Print Media – Page 5 – Damian Lewis

Billions Season 7, Episode 10 Recap: Mutually Assured Destruction

On October 13, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Enemies List

by Sean T. Collins | New York Times | October 13, 2023

Season 7, Episode 10: ‘Enemies List’

To borrow some terminology from professional wrestling, an art form much beloved by the traders and lawyers of “Billions” (to say nothing of the show’s writers), Mike Prince is a monster heel champion. He is a bad guy at the top of the heap, gold around his waist and his last defeat a distant memory. Seemingly impervious to attack, Prince steamrolls every babyface contender who comes his way. He is an effective villain because he has been booked to be unstoppable — all to better set up the moment when he is stopped.

This week’s episode of “Billions” is that moment. And the babyface responsible for handing Prince his first real setback? Bobby Axelrod.

Continue reading Billions Season 7, Episode 10 Recap: Mutually Assured Destruction

Billions Print Media Recap

Billions Season 7, Episode 10 Recap: Welcome Home, Bobby

On October 13, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Enemies List

by Sarene Leeds | Vulture | October 13, 2023

Bobby Axelrod just doesn’t work as a supporting character. With two episodes left in Billions, Axe has finally returned stateside after an almost two-season absence, but good God, getting him here was harder than pulling an abscessed tooth. And that was just this episode alone!

In case you couldn’t tell, I’m conflicted by the Axe homecoming. On the one hand, Billions is infinitely better whenever Damian Lewis is onscreen. That is an undeniable fact. On the other hand, every one of his appearances this season has been little more than a glorified cameo. Even now, with Axe firmly aligned with Team Wendy-Chuck-Wags-Taylor, I’m still scratching my head over why the four of them needed him so badly. Chuck giving Axe the “Thank God you’re here” cliché? Insert eye roll emoji.

Continue reading Billions Season 7, Episode 10 Recap: Welcome Home, Bobby

Billions Print Media Recap

From The Trader’s Desk: I Have Questions…

On October 13, 2023October 12, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Billions Season 7 Episode 9 ‘Game Theory Optimal’

by Lady Trader | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | October 13, 2023

What you gonna do
Time’s caught up with you
Now you wait your turn
You know there’s no return
Hand of Doom – Black Sabbath

It’s Friday, so it’s time for “From the Trader’s Desk” to dive into Billions S7E9 “Game Theory Optimal.”

This was a great episode that had all the characteristics of what we love about Billions – drama, double crosses, and bold moves. I chose the lyrics from Black Sabbath’s “Hand of Doom” because as a viewer, I felt the impending doom of Wendy, Taylor, and Wags. Time caught up with our brave trio, but they have two aces in the hole that will hopefully help them save the day.

Continue reading From The Trader’s Desk: I Have Questions…

Billions Poll Print Media

Billions MVPs: Season 7 Episode 9, “Game Theory Optimal”

On October 11, 2023October 10, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

The Unbeatable, Unstoppable, Unparalleled MVPs

by Staff | Fan Fun With Damian Lewis | October 11, 2023

Billions is back and so is our MVP series! We continue to award our Most Valuable Players for Billions season seven in our series compilation, the ‘Billions MVP Fanbook,’ which commemorates all those in honor of achievement for the utmost brazen, uber shameless, ultra scheming, unmatched bad asses from the episode – from sports references, music and tasty food to pop culture remarks, shocking twists and ultimate paybacks. In case you missed it, catch up with the MVPs of the season seven premiere Tower of London, episode two Original Sin, episode three Winston Dick Energy, episode four Hurricane Rosie, episode five The Gulag Archipelago, episode six The Man in the Olive Drab T-Shirt, episode seven DMV and episode eight The Owl.

Now let’s dive in. Here are the Billions MVP awards for Season 7, Episode 9, “Game Theory Optimal.”

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Billions Print Media Recap

Billions Season 7, Episode 9 Recap: Character Assassination

On October 8, 2023October 9, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Game Theory Optimal

by Kyle Fowle | Entertainment Weekly | October 8, 2023

Now this is what we’ve been waiting for. Billions hasn’t quite had its same mojo for awhile now, as it’s really been a few seasons since it last operated at a thrilling pace. This final season in particular has been rather sluggish and meandering, failing to create any real tension. But now that the end is in sight, things are ramping up. Finally, there seems to be real stakes here, and the twists and power plays are getting started.

This week’s episode begins with Chuck (Paul Giamatti) having dinner with the former police commissioner Richie Sansome. He’s picking his brain about the idea of fudging evidence and getting someone (Prince) locked up for the greater good, even if they don’t have all the solid evidence they need. Sansome says it happened a lot during his days as commissioner, but that he advises against it, that the “rails of justice” are there as guides for a reason, and that no charge really sticks unless you do the work and find the actual evidence.

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Billions Print Media Recap

Billions on Showtime, Season 7 Episode 9: Game Theory Optimal

On October 6, 2023October 7, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

How Chuck Rhoades Turns Bubonic Plague Rat Shit to Gold

by Damianista | Fan Fun With Damian Lewis | October 6, 2023

First things first. Apologies for not writing a recap for Season 7 Episode 8 The Owl. I was traveling in the UK last weekend to attend Damian Lewis’ music gigs in Brighton, Manchester and Leeds. And then I was in London catching Damian at a fantastic theatre event to mark the centenary celebration of Noel Coward’s first musical revue London Calling! So I missed Episode 8 and was not able to write an episode recap for the first time. That said – I watched the episode and my main take aways are as follows.

First, Chuck very rightly points out, a man with zero self-doubt should never hold a position of absolute power. Prince’s hawkish approach to nuclear conflict at The Owl is a bone-chilling sign to what kind of a president he would be.

Continue reading Billions on Showtime, Season 7 Episode 9: Game Theory Optimal

Billions Print Media Recap

Billions Season 7, Episode 9 Recap: The Walls Close In

On October 6, 2023October 6, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Game Theory Optimal

by Sean T. Collins | New York Times | October 6, 2023

Season 7, Episode 9: ‘Game Theory Optimal’

Think of this week’s episode of “Billions” as the Death Star trash compactor. In this memorable scene from “Star Wars,” our heroes, Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie, are stuck waist-deep in refuse as the walls of the compactor slowly close in on them. Shooting at those walls, climbing them, bracing them with metal beams — nothing works. It is simply a race against time: Either their robotic friends C-3PO and R2-D2 figure out how to shut down the space station’s trash compactor, or — well, as Han Solo puts it, “We’re all going to be a lot thinner.”

In this crackerjack episode, the role of the left wall is played by Chuck Rhoades. Chuck has a long, dark, drunken night of the soul at Patsy’s restaurant with Richie Sansome (Michael Rispoli), a former top brass in the N.Y.P.D. Half cop, half gangster (you can take the actor out of “The Sopranos,” but you can’t take “The Sopranos” out of the actor), Sansome advises Chuck on the logistics and ethics of framing a guilty man, primarily in the negative.

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Billions Print Media Recap

Billions Season 7, Episode 9 Recap: Uneasy Alliance

On October 6, 2023October 6, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Game Theory Optimal

by Sarene Leeds | Vulture | October 6, 2023

With “Game Theory Optimal,” Billions has entered its third and final act.

Although we’re still waiting for one key player to take his position — Axe — the Rebel Alliance/MPC Fifth Column can now claim Chuck Rhoades as one of its members. However, it’s hard to know what difference that will make now that Mike Prince has firmly entered Lex Luthor territory, obliterating traitors from the comforts of his lair/townhouse with the help of his dedicated hench-people.

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Poetry Print Media Readings Voice Work

Helena Bonham Carter and Damian Lewis Mark National Poetry Day With Allie Esiri’s New Anthology

On October 5, 2023March 23, 2024 By Gingersnap Comments Off

365 Poems for Life: An Uplifting Collection For Every Day of the Year

by Katie Fraser | The Bookseller | October 5, 2023

Bluebird Books, an imprint of Pan Macmillan, will launch Allie Esiri’s 365 Poems for Life: An Uplifting Collection For Every Day of the Year, Esiri’s first anthology of poetry for adults, with readings from actors Helena Bonham Carter and Damian Lewis.

Publication on 5th October, National Poetry Day, will be supported with readings of Matthew Hollis’ “The Blackbird of Spitalfields”, Emily Dickinson’s “Hope is the Thing with Feathers” and Danusha Laméris’ “Small Kindnesses” by actors Bonham Carter and Lewis.

Continue reading Helena Bonham Carter and Damian Lewis Mark National Poetry Day With Allie Esiri’s New Anthology

Billions Poll Print Media

Billions MVPs: Season 7 Episode 8, “The Owl”

On October 4, 2023October 4, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

The Unbeatable, Unstoppable, Unparalleled MVPs

by Staff | Fan Fun With Damian Lewis | October 4, 2023

Now let’s dive in. Here are the Billions MVP awards for Season 7, Episode 8, “The Owl.”

Continue reading Billions MVPs: Season 7 Episode 8, “The Owl”

Album Mission Creep Music Print Media Review UK Tour 2023

We Get Musical With Damian Lewis

On October 3, 2023October 3, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

by Peter Newman-Mann | NE Online Magazine, Issue #65 | October 3, 2023

Sage 2 in Gateshead now called The Glasshouse, International Centre for Music

It’s been a long and interesting journey for the now 50-something, London born actor/musician, Damian Lewis, both trades in which he now enjoys to the full, having come to him early in life.

Although his acting, as a career, began fully when Damian was in his early 20’s, during the early-mid 1990s, he’s gone on to enjoy roles in film, television and on stage, and with some iconic parts to match.

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Billions Print Media Recap

Billions Season 7, Episode 8 Recap: Into the Woods

On October 2, 2023 By Gingersnap Comments Off

The Owl

by Kyle Fowle | Entertainment Weekly | October 1, 2023

It should come as no surprise that Chuck Sr. is a man who ventures out into the woods at least once a year with a bunch of his rich male friends to “reconnect with nature” while drinking, wrestling, and frollicking naked amongst the trees. This year, his 52nd, he wants his son to join him. Chuck (Paul Giamatti), of course, is a man of substance, a man of the city, and has no interest in engaging with the traditions his father prefers.

Continue reading Billions Season 7, Episode 8 Recap: Into the Woods