Submitted by impeccabletim t3_11dxso3 in television
Comments
KingShaunyBoy t1_jabmmam wrote
If you're a fan of Lewis you should watch A Spy Among Friends. I thought it was pretty good.
SynthD t1_jabq4tg wrote
And Life, Band of Brothers, maybe wolf hall.
KingShaunyBoy t1_jabthan wrote
Of course, but I would assume a fan has seen these already. A Spy Among Friends is very recent.
chilloutfam t1_jad2187 wrote
his seasons of Homeland are good too.
tomc_23 t1_jaeijbr wrote
I enjoyed him in Wolf Hall, and had totally forgotten about Life until your comment (I think for a couple years I would either conflate or confuse Life with that David Duchovny series Aquarius, even though the premises are totally different).
I'd also recommend The Escapist (plus you get Brian Cox planning a prison breakout).
Band of Brothers, however, will always be peak Damian Lewis. Between that and Billions, I feel like he's even better when his character has a sort of partner or best friend-type to play off of.
anasui1 t1_jacprj3 wrote
maybe Wolf Hall? that show is a bomb
B0ndzai t1_jacmj4w wrote
I thought you meant the Eddie Murphy/Martin Lawrence movie Life. I have seen that a ton of times and I couldn't picture who Damian Lewis played.
OmniManDidNothngWrng t1_jacyjqv wrote
well they announced a Millions and Trillions spin-off so I imagine they will end Billions and then send some of the characters off to those shows or at least some crossovers.
Dismal-Past7785 t1_jadqv14 wrote
Showtime really knows how to beat a dead horse.
OmniManDidNothngWrng t1_jads5u5 wrote
I think the idea is to just copy Marvel and the Sheridanverse. Whenever you strike something mildly popular keep giving people what they want.
Dismal-Past7785 t1_jadsx2l wrote
🎥 ⏰ 🥊 ☠️ 🐎
tomc_23 t1_jaegxb1 wrote
Losing Axe was inevitable eventually, albeit the timing and how it eventually came about were infinitely more tragic with the death of Helen McCrory. Even though (much like another Damian Lewis series) I think Billions should've ended long ago, I'm glad he's coming back towards what will (hopefully) be its end.
The introduction of Corey Stoll's Mike Prince was a solid enough remedy to losing Axe, although I think the season's overarching story and somewhat too-late criticism of billionaires left the series without a very clear sense of purpose or place; it spent too long painting its characters as flawed themselves, but doing nothing to criticize or otherwise caricature their ridiculously wealthy lives like, say, Succession does. More than that, it went the opposite direction, painting the Axe Capital cast of characters as universally "cool" (excepting 1-2 Big Bang Theory-style "nerd" caricatures written in later); they like "cool" things, drive "cool" cars, and the entire cast speaks fluently in that Billions-patented shorthand of "cool" references (to make you feel "cool" too whenever you recognize the reference), even though sometimes the dialogue feels like Sorkin's zippy West Wing walk-and-talk writing--but if Martin Sheen, Allison Janney, and Bradley Whitford were constantly trying to work references to Steve McQueen and Paul Newman movies into literally every exchange about foreign and domestic policy.
I really enjoyed the Mike Prince arc of the most recent seasons, especially early on when we're as skeptical and in the dark about his goals and motives as everybody else in the cast; I wasn't a fan of the outcome, but I think at the beginning the idea of basically an anti-Axe who appears genuinely preoccupied with using his wealth and resources to improve the lives of others and his community was inspired. He couldn't replicate Lewis'/Axe's presence, so they didn't even bother trying, and somehow managed a delicate balance between slowly winning the cast (and audience, by extension) over to his character's seemingly utopian "vision," while still acknowledging his god complex and major flaws as a person/husband/etc.
That said, I think bringing Damian Lewis back has a lot of potential, but could just as easily topple things just as this new version of Billions had found its footing. At the very least, it will be good to see Wags' reaction. I still think the series should've ended with like, the second/third season (honestly, maybe even the first, if they'd left it a little less open-ended). Like with Lewis' time on Homeland, I think it could've been a phenomenal character study as a limited or even anthology series, but it's still been solidly entertaining and certainly doesn't wast such a talented cast.
TheBlackSwarm t1_jabflu2 wrote
How the hell did this show get 7 seasons.
In my opinion the max a show could go on for without running stale is 6 seasons depending on how good and engaging the story is.
PetyrDayne t1_jabfv4i wrote
Show ended for me after season 2. The writers just kinda lost it after that.
ghostcider t1_jabgllv wrote
Clancy Brown even said in an interview that to cut corners they fired the writers who made season 1 what it was.
Captain_-H t1_jabj43v wrote
Wow, yeah I loved season 1, and then 2 was still pretty good and it kept getting worse after that
ghostcider t1_jabo41r wrote
The writer's room also went from a complex understanding of the worlds they were writing about to just using generic tropes about the rich. Tropes are awesome, but not when used as a replacement for knowing what you are doing.
PetyrDayne t1_jabh2rn wrote
I didn't know that. What a bunch of muppets. Knowing showtime they are gonna keep this running for 5 more seasons till they eventually cancel it when the writing gets even more god awful
NaRaGaMo t1_jad47lj wrote
>more seasons till they eventually cancel it when the writing gets even more god awful
you mean when viewership decreases below profitable levels, it's pretty clear at this point they don't care for quality at all
Indigocell t1_jad1efm wrote
Very reminiscent of how AMC treated The Walking Dead following a hit first season.
loose_larry t1_jaccgwt wrote
Pretty much how I felt. Chuck motherfucking rhoades
ebradio t1_jacqdl1 wrote
I made it to season 6 but quit half way through. The writing is horrific.
Halo909 t1_jabpib5 wrote
In one of the seasons there was a writers strike. I don't remember which season but it was with the one of the storylines where they poison the chipotle .
zombiejeebus t1_jabh556 wrote
Showtime will just keep milking and milking their shows until there’s literally nothing left but dust
Loki1947 t1_jacf8s1 wrote
Showtime is the worst network outside of CBS when it comes to never letting their shows end gracefully. And they never do. They always keep going and going until Showtime just cancels them unceremoniously.
Dexter was the closest, but that was shot in the foot because they were planning for the inevitable reboot and then the reboot was shot in the foot because they were planning for a spin-off (that now isn't going to happen.)
CLEHts216 t1_jachi2u wrote
Shameless went on wayyyy too long.
myassholealt t1_jadzfkb wrote
>Showtime is the worst network outside of CBS
And now they will be one! Though I'm expecting a content purge as they consolidate.
LostInStatic t1_jadw226 wrote
I fucking burst out laughing when I saw the Yellowjackets creators touting a five season arc. They were running out of ideas at the end of season one
[deleted] t1_jabh7y4 wrote
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[deleted] t1_jacikhw wrote
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zombiejeebus t1_jacqxrv wrote
I can think of at least three showtime shows where they forced me the viewer to make the call and decide to stop watching a former favorite show of mine because it needed to be put out to pasture.
hello_goodbye t1_jabhsxl wrote
I don't know if you have heard but, in addition to Season 7, Showtime is launching FOUR spinoff shows: Billions: London, Billions: Miami, Millions, and Trillions.
horseren0ir t1_jabnskh wrote
Ew
Deserterdragon t1_jad0gcf wrote
Cowardly not to do a spin off called hundreds and thousands.
Dogbuysvan t1_jaddmlw wrote
They already made too many seasons of Shameless.
DeckardsDark t1_jacemgw wrote
one word: Showtime
[deleted] t1_jac1rpj wrote
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Brandhor t1_jabmkq9 wrote
from what I recall they always planned to make 7 seasons
EvilioMTE t1_jabtkxc wrote
People need to stop planning such long shows.
impeccabletim OP t1_jabfx8f wrote
Confirmed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert! Lewis will appear as Axe for 6 out of the 12 episodes of Billions season 7, which will premiere later this year.
RusevReigns t1_jabhy29 wrote
I think Showtime should give its stars a few seasons off in the middle to load manage, we know it's going 9-11, it keeps their legs fresh
MoistFox5230 t1_jacfd6q wrote
It's going what sir?
tomc_23 t1_jaej9am wrote
It might be something a casual fan wouldn't understand, but clearly u/RusevReigns is referring to the role 9/11 plays in Bobby Axelrod's backstory and the rich lore of the Billions universe. Understandable that this might go over your head, as to be fair, you have to have a pretty high IQ (or just a lot of spare time) to get all the references in such an intelligently written show as Billions.
/s
zombie_gas t1_jadqjez wrote
I think they’re saying “we know Showtime will run the show too long, 9-11 seasons, so why not give the actors a break in the middle of that?”
I enjoyed the first few seasons of Billions but it lost its mojo and I dropped Showtime
RusevReigns t1_jaeksmf wrote
9-11 seasons
TheOtherUprising t1_jacdokv wrote
Even having him back this show is well past it’s best before date.
Chuckw44 t1_jac8azk wrote
The show was over when Paul Giamatti lost all that weight, lol.
anasui1 t1_jacpm1k wrote
meh, show rapidly went to arse after season 4
Common-Web-3347 t1_jacfuhi wrote
Yes. This might just save the show. Prince might be a subtle megalomaniac but he's not a protagonist and couldn't actually play a villain role.
Riverdale87 t1_jadt2kr wrote
it's the final season
Common-Web-3347 t1_jaeouhn wrote
Bummer. Can't wait for the send off then.
sooperkool t1_jacnb8d wrote
And now, I'll come back to watch Billions again.
Inspiredrationalism t1_jacfren wrote
For me he was the main reason that i watched. Guess i need to catch up on that latest season without him.
Just really enjoy Giamatti and him playing off eachother.
musememo t1_jackn3v wrote
This is still on?
BigBat6 t1_jad66id wrote
Didn't this show end?
jabb422 t1_jadhha9 wrote
Oh man I thought Damian Lewis legally couldn't exist in a series past Season 2
dangil t1_jac8go1 wrote
and yet season 6 is nowhere available in Brazil
jogoso2014 t1_jac94g2 wrote
Of course he is.
mrj9 t1_jacielm wrote
Whose Damian Lewis this is a picture of captain winters
cote112 t1_jacp111 wrote
Probably because Soder quit The Bonfire. Damien was inspired by his dedication to Billions
[deleted] t1_jac44i7 wrote
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Lambchops_Legion t1_jacdd29 wrote
They are merging with Paramount+ so there is no strategy, they will cease to exist as an independent entity soon
JohnnyGFX t1_jac9h8o wrote
Lame.
DisturbedNocturne t1_jabkncq wrote
I suppose this isn't entirely surprising. The way they wrote Axe out was open-ended enough for his return, and I imagine that was intentional since he left due to his wife dying. Presumably, the writers were always hoping he'd come back, and now he's at a point where he wants to act again.
As someone who watched the show up until his departure, I'm glad to see he's wanting to work again as Damian Lewis is a fantastic actor, but I think my interest in the show ended when he left as the show was already on a steep decline and spinning its wheels anyways. I don't think I'll be returning when he does. Axe repeatedly outsmarting Chuck's legal maneuvers was already getting old a few seasons back.