This is a drama about politics, law and wall street in
New York. The show has two main characters: U.S. Attorney
Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) and successful hedge fund
manager Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis), nicknamed "Axe." Both
men, and everyone in the show, really, are very complicated
(which means, you know, screwed up). Rhoades, who has S&M
sex with his psychiatrist wife to relieve stress, wants to take down Axe,
who's making a lot of money (not entirely legally). To make
things more difficult, Rhoades' wife, Maggie (Maggie
Siff, Tara on "Sons of Anarchy"),
works for Axe as a highly-paid performance coach.
It's Showtime, so of course
there's nudity, some violence, and a lot of four letter
words. That doesn't bother me, in general, but it does often
seem gratuitous. Rhoades is ugly and slightly corrupt. He
uses the law like his own personal weapon. He pretends to be
very honest but he's very manipulative. He clearly enjoys
the power. Yet he's the protagonist. The antagonist is Axe,
who's handsome, smart, and likable, yet he's a gangster.
At times, the show is very funny
because the people are just such jerks and they say
outrageous things. It's really hard to know who to pull for
because they're all scum. It's a great battle between the
two men, and that's really the only reason to watch this.
The dialogue is fun but also a little heavy-handed.
The actors are all top-notch, though. I won't be watching
it, but if you really like to watch big, successful, rich
guys battle it out, you may enjoy this. It's just not my
idea of fun.
MORE INFORMATION:
BILLIONS is a bold, contemporary drama that explores
worlds of ultra-wealth, influence and corruption as
personified in two highly ambitious opposing figures:
hard-charging, blue-blooded, politically connected U.S.
Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) and brilliant,
calculating, blue-collar billionaire hedge fund king, Bobby
"Axe" Axelrod (Damian Lewis). Set amongst the Machiavellian
machinations of New York City power politics and finance,
BILLIONS weaves an intricate narrative featuring a
high-stakes game of predator-versus-prey. Maggie Siff, Malin
Akerman, Toby Leonard Moore, David Costabile and Condola
Rashad also star. BILLIONS is created, written and executive
produced by Brian Koppelman & David Levien (Ocean's
Thirteen, Rounders) & Andrew Ross Sorkin (Too Big To Fail).
The pilot was directed by acclaimed director Neil Burger
(The Illusionist, Divergent), who also serves as an
executive producer.
PRINCIPAL CAST INFORMATION:
·
Condola Rashad as Kate
·
Damian Lewis as Bobby "Axe" Axelrod
·
David Costabile as Mike "Wags" Wagner
·
Kerry Condon as Lara Axelrod (Originally Cast)
·
Maggie Siff as Wendy Rhoades
·
Malin Akerman as Lara Axelrod
·
Paul Giamatti as Chuck Rhodes
·
Toby Leonard Moore as Bryan Connerty
CREW INFORMATION:
·
Andrew Ross Sorkin as CRTR/EP
·
Brian Koppelman as CRTR/EP
·
David Levien as CRTR/EP
·
Neil Burger as DIR (Pilot)
"The Shannara Chronicles" is an epic television event
based on the sweeping, best-selling fantasy book series
by Terry Brooks. Set thousands of years in the future,
the story follows three heroes, Elf-Human hybrid Wil,
Elvin Princess Amberle, and Human Rover Eretria, as they
embark on a quest to stop an evil Demon army from
destroying the world. The 10-episode first season of
“The Shannara Chronicles” will premiere January 5 at
10:00 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, immediately following the
return of fan-favorite, "Teen Wolf" at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Episode 101/102 – "CHOSEN" PARTS 1 AND 2
Thousands of years after the fall of Humankind, the Four
Lands is in grave danger. The fate of the world rests on
the shoulders of an unlikely trio: an Elvin Princess who
dreams of a life outside of the palace walls, a
beautiful, wild and wily Human Rover and a half-elf, who
knows nothing of the great destiny that runs through his
veins.
Having seen an apocalyptic vision of the world’s
destruction, Amberle leaves the palace in search of
answers. But when Wil and Allanon realize that she is
the key to saving the Four Lands, they set out to
find the princess before the Dagda Mor’s Demons hunt her
down.
“The Shannara Chronicles” stars genre favorites, John
Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings”) and Manu Bennett
(“Spartacus”), along with young Hollywood
stars-on-the-rise, Austin Butler (“The Carrie Diaries”),
Poppy Drayton (“When Calls The Heart”) and Ivana Baquero
(“Pan’s Labyrinth”).
“The Shannara Chronicles” is written for television by
and executive produced by Al Gough and Miles Millar. Jon
Favreau, Jonathan Liebesman, Terry Brooks and Dan Farah
also serve as executive producers. The first two
episodes were directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles”). MTV is producing with
Sonar Entertainment, which is also distributing the
series worldwide. - See more at: http://thepub.viacom.com/sites/mtvpress/shows/pages/The-Shannara-Chronicles-.aspx#dvOverview
"The Shannara Chronicles" is an epic television event
based on the sweeping, best-selling fantasy book series
by Terry Brooks. Set thousands of years in the future,
the story follows three heroes, Elf-Human hybrid Wil,
Elvin Princess Amberle, and Human Rover Eretria, as they
embark on a quest to stop an evil Demon army from
destroying the world. The 10-episode first season of
“The Shannara Chronicles” will premiere January 5 at
10:00 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, immediately following the
return of fan-favorite, "Teen Wolf" at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Episode 101/102 – "CHOSEN" PARTS 1 AND 2
Thousands of years after the fall of Humankind, the Four
Lands is in grave danger. The fate of the world rests on
the shoulders of an unlikely trio: an Elvin Princess who
dreams of a life outside of the palace walls, a
beautiful, wild and wily Human Rover and a half-elf, who
knows nothing of the great destiny that runs through his
veins.
Having seen an apocalyptic vision of the world’s
destruction, Amberle leaves the palace in search of
answers. But when Wil and Allanon realize that she is
the key to saving the Four Lands, they set out to
find the princess before the Dagda Mor’s Demons hunt her
down.
“The Shannara Chronicles” stars genre favorites, John
Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings”) and Manu Bennett
(“Spartacus”), along with young Hollywood
stars-on-the-rise, Austin Butler (“The Carrie Diaries”),
Poppy Drayton (“When Calls The Heart”) and Ivana Baquero
(“Pan’s Labyrinth”).
“The Shannara Chronicles” is written for television by
and executive produced by Al Gough and Miles Millar. Jon
Favreau, Jonathan Liebesman, Terry Brooks and Dan Farah
also serve as executive producers. The first two
episodes were directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles”). MTV is producing with
Sonar Entertainment, which is also distributing the
series worldwide. - See more at: http://thepub.viacom.com/sites/mtvpress/shows/pages/The-Shannara-Chronicles-.aspx#dvOverview
"The Shannara Chronicles" is an epic television event
based on the sweeping, best-selling fantasy book series
by Terry Brooks. Set thousands of years in the future,
the story follows three heroes, Elf-Human hybrid Wil,
Elvin Princess Amberle, and Human Rover Eretria, as they
embark on a quest to stop an evil Demon army from
destroying the world. The 10-episode first season of
“The Shannara Chronicles” will premiere January 5 at
10:00 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, immediately following the
return of fan-favorite, "Teen Wolf" at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Episode 101/102 – "CHOSEN" PARTS 1 AND 2
Thousands of years after the fall of Humankind, the Four
Lands is in grave danger. The fate of the world rests on
the shoulders of an unlikely trio: an Elvin Princess who
dreams of a life outside of the palace walls, a
beautiful, wild and wily Human Rover and a half-elf, who
knows nothing of the great destiny that runs through his
veins.
Having seen an apocalyptic vision of the world’s
destruction, Amberle leaves the palace in search of
answers. But when Wil and Allanon realize that she is
the key to saving the Four Lands, they set out to
find the princess before the Dagda Mor’s Demons hunt her
down.
“The Shannara Chronicles” stars genre favorites, John
Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings”) and Manu Bennett
(“Spartacus”), along with young Hollywood
stars-on-the-rise, Austin Butler (“The Carrie Diaries”),
Poppy Drayton (“When Calls The Heart”) and Ivana Baquero
(“Pan’s Labyrinth”).
“The Shannara Chronicles” is written for television by
and executive produced by Al Gough and Miles Millar. Jon
Favreau, Jonathan Liebesman, Terry Brooks and Dan Farah
also serve as executive producers. The first two
episodes were directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles”). MTV is producing with
Sonar Entertainment, which is also distributing the
series worldwide. - See more at: http://thepub.viacom.com/sites/mtvpress/shows/pages/The-Shannara-Chronicles-.aspx#dvOverview
"The Shannara Chronicles" is an epic television event
based on the sweeping, best-selling fantasy book series
by Terry Brooks. Set thousands of years in the future,
the story follows three heroes, Elf-Human hybrid Wil,
Elvin Princess Amberle, and Human Rover Eretria, as they
embark on a quest to stop an evil Demon army from
destroying the world. The 10-episode first season of
“The Shannara Chronicles” will premiere January 5 at
10:00 p.m. ET/PT on MTV, immediately following the
return of fan-favorite, "Teen Wolf" at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Episode 101/102 – "CHOSEN" PARTS 1 AND 2
Thousands of years after the fall of Humankind, the Four
Lands is in grave danger. The fate of the world rests on
the shoulders of an unlikely trio: an Elvin Princess who
dreams of a life outside of the palace walls, a
beautiful, wild and wily Human Rover and a half-elf, who
knows nothing of the great destiny that runs through his
veins.
Having seen an apocalyptic vision of the world’s
destruction, Amberle leaves the palace in search of
answers. But when Wil and Allanon realize that she is
the key to saving the Four Lands, they set out to
find the princess before the Dagda Mor’s Demons hunt her
down.
“The Shannara Chronicles” stars genre favorites, John
Rhys-Davies (“Lord of the Rings”) and Manu Bennett
(“Spartacus”), along with young Hollywood
stars-on-the-rise, Austin Butler (“The Carrie Diaries”),
Poppy Drayton (“When Calls The Heart”) and Ivana Baquero
(“Pan’s Labyrinth”).
“The Shannara Chronicles” is written for television by
and executive produced by Al Gough and Miles Millar. Jon
Favreau, Jonathan Liebesman, Terry Brooks and Dan Farah
also serve as executive producers. The first two
episodes were directed by Jonathan Liebesman (“Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles”). MTV is producing with
Sonar Entertainment, which is also distributing the
series worldwide. - See more at: http://thepub.viacom.com/sites/mtvpress/shows/pages/The-Shannara-Chronicles-.aspx#dvOverview
SHOWTIME(R) PICKS UP NEW DRAMA PROJECT "BILLIONS"
Network Orders Its First Pilot Of The Year From
Andrew Ross Sorkin, Brian Koppelman And David Levien
NEW YORK, NY - (March 13, 2014) - SHOWTIME has
ordered BILLIONS, a new complex, contemporary drama
pilot from a script by Andrew Ross Sorkin (Too Big To
Fail), and Brian Koppelman and David Levien (Ocean's
Thirteen, Rounders), who will also executive produce.
BILLIONS is a fictional drama that focuses on the
collision and, at times, collusion between an aggressive
U.S. attorney in New York and some of the richest hedge
fund billionaires in the country. BILLIONS marks the
first pilot pick-up for SHOWTIME this year.
Andrew Ross Sorkin is an award-winning journalist and
author. He is a columnist for The New York Times and
co-anchor of Squawk Box, CNBC's signature morning
program. He wrote the best-selling book Too Big to Fail:
How Wall Street and Washington Fought to Save the
Financial System - and Themselves (Viking, 2009), which
chronicled the events of the 2008 financial crisis. He
served as a co-producer of HBO Films' adaptation of his
book in 2011. Sorkin is also the founder and
editor-at-large of DealBook, an online daily financial
report published by The Times that he started in 2001.
He often appears on NBC's Nightly News, The Charlie Rose
Show, Real Time with Bill Maher and many others.
David Levien and Brian Koppelman have written,
directed and produced a number of critically-acclaimed
projects including Rounders, Runaway Jury, Ocean's
Thirteen, The Girlfriend Experience, Runner Runner - all
which they co-wrote, and Knockaround Guys and Solitary
Man, which they wrote and directed. Levien and Koppelman
also served as producers on The Illusionist, Interview
With The Assassin and The Lucky Ones. Levien has
authored several novels including Wormwood, Swagbelly: A
Novel For Today's Gentleman, City Of The Sun, Where The
Dead Lay and Thirteen Million Dollar Pop. Koppelman is a
regular contributor to Grantland, and also hosts the
podcast "The Moment with Brian Koppelman."
The opinions in these articles are those of the writer and do not
necessarily reflect the opinions of The TV MegaSite or its other volunteers.
We need more episode guide recap writers, article
writers, MS FrontPage and Web Expression users, graphics designers, and more, so
please email us
if you can help out! More volunteers
always needed!
Back to the Main Reviews Page
Page updated 1/18/16
Back to the Main Primetime TV Page
