Billions Season 3 Review

Showtime continues to be the most intriguing network on any system, and unlike HBO and AMC, seems more than capable of coming up with astonishing new series when the old ones depart. Billions has been one of the more intriguing players in its rotation, and with the real world taking new and shocking turns,  it is more than up to the challenge/

When Season 2 ended, Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis) had just been indicted for insider trading for his manipulation of the stock 'Ice Juice'. We also learned that this manipulation had been masterminded by U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) at  the cost of his personal fortune, his best friend, and his relationship with his father (Jeffrey DeMunn). As Season 3 begins, both Rhoades and Axe are in strange new worlds. Bobby's marriage to Lara (Malin Akerman) has imploded, with a separation from her, and a further problem with his kids. In the season premiere, facing the possible collapse of Ax Capital, he agreed to suspend trading, and then spent yesterday's episode entirely unable to keep still. Bobby is a shark, and can't figure out what to do if he's not trading. So, even as he tries to stem off prison, he can't avoid doing the only thing he knows how to do.

Chuck is in an even deeper bind. With a new administration and a new attorney general (wonderfully portrayed by Clancy Brown), he has managed to keep his job when all around are losing theirs, and is trying to keep a distance from the new ADA (Christopher Denham, master of the understatement) He has also managed to reconcile with Wendy (Maggie Siff, incredible), but still can't keep his hands off the case. As the prosecutor tells him: "You're a man who's committed a crime of passion. It felt good at the time, but now you want to get all the blood of the walls." Chuck knows the peril he's in, even as he continues to seek the governor's chair.

Ax Capital is in a similar case of flux. With Bobby now 'gone', leadership has been set up between Wendy, Wags (David Costabile, stealing every scene he's in) and Taylor (Asia Kate Dillon, now promoted to series regular). Taylor managed to win over Ax's confidence in Season 2, and in the finale was promoted to CIO. The entire firm is looking to them for leadership, and they have been more than willing to provide it. But Ax can't stop working behind the scenes, even though all of them are desperately trying to protect him. Ax, like Chuck, can be his own worst enemy. The question is, who'll break first?

Billions has now easily risen to the status of best drama on Showtime. It manages to inhabit the gray area that all good series on television now seem to occupy, while not forfeiting any of the great acting and writing that so many of them lack. The creators have put together two of the strongest lead characters on television, and yet you can probably count on one hand the number of the time the two of them have been in the same scene together. Add to this the fact that Wendy's new position has reestablished the power triangle that leads to some of the series best drama (including the fact that Wendy and Bobby have never even considered a romantic relationship), and you have something you barely see on TV any more. All of the acting on this series is remarkable, and yet attention must still be paid to Dillon. I can't think of any series that would hire a gender neutral actor to play a gender neutral role, and then spend the entire series, making sure  that the sex of the character was the least interesting thing about them. Dillon commands the screen in every scene their in, and should be considered among the Emmy nominations.

Billions is currently Showtime's crowning achievement, just like Masters of Sex was five years ago. I really hope that the Emmys find a way to recognize it the way they didn't for Masters.  In an era where the almighty dollar is king, this show seems far more relevant than ever.

My score: 4.5 stars.