Billions - Im so so confused...

[aaarrrggghhhh]

Can anyone explain?

Key things I don't get:

• what did Wendy do re the trade that means she might go to jail?

• I really don't get that it is not a big deal that Chuck is going after Axe and therefore Axe Capital and therefore Wendy's livelihood? i.e. why is this not made more of? To me its this huge elephant in the room but it just doesn't seem to be referred to at all?

tbh Im so confused I don't even know what I'm confused about....I shall keep watching but would be very grateful if someone could explain a bit! Thanks!

I am with you. It's getting more and more complicated and making me lose interest now.

I'm going to try and explain what I think but take no responsibility if I'm way off

I think that Wendy being involved in ice juice wasn't a big deal in itself but, from the information handed over to Brian last night, it seems that it would be investigated further because she's never invested in anything in her time at axe capital until then. Also, they seemed to make a big deal out of her making the phone call to invest when she was at Chuck's office, who Brian already knows (but can't yet prove) was involved via his trust fund care of his dad investing.

As for Wendy's career being ruined by going after Axe, aren't they just looking to put Axe in jail but Axe Capital would still continue as is?

Does that make any sense at all??

I feel like I understand it all even less now

The reason Wendy is in trouble is because she made the trade using insider information.

Ice Juice were a new company who were launching their IPO ( first sale of stock issued by a company to the public) and this would make millions for the owners of Ice Juice (Chuck, his best friend and I think his Dad).

Axe shorted the stock that was released AND interfered with Ice Juice's reputation. This meant that all that stock had to be sold and this devalued the stock and company whilst Axe made millions.

www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortselling.asp

Wendy bought the stock at the devalued price and she did it from Chuck's office making it appear he was aware. She also bought for the first time which is highly suspicious and can be used as evidence she knew about the short sell and this is therefore insider trading.

Chuck is in trouble because he is implicated as he financially benefited from the short sell rather than being harmed by the share devaluing as his Dad and best friend were.

He also hates Axe and if Axe goes to jail, Wendy won't be Axe's personal therapist anymore which means he is weaker and Chuck wins.

Hope this makes sense.

how did chuck and wendy benefit from the stick being devalued though?

And that was chucks plan wasnt it? why?

And why did Wendy buy all of a sudden, was it just pure greed as she knew shed make a lot?

Oh hang on did Wendy make the trade because she knew that Chuck was going to lose all his money and didn't realise why he was doing it??

Tbh I'm SOOOOO confused about what Wendy knows about what Chuck has been doing to Axe.

I see what you mean Fannybas52 about Chuck winning if Axe goes in terms of Wendy - but that's what confuses - why isn't a bigger deal made about all this being some psycho fight for Wendy's affections?

I'm still going to keep watching - but watch out for me back here after next weeks perplexing episode...

(Is it bad I really really want to be superrich now? If only to get the bathroom towels that Axe has in his apartment)

oh sorry also what was the evidence that the doctor had?

I've absolutely loved the last two seasons, but I wonder if there are new writers or something on this season. It's lost its way a little bit, and I'm struggling to keep watching sadly.

And I didn't get April sleeping with that guy at all.

I haven't seen the most episode, but I agree that this season isn't as interesting as the first two. I watch for Taylor.

I've never understood Billions 100%. Too much trading stuff for me to understand. But still keep watching!! And still can't decide who's team I'm on!

Chuck did not benefit from the sale. He lost his fortune. He invested in it, had his father invest his trust fund, and he used the guy who was in prison to make sure Axe knew. This goaded Axe to sabotage the stock, which Chuck was watching out for.

Wendy knew that something was up and that Chuck would lose his fortune. She shorted to try and mitigate the damage to the family finances.

I'm not sure/don't remember what she knew, but it was either insider trading or would look like it.

Chuck is in trouble for goading and manipulating a suspect.

Billions is challenging to watch. There's a lot of snappy, clever dialogue. It sometimes becomes ridiculous - like the judge quoting George Clinton lyrics in court. That snappy tough tone gets a little grating. Nobody ever just says banal things like "Gosh the weather is crap."

This has all helped my confused brain. Somewhat.

But why isn't Wendy furious at Chuck for losing his fortune - I know they don't use it but its the children inheritance? And also why isn't she furious that she is now at risk of going to jail because of Chuck? Does she know what Chuck did in terms of goading Ace etc?

Which suspect did Chuck goad?

Okay I'm still quite confused...

Lets hope my teeny tiny brain doesnt explode next week.

It has been helpful to know that if I can't even understand a tv show about trading then I have literally zero chance of understanding trading itself...

Thank you all for posting your confusion. I feel much better now that I'm not the only one whose brain is on overload. I cannot configure all the characters and their interaction with each other and their interaction with the company and the manipulation of the stock and Wendy - why is she everyone's therapist. And then there is Taylor having sex with Bill Stern? Am I right? Very interesting.

Ugh. I think I'm out.

As well as the plot just being confusing I just really don't like the characters now and really couldnt care in the least what happens to them.

That for me is the thing I'm most perplexed about - it seems that the characters are meant to be somehow ambiguous and complex - but I just think that they're really not - they're just horrible one dimensional greedy selfish people. But even that's not being explored because there seems to be this tone that, as I said, they're ambiguous.

Maybe I'm just missing it. But Im almost at the end of this weeks and I just feel like I'm at a dinner party with really pretentious and unpleasant people and I can't wait to go home and put on some tracksuit pants and have a cup of tea...

Although I did note that Wendy is actually wearing a coloured outfit tonight - I may be tempted to watch next week to see if she steps outside black again...

What's your feeling about Madame Secretary? I almost feel like I'm in school, trying to remember everything.

Anyway, thank you again for starting this thread. This definitely calls for simple TV - like 90 day fiance and my gingerale.

yenta

aarrghh The dinner party guest analogy is spot on. I feel like that too but my DP really still likes Billions. I think Taylor is a great character - glad they are continuing with the Quant project (on the qt).

Can't stand Chuck - really wish Connerty would punch him. Connerty and the guy with the big hair are the only one's left with any sort of integrity.(I think - but struggle to remember all the ins and outs series to series)
My issue right from the start is Wendy - I just don't believe she could continue to work for Axe (or that he would want her to) with all the conflict of interests with her Husband's role. Also hated all the dominatrix stuff - hope that's dropped now. Chuck is a privileged, cosseted, arrogant little sod.

I also find the episodes a bit too long for my poor brain to cope with late in the evening.

kikashi - I know the Wendy think - PERPLEXING - her husband blew £26 million of his personal fortune to (illegally) catch out her boss. And yet she still trots off to work. And no big deal is made out of it.

Oh and she was just such a cow to big hair dudes wife when they stormed out of the restaurant dinner.

Agree Taylor is good. But literally the only one who I am interested in.

I think I'm just about finished doing the dishes and am going to go and get their coats for them...