Billions

Billions was a great show with great actors. Up to and including the first 5 seasons I really enjoyed it. But as it often goes, the makers can't get enough of their success and just keep going on. Until the momentum, the excitement and the spirit is gone. This is also largely due to Season 6 being without main actor Damian Lewis. So I watched one episode but it did not get me hooked and after reading some other reviews I thought it best to leave it at that and watch something else instead.

Seasons 1-5 the show had everything you want, good storylines, revenge, drama, personal vendettas. All the great actors and fireworks that go along with them. And honestly they had a really good thing going. I had no real complaints about the way they handled themselves, a few bumps here and there but overall a great show.

And then came season 6, this woke joke season is everything that's wrong with shows right now. First the direction they're going in is nothing short of boring and sad, second the way they went about it is just dumb, and of course let's not forget the main protagonist left. Honestly I have yet to meet a person who cares about anything they're doing now. But worst of all both the plot and the writing are complete and utter trash this season. I've never in my life heard so many references that no one knows or would ever recognize. They're starting to quote Latin phrases and philosophers and not even renown ones. And if that weren't bad enough, the plot is nonsensical. Chuck now comes off like a vengeful tyrant with no real bone to pick other than to snark and scowl at the rich, this isn't good or even decent, it's pathetic.

5/10, it was 10/10 for season 1-5 and now it's just bad so I figured I'll rate it in middle. Fair warning you give this show even 1 more season with this pathetic excuse for writing and I will outright drop the rating to 1.

This is a must see. The writing, the acting, the cast, are all perfect. It is so rare that you find a show with such a diverse cast coming together so seamlessly. Each character is perfectly cast. The writing allows you to live each chactors journey throughout each scene. You do not know who's side you are on; all you know is they are all "right" in their convictions in some way. The tension and life within this show makes you feel it as though you are there. Re- watch to find details you may have missed the first time. It is a thriller, drama, comedy, tragedy, and fairytale all in one. Watch the show to find out which character resonates with you ethics and morals. The lines may be harder to see than you think. The cast are living their roles and their conviction is riveting. Thank you for this show.

It's a good show, especially thanks to smart writers and great actors - Giamatti and Lewis in particular. Many interesting characters and supporting characters. Degiulio, Hall, Orrin, Ben Kim, Dollar Bill, Spyros, Sacker and Cantu.

I think the show increasingly turns into this female empowerment focus which in itself is a good thing but unfortunately also makes the show less captivating and entertaining. They shifted away from their winning formula.

Sacker is a great character although borderline Mary Sue who apparently masters everything with perfect integrity and produces one impressive pop cultural reference after the other. Eventually you can't help but think it seems a bit unrealistic and forced when a geeky book smart woman clearly born in the 80s references movies and music that would be only natural coming from a streetwise guy born in the 60s and 70s. Coming from a character like hers, you get the feeling she's googling references just to be able to say them, as opposed to Wags and Axe.

Wendy Rhoades was great the first season when things focused on her impressive mental coaching and being relatively objective, but then throughout the seasons slowly shifts into a petty, spiteful, snobby and selfish individual with too much unearned respect and authority. Her moral downfall is interesting but they never managed to pull her back into an enjoyable character again. So much for character development. Reminds me of how they ruined Donna in Suits - she had her perfect niche as the sassy, quick-witted assistant to becoming a needy, insecure and annoying COO.

And then we have this over-the-top badass Bonnie character who, as pretty much all the women on the show, always gets the final word and is portrayed as 10x tougher than the guys. It's too much, seems more like a utopian character for certain writers rather than realistic and engaging.

The casting of Dave was probably the biggest miss - they should have had more focus on finding someone likeable instead of ticking yet another box. She comes off as manipulative and 'superior', but not in a fun, intriguing way.

Prince of course is not Axe, but given the circumstances he did okay.

Taylor is actually a decently interesting character despite the obvious forced progressivism behind the introduction, and makes enough sense.

From being a typical aggressive tradefloor with classic macho a-holes, the men slowly deteriorate into goofy whimps in a hedge fund now full of female badasses. That's a clear shift in the writing, and although this shift can be interesting to explore it unfortunately makes the show go from entertaining and fun to increasingly lame and melodramatic.

That said, overall it's a great show worth watching. Lots of fun moments and manoeuvres.

Season 1 - 4 were great. 5 however started to loose me. 6 was a total washout. Prince was a terrible protagonist, no match for Chuck, only was at times because the script said so.

Overall, this show is smart and well written, but not believable, people don't talk like this.