From the Trader’s Desk: Is This the End of the Beginning? Billions S5 E11 Victory Smoke

Or the Beginning of the End?

by Lady Trader | Fan Fun with Damian Lewis | October 1, 2021

Is this the end of the beginning?
Or the beginning of the end?
Losing control or are you winning?
Is your life real or just pretend?
End of the Beginning – Black Sabbath

After a quick trip to the West Coast, the Trader’s Desk is back for your Friday enjoyment. I have thoughts, so let’s get right to it.

I have always felt the idea of Axe turning Axe Capital into a bank was a bad idea. Why go through all the changes, and deal with all different types of rules and regulations? It’s not worth it. Also, this whole bank idea was purely emotional. Axe got the bee in his bonnet about the bank after Prince rattled his cage and “stole his shaman” at “The Mike”. It was a frustrated Axe no longer wanting to be the player at the casino but be the house. The problem is, Axe is a gambler, and I went into detail on why I believe that all the way back at the beginning of Season 2. He has become a deca being a speculator. He is good at trading and deal making. Why change and give up that shot of adrenaline?  This bank is all ego and emotion, and it may finally be the nail in Axe’s coffin.

But, before I give my thoughts about “Victory Smoke”, and few observations about “Liberty”:

Chuck’s Jeffersonian Dinner – Paul Giamatti played John Adams in the 2008 HBO series “John Adams” (which is an amazing series). John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were bitter rivals during their time together in the Washington administration, and when Jefferson was Adams’ VP. When both were out of politics, they became good friends through the exchange of letters over many years. They even died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826. None of this has anything to do with Billions, but I thought it was a nice piece of trivia!

Stay Away from Mary Jane – Cannabis is a risky and stupid business to be in. Yes, it is legal in some states for medicinal and recreational use, but it is still against federal law. Also, many clients will not do business with firms that invest or deal with “vice” companies (alcohol, tobacco, casinos, etc.). Again, this is Axe looking to stop Prince from getting a “win” for his bank, and the blinders he has on is stopping him from looking at the big picture. He wants his bank to be legit, but wants to deal in weed? Stupid!

Breakfast at Chuck’s – OK. There has been much written and talked about regarding Chuck preparing eggs for Prince and Eva, so I need to add my two cents. That may have been the most boring 3 minutes I have watched on television in a while, and that is coming from someone who watched Season 11 of Doctor Who! And, to add insult to injury, Chuck uses oil to make eggs! Oil? No, just no. And over such a high heat? Nope, nope, nope. Everyone knows you use lots of butter over a low heat. I don’t cook much well, but the one thing I do make with some success is eggs, and that was no way to treat the incredible, edible egg!

The Fairly Odd Couple – Axe and Wendy!? Yeah, uh, no. I have been an opponent of this coupling from the start (partly because I used to be very Anti-Wendy). This just seems to come from two people who know each other well, are comfortable with each other, and are looking for a port in a storm. They are both going through an intense time and are both alone. This doesn’t seem like love, but convenience and proximity. I’ll get into this more a bit later.

Read the rest of the original article at our sister site Fan Fun with Damian Lewis here