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Billions Season 3, Episode 12 Finale Recap: Entertainment Weekly – June 10, 2018

Everything Falls Apart for Chuck and Axe

by Kyle Fowle | Entertainment Weekly | June 10, 2018

Source: Showtime

Elmsley Count

Billions built itself on the rivalry between Chuck Rhoades and Bobby Axelrod. It was the heart of the first season, which was entertaining but still finding itself, exploring what kind of show it would be. In season 2 their rivalry came to a head with a back-and-forth power play that led to a criminal investigation which played out in the first part of season 3. Season 2 shifted the stakes and the storytelling forever, though. The supporting cast became the show’s greatest strength, as the likes of Wags, Ari Spyros, Dollar Bill, and new addition Taylor Mason added everything the show was missing in its first season.

In other words, Billions could only be the story of Axe vs. Chuck for so long. At some point they had to move on from their blood feud and find new enemies, allowing the show to tell new stories and move the characters in different directions. One of the great draws of this show is that it never stagnates. The ground is always moving beneath the characters, and that makes for exciting, unpredictable drama. “Elmsley Count,” the season 3 finale, represents another massive shift, and it’s incredibly exciting.

Continue reading Billions Season 3, Episode 12 Finale Recap: Entertainment Weekly – June 10, 2018

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From the Trader’s Desk: Recapping S3E11 ‘Kompenso’ – June 8, 2018

Is Axe Ares, The God of War?

by Lady Trader | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | June 8, 2018

Source: Showtime

Rivals all across the land
He kills them with his knife in hand
He’s the meanest guy around his town
One look and he will cut you down
Johnny Blade – Black Sabbath

Hello and welcome to the second to last week of Billions from the Trader’s Desk. This week I’ll be breaking down “Kompenso” in 3 Acts: Comp Day, The God of War, and Revenge of the Quants.

Before I get into my analysis, I’d just like to say that I love the casting of Patti D’Arbanville as Momma Axelrod. She’s a born and bred NYC girl, and that comes across in her accent and mannerisms playing Axe’s mom. Perfect casting Mr. Koppleman and Mr. Levien!

Continue reading From the Trader’s Desk: Recapping S3E11 ‘Kompenso’ – June 8, 2018

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Billions on Showtime 3.11: Kompenso – June 7, 2018

“A Win Isn’t a Win Unless It’s a Kill”

by JaniaJania | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | June 7, 2018

Source: Showtime

Billions, Season 3, episode 11, “Kompenso” was an episode built around annual comp reviews, those pesky one-on-ones with the boss where you justify your existence/paycheck, hope for good reviews of your work while fearing the worst. Who woulda thunk such events make for good drama?

This episode felt smaller, tighter, and therefore richer than the wide net thrown over oligarch intrigue and government-for-the-chosen shenanigans in the past few episodes. Lots of sit-downs, therefore lots of chance to build real connection between characters. All stories benefit from at least a couple episodes of close attention paid to the people, the balance and counter-balance of human connection, particularly for those characters who freakin hate human connection. If you hadn’t guessed already, you know for sure in this episode, that Bobby Axelrod is just not a people person.

Continue reading Billions on Showtime 3.11: Kompenso – June 7, 2018

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Billions on Showtime, Season 3 Episode 11: Kompenso – June 4, 2018

The Worst Thing That Could Happen May Not be That Bad After All

by Damianista | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | June 4, 2018

Source: Showtime

While I stand behind my words that Axe and Chuck have so much in common that they could be BFFs in another life, this episode finds them at opposite ends of the generosity scale. While Axe does not even want to hear the word accommodation when it comes to people helping him make money, Chuck goes out of his way to accommodate his old pal Ira.

The opening of Kompenso makes me smile and laugh for different reasons. It makes me smile because the opening song “Wicked Game” brings back sweet prom memories. It makes me laugh because it features my fellow Turkish-American Nusret, whose Instagram videos of him slicing and salting steak went viral and made him an international star overnight! Nusret now owns several restaurants, including one in New York, called Nusr-Et because Et means meat in Turkish! And while his dramatic serving skills seem to turn Kate Sacker of all people on, Kate prefers to look at the eclipse through the cereal box when Chuck offers to order the Tomahawk and have Nusret perform at the table.

Continue reading Billions on Showtime, Season 3 Episode 11: Kompenso – June 4, 2018

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Photos & Video: Next Time on Billions Episode 12 – June 4, 2018

Season 3, Episode 12: Elmsley Count

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | June 4, 2018

On the next episode of Billions, Axe dominates a capital raise event, but is soon challenged by an unexpected competitor. Chuck looks to strike the ultimate blow on an enemy. Wendy reckons with past decisions, and chooses a side. Connerty confronts Sacker about Chuck’s activities. Taylor takes a big position.

Source: Showtime

To view more sneak peek photos, please visit our Gallery

Official clip: Next on Episode 12: 

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Billions Season 3, Episode 11 Recap: Forbes – June 3, 2018

“Taylor and Axe Meet In The Middle, Or So He Thinks” Plus Condola Rashad Interview

by Dana Feldman | Forbes | June 3, 2018

Source: Showtime

Kompenso

The third season of Billions has been quite the ride and the show’s best yet. The eleventh episode entitled “Kompenso” was the perfect lead in to what is sure to be a fantastic season finale next Sunday! As Showtime’s No. 2 drama series, Billions averages 4.5-to-5 million weekly viewers across platforms and the show’s viewership has grown season-over-season.

Throughout season two, the series grew on Sunday nights by more than 35% from premiere-to-finale. And, the season three premiere was the show’s highest-rated ever with the March 25 debut up 23% from last year. A fourth season is in the works and seeds have been planted in the last few episodes that can definitely lead to very exciting storylines for next season. The writers are apparently already working and filming will resume in the fall.

Chuck Advances Plans To Destroy Jock, While Saving Ira From His Wife And Her Lover:

Continue reading Billions Season 3, Episode 11 Recap: Forbes – June 3, 2018

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Billions Season 3, Episode 11 Recap: New York Times – June 3, 2018

Salt to Taste

by Sean T. Collins | New York Times | June 3, 2018

Source: Showtime

Kompenso

This week, on “Billions”: Salt Bae.

The viral-video sensation and steakhouse hearthrob Nusret Gokce makes an unexpected appearance to open the episode. Of all the real-life restaurateurs, athletes and hedge-fund aristocracy who’ve appeared on this show, none made me laugh harder at their sheer delightful audacity. Come to think of it, I don’t know if anything on TV has made me laugh harder than this.

The look of lust in the eyes of Condola Rashad’s normally unflappable attorney Kate Sacker, accompanied by the sensual strains of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” on the sound system, simply add additional seasoning to the scenario. Silly as it sounds, the scene is a textbook example of the attention to detail “Billions” pays to its Manhattan machinations. The show never settles for satisfying when spectacular will do.

Continue reading Billions Season 3, Episode 11 Recap: New York Times – June 3, 2018

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Billions Season 3, Episode 11 Recap: Entertainment Weekly – June 3, 2018

Axe, Chuck, and the Illusion of Control

by Kyle Fowle | Entertainment Weekly | June 3, 2018

Source: Showtime

Kompenso

Do you know why Billions is such a great show? There’s a ton of reasons, but one of them is the show’s ability to swing between ridiculous and tense in a matter of moments. This is a show that has unbelievable control over its tone. Its over-the-top moments hardly ever feel too over-the-top, and when they do there’s usually some sort of character motivation behind it. That kind of control allows the show to don many masks, to be funny and scathing and frightening all at the same time.

That kind of control is evident as “Kompenso” kicks off with Salt Bae. No, you didn’t read that wrong. As the episode gets underway, Kate and Chuck are dining at Salt Bae’s restaurant in New York. Or rather, Chuck is dining, and Kate is lustily eyeing Salt Bae, imagining a different kind of meal for the night. Chuck and Kate trade witty remarks before Karl shows up and delivers some bad news: He still hasn’t found anyone within Jock’s radius that can corroborate the Jeffcoats’ shady deal with Texas South Cable. Essentially, the whistleblower Cutler isn’t enough to build a case on because of his propensity to lie. He’s hardly a credible witness, which means the search is on for another one.

Continue reading Billions Season 3, Episode 11 Recap: Entertainment Weekly – June 3, 2018

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Billions Season 3, Episode 11 Recap: Vulture – June 3, 2018

Comp Day

by Nicole Cliffe | Vulture | June 3, 2018

Source: Showtime

Kompenso

Good episode, teammates! A really good one! You’ll remember that I felt the writing has been a bit shaky recently: notes not hitting right, characters behaving out of character just to move the necessary plot points, etc. Well, I shouldn’t have doubted, because Billions just geared up with a roar for these last few episodes of the season. I’m impressed, I’m happy; let’s get into it.

I knew that we were going somewhere the minute I saw Sacker getting noticeably flushed while watching Salt Bae work his Turkish steak magic. Sacker doesn’t really get a chance to shine in this episode, so I’m glad she had some fun at dinner. When is Sacker going to get a worthy romantic plotline? I don’t want to return to the lovesick vibe she gave off in season one, but I would dearly love to see her go toe-to-toe with a man on her level (should such a man exist.)

Continue reading Billions Season 3, Episode 11 Recap: Vulture – June 3, 2018

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From the Trader’s Desk: Billions S3E10 ‘Redemption’ – June 1, 2018

Betrayals and Surprises 

by Lady Trader | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | June 1, 2018

Don’t you think I know what I’m doing
Don’t tell me that it’s doing me wrong
You’re the one that’s really the loser
This is where I feel I belong
Snowblind – Black Sabbath

Hello, and happy Friday from the Trader’s Desk! This week, we see Axe looking for “Redemption”, and it’s twofold: the $1.5 Billion Andolov is redeeming from his investment in Axe Capital, and Axe trying to find his own salvation, after almost selling something worth more to him than his soul – a piece of his firm!

Continue reading From the Trader’s Desk: Billions S3E10 ‘Redemption’ – June 1, 2018

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Billions on Showtime, 3.10: Redemption – May 31, 2018

Good Gracious – Axe is Bodacious

by JaniaJania | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | May 31, 2018

Source: Showtime

Billions Season 3 Episode 10, “Redemption” was the first episode where Bobby’s omniscience as written felt truly believable.

Not only does Bobby know everything, he also doesn’t break a sweat when returning Maria Sharapova’s serves. As he finishes up getting crushed sweatlessly by one Russian, he absorbs the blows of another Russian, John Malkovich’s Grigor Andolov, pulling his money out of Axe Cap minutes after it has just landed. Axe doesn’t see the game Andolov is playing. All he knows is that he’s been struck and he needs to recover. The deft speed with which Bobby Axelrod gets back on the horse is a thing of beauty. His resilience is the one truly beautiful (ie sympathetic) thing about him.

Continue reading Billions on Showtime, 3.10: Redemption – May 31, 2018

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Photos & Videos: Next Time on Billions Episode 11 – May 28, 2018

Season 3, Episode 11: Kompenso

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | May 28, 2018

On the next episode of Billions, Axe determines his employees’ worth at the year-end “comp” meetings. Chuck advances a dangerous plan, but is distracted by a friend in need of help. Taylor and Axe argue over Taylor’s place and worth at the firm. Wendy seeks Lara’s aid with an internal Axe Cap problem. Connerty discovers a new, secret source of information.

Source: Showtime

To view more sneak peek photos, please visit our Gallery

Official clip: Next on Episode 11: 

Official clip: “I Need a Meeting with Your Boss”