here, here, here, and here. And please note that many show staples like Axe Capital HQ, Chuck’s State AG office, Axe’s luxurious penthouse or Chuck Senior’s apartment were all listed in previous seasons when they first appeared. ENJOY!
Continue reading “Billions Season 5 Locations Guide”

“From The Trader’s Desk”: All Good Things…

I’m just the pieces of the man I used to be
Too many bitter tears are raining down on me
I’m far away from home
And I’ve been facing this alone for much too long
Too Much Love Will Kill You – Brian May (Queen)

Welcome to “From the Trader’s Desk”.

As the title of this post states, all good things must come to an end, and for now at least, Bobby Axelrod has left the Billions building. The title also plays homage to another one of my very favorite television series “Star Trek: The Next Generation” as the very last episode was titled “All Good Things…” which I still consider two of my favorite hours on television.

In preparing for this post, I read back most of my previous diatribes, and noticed how much Billions, the character of Axe, the Fan Fun community, and my writing and analysis evolved. I also loved re-reading the interaction with our readers. We had many a spirited debate on these pages, and the discussions were always civil, thoughtful, and good fun. A very sincere thank you to each and every one of you who read all of our Billions posts. And a special thank you to Brian Koppelman, David Levien and the entire cast of Billions for being so kind and generous with their time and contributions to our Billions pieces. Continue reading ““From The Trader’s Desk”: All Good Things…”