Author: Lady Trader

"Lady Trader" is a Brooklyn girl, and a Wall Street lifer! Recently fought cancer, and won! I love heavy metal, history, sci-fi, oh, and blogging about Billions and it's great lead actor, Damian Lewis!

“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…”

“From The Trader’s Desk”: Is This the End of the Beginning? Or the Beginning of the End? Billions S5 E11 Victory Smoke

Is this the end of the beginning?
Or the beginning of the end?
Losing control or are you winning?
Is your life real or just pretend?
End of the Beginning – Black Sabbath

 

After a quick trip to the West Coast, the Trader’s Desk is back for your Friday enjoyment. I have thoughts, so let’s get right to it.

I have always felt the idea of Axe turning Axe Capital into a bank was a bad idea. Why go through all the changes, and deal with all different types of rules and regulations? It’s not worth it. Also, this whole bank idea was purely emotional. Axe got the bee in his bonnet about the bank after Prince rattled his cage and “stole his shaman” at “The Mike”. It was a frustrated Axe no longer wanting to be the player at the casino but be the house. The problem is, Axe is a gambler, and I went into detail on why I believe that all the way back at the beginning of Season 2. He has become a deca being a speculator. He is good at trading and deal making. Why change and give up that shot of adrenaline?  This bank is all ego and emotion, and it may finally be the nail in Axe’s coffin. Continue reading ““From The Trader’s Desk”: Is This the End of the Beginning? Or the Beginning of the End? Billions S5 E11 Victory Smoke”

“From the Trader’s Desk” – Horsemen are Drawing Nearer! Billions S5 E9 Implosion

The Horsemen are drawing nearer
On leather steeds they ride
They’ve come to take your life
The Four Horsemen – Metallica

Happy Friday from the Trader’s Desk. Once you add Wendy (who I think will be majorly pissed at Axe for his role in Tanner flying the coop) Chuck, Prince, and Taylor will officially become the Four Horsemen who will be riding to finally bring Axe to his demise. I’ll get into why I believe that the bullseye on Axe’s forehead is rightfully earned, but first the tranya!

Continue reading ““From the Trader’s Desk” – Horsemen are Drawing Nearer! Billions S5 E9 Implosion”

“From the Trader’s Desk” – We’re Back! Billions S5 E8 Copenhagen

All day long I think of things, nothing seems to satisfy
Think I’ll lose my mind if I don’t find something to pacify
I need someone to show me the things in life that I can’t find
I can’t see the things that make true happiness, I must be blind
Paranoid – Black Sabbath

 

Welcome back to the Trader’s Desk. What a long, strange trip it has been over the last 15 months. I hope that this post finds you healthy in both body and mind.

Now, without further ado, let’s get into “Copenhagen”, albeit a tad differently. The name of the episode may be the Danish capital, but this Trader’s Desk is going to Spain. Instead of the typical recap, I’m going to just give a few observations, tapas style, as there was no real “fin-speak” this time around.

Do you even read? Somebody doesn’t know their Shakespeare. Mike Prince says he loves the “delightful demeanor” of the Danes. Well, I have one name for you – Hamlet. A more depressing Dane there never was! Continue reading ““From the Trader’s Desk” – We’re Back! Billions S5 E8 Copenhagen”

“From the Trader’s Desk”:
Bobby Axelrod – a Man and his Music *UPDATED FOR SEASON 5*

**UPDATED FOR SEASON 5**

What metal shirt will Axe reveal in Season 5? I’d love to see (and Gingersnap is with me on this!) an Iron Maiden classic (The Trooper, or Piece of Mind), or Judas Priest. But now we know Axe likes the classic metal bands as well, so it could Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Rush or even Rainbow.

Yes, I wrote those words back in December 2019, before we were teased with the Season 5 Billions trailer and Axe’s metal shirt was revealed to be none other than Rainbow.  Axe continued the tradition of wearing his metal on his sleeve (or on his chest) in Episode 3 “Beg, Bride, Bully“.

In each season of Billions, at least one episode has featured a song and a t-shirt of a metal band that must be Axe’s favorites.  (Gingersnap and I are always trying to predict which band will be featured. We’re holding out Season 6, or maybe in the second half of Season 5 will finally be the year of Maiden!!) The writers of Billions don’t do anything just to do it, so we know that these choices are there to tell a story, shine light on who the character is, and to set a tone. Continue reading ““From the Trader’s Desk”: Bobby Axelrod – a Man and his Music *UPDATED FOR SEASON 5*”