Category: TV/Film Projects

Billions on Showtime, Season 2, Episode 3: Optimal Play

source: Showtime

I could not be happier that a game theory term makes it to the title of this week’s episode: Optimal Play. Optimal Play, also known as Best Response, is the strategy that produces the most favorable outcome for a player, taking the strategies of other players in the game as given.

Given that the entire hedge-fund industry is under siege and that he needs to adapt, Axe’s optimal play is to venture out of the city walls and straight into the NFL. We learn from his chat with NY Giants chairman Steve Tisch that Axe grew up with football on a “24-inch Trinitron knock-off” and his first ever football game in a stadium was in Tisch’s box. As Tisch shares with him that he needs to jump through quite a few hoops to impress the NFL, Axe is pretty confident about his bid and already trying to figure out where his seat will be at the stadium. Not here at MetLife Stadium, of course. NY Giants is not for sale 😀 Continue reading “Billions on Showtime, Season 2, Episode 3: Optimal Play”

Previously on Billions: Season 2, Episode 2 “Dead Cat Bounce”

Bobby is sharing the stage at a Panel with Todd and he is making a joke of being openly hostile to him. Todd likes to hit back, but Axe is more than ready for him.

Source: Showtime

Lawrence Boyd drops a nice reference to the nature man Ric Flair while thanking Axe for ensuring everyone will be talking about the Panel for the next month!

Chuck’s friend, Ira, charges at a rate that even Orrin doesn’t! $1,400 an hour defence. Wow! Justice is not defending Chuck so he has come to Ira for help. Ira suggests Chuck shows loyalty and takes out a big enemy of the AG. The problem is who.  They have 3 days to figure it out.

Bryan, Kate and Lonnie are waiting for Chuck. He arrives, telling them

“You have a new mandate. Find me a case that is screaming for justice. One that no one else would have the courage to take on.”

Wall Street is the target, but Axe Capital is off limits as going for Axe “won’t help”. When Bryan asks “help what?” Chuck avoids the question and leaves the room. Continue reading “Previously on Billions: Season 2, Episode 2 “Dead Cat Bounce””

“From the Trader’s Desk” Ep. 2: Dead Cat Bounce

Welcome to “From the Trader’s Desk” and my recap of “Dead Cat Bounce”. (I’m just going to say this upfront: I hate that term, but only because I’m a cat momma!)

We open up at the Spartan-Ives sponsored “Thought Leaders” conference, which costs $3,000 to attend. These types of conferences are common, and can be market movers. Certain managers will mention a stock they like (or don’t) and it will move the stock price as they are speaking.

Source: Showtime

Continue reading ““From the Trader’s Desk” Ep. 2: Dead Cat Bounce”

Billions on Showtime 2.02: Dead Cat Bounce

Continuing the rollicking cadence of win/loss and cat/mouse, Billions picks up the pace in an energetic Episode 2.

“Dead Cat Bounce” is  book-ended by a fake smile with handshake on one end and a sincere sneer and handshake on the other, going deeper exactly where we need it to go.

Axe is still a nervous cat, but a merry one, as he publically humiliates arch nemesis du jour, Todd Krakow, in the opening scene and continues throughout the episode to dig the claws deeper into the side of this twerp who tried to steal Wendy from him.

Continue reading “Billions on Showtime 2.02: Dead Cat Bounce”

Joining the Band: Paige’s Story

Hello all! Damianista welcomes you to a NEW fan story!

One of the most rewarding things about doing this fan blog is meeting fellow fans with whom you hit it off immediately. And, Paige is certainly one of them. We first met online but then in person at Damian’s Times Talks in New York last summer and have been in regular touch since then. Damian made Times Talks a special treat for the audience with his delightful stories and brilliant sense of humor. There was a lot of laughter in the room and I believe Paige and I provide concrete evidence in the picture below 🙂

Paige is not only a great Damian Lewis fan, she is also a brilliant blogger. You should definitely check out her blog Maximum Tuneage and read about how she almost did anything for Damian Lewis and why I am her walking .gif 😀

Without further ado, here is Paige sharing her fan story: Continue reading “Joining the Band: Paige’s Story”