Tag: Sandicot

Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Never Came Back, Part V

No one knows what it’s like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes

No one knows what it’s like
To be hated
To be fated
To telling only lies

-The Who

Billions is returning to Showtime on May 3 Sunday at 9pm. While we cannot wait to have our show back on TV, it is time to talk a bit more about where we left our favorite characters and where we can find them at the beginning of Season 5. How about we start with Bobby Axelrod?

When Billions offered us a glimpse into the life of young Bobby Axelrod in Season 1, I was tempted to think hard and deep about this man, who grew up in a broken home and ended up marrying a woman sharing his blue collar background and raised happy kids. Well, this was who Bobby Axelrod was when I kicked off the series “Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Never Came Back.” And the family man Bobby was what I truly liked about this billionaire who is utterly reckless when it comes to business.

I took a close look at Bobby Axelrod’s human side mostly as a husband, a father, and a son in the previous seasons. We saw Bobby as a devoted family man evolving gradually into an oblivious husband and father; as a good “son” to Bruno turning into someone who breaks his dad’s heart when business is concerned. We also witnessed Bobby’s brief visit with his estranged mom after he listened to the monologue from Andolov about family in Season 3 Episode 10 Redemption. My first thought was that Andolov inspired Bobby to visit his mom. But when you think about it, Bobby’s visit is more about the vintage French magazines at his mom’s place that once belonged to his dad than about his mom herself. And the French magazines are for Wags – Bobby’s most loyal man and maybe his only family left by the end of Season 3. Continue reading “Bobby Axelrod: The Boy Whose Dad Never Came Back, Part V”

Billions on Showtime, Season 2 Episode 9: Sic Transit Imperium

Here comes the birthday boy! Like every other middle-aged mortal, Axe reflects on what he wants from life on his birthday in Sic Transit Imperium which I would prefer to title Dollar Bill’s Words of Wisdom 😀

source: Showtime

While Wags’ birthday gift for Axe is a $360K downpayment for a spot in a “luxury survival bunker” called The Ark for the end times — believe it or not these luxury bunkers exist — Dollar Bill prefers to give him a business deal 😀 No, his gift is not Aparicio Rodriguez, a young baseball player, the next Sal Bando, whom Bill has been sponsoring since age 13 in return for a big chunk of his signing bonus: a 2000% return on his investment (ROI)! Instead, Bill gives Axe a Belgian Car Company: Klaxon. The company will have a recall, and even though timing is not certain, Bill is not uncertain they have to lay in their position now. In a flashback, we find out paper shredding is not as safe as we think it is and that it is Victor who let Bill know about Klaxon. When questioned about the risk of the deal, Bill provides food for thought:

“If we can’t live how we want, terrorists have already won.”

Continue reading “Billions on Showtime, Season 2 Episode 9: Sic Transit Imperium”

Billions on Showtime 2.08: The Kingmaker

Let’s try something new. Let’s talk about Billions Season 2 Episode 8, “The Kingmaker”, as if it were a soap, a tabloid, heck, a professional wrestling match. The soapiness of this episode cannot be denied. Soaps get a bum rap. When they are good, there is great drama there, folks. Great storytelling. And the hardest working people in the business. And true to the genres of tabloid, soap, and wrestling match, “The Kingmaker” hit all the marks for great drama.

Continue reading “Billions on Showtime 2.08: The Kingmaker”

Billions on Showtime, Season 2 Episode 8: The Kingmaker

Black Jack Foley. Old steel and railroad money. One of the first businessmen that went to Russia after the wall fell. It seems he has taken after his great-great-great uncle Boss Tweed that he is pulling the strings in Albany. He is THE Kingmaker who takes your measure and bless you. And that is why both Axe and Chuck need a moment with this man as soon as possible.

source: Showtime

Chuck Sr gets a lukewarm call from Foley. His granddaughter has not got the clerkship. Chuck may have no idea Foley moved the casino away from Sandicot, but he should have some idea Foley will help him in Albany. Now that he feels disrespected, Foley will back Bob Sweeney’s campaign in gubernatorial elections.

We find out Chuck Sr keeps his 1998 Fundadores at his personal locker at Nat Sherman Townhouse and likes them at 80% humidity for their “funk.” Chuck Sr shares the news with his son. Continue reading “Billions on Showtime, Season 2 Episode 8: The Kingmaker”

Double Shot From the Trader’s Desk: “Indian Four” & “Victory Lap”

Welcome to “From the Trader’s Desk” double shot! We’ll be looking at both “Indian Four” and “Victory Lap” since the “fin speak” was a minimum in both episodes.

Thoughts & Observations on “Indian Four”

I’d like to start off by saying that I hope one day to be in the position of having my own meat aging room, and a room to store motorcycles that I will never ride. If I ever were in that position, I’d also have my own TARDIS, but that’s another blog….

source: Showtime

One thing that struck me during Axe and Wendy’s meeting at the skate park was his response to Wendy’s asking for a stake in Axe Capital – “No one owns any of it but me”. That response does not surprise me, and I was shocked Wendy would even ask for it. He built it, and he will keep it! I think we know why someone like Axe would never take the Giving Oath. Continue reading “Double Shot From the Trader’s Desk: “Indian Four” & “Victory Lap””