Billions Comes To An End With A Great Finale

Billions is one of Showtime's most successful TV series. The series started in 2016 and was able to produce seven seasons. Not all seasons and not all episodes were great. At times it seemed like series lost its focus on the original idea for the series, and also it seemed they were running out of ideas to keep the show going. However, they managed to bring the focus back to the core theme of the show towards the end. They have managed to bring a great ending for the show. It is difficult to wrap all things and make a decent ending for any show. Many shows fail at the finale, some managed to pull it off. Billions is did it. They were able to conclude the show and the story in a manner that all things fell in place, made sense, and didn't leave any space for "what ifs". Billions is available for streaming on Paramount Plus.

The ending for the show was good. However, I do have questions how they reached this ending. It seems unrealistic for certain things to happen, but since it is a made up story they can come up with any storyline that fits the goal.

While this the end for the show, it is not the end of the franchise or the story. It looks like there are a few spin-off ideas being considered, and we may see few of the characters reemerge in a new TV show with a similar theme within the Billions realm. Rumors are it is not just one show that is being considered, but multiple of them. I do agree that there is to the Billions world, and the story can be explored further. Looking forward to see what else they can come up with.

Spoiler Alert: If you haven't seen the series finale yet, or season seven, and planning to watch the show please stop reading here. This post may contain spoilers. Feel free to come back after watching to share your thoughts.

Billions started with a very interesting idea and theme for the show. It was about a hedge fund, trading, investing, and shady deals in the financial markets. Certain parts were a little bit educational as well, because they would try to explain certain terminologies used in various situations in markets. Overall, it was entertaining. However, they slowly started to pivot the storyline into politics, corruption, and boring battles. At some point it became about something completely different. Over time it became less and less about money and investments, but rather endless battles and efforts of two sides trying to destroy each other. Not even two sides battling, but more like two individuals trying to prove who has more power.

Even the characters fighting with each other were replaced from one season to another. It started out Bobby vs Chuck. Then it became Bobby vs Taylor Mason, then Bobby vs Chuck again, then Bobby vs Prince, then Prince vs Chuck, etc. The repetition of the same theme made the show less interesting. I was surprised that it was renewed for the seventh season. Especially because the main character, Bobby Axelrod was completely removed from season six. I thought it was time for Billions to end. Billions surprised me again, by brining Bobby Axelrod back in season seven. While the overall content of the show continued to drop in its quality of story telling, they continued to managed to offer just enough for the original audience to come back and see what they have produced this time. I thinking brining back Bobby was a right move the producers and perhaps they may return to their original vision for the show. However, with story they have built so far it might be difficult to do so. It seems show's theme have shifted drastically from money and investment to political and legal drama.

While it may have lost its initial vision, the show still remained interesting. They also integrated crypto into the story in one of the seasons. Although, that season demonstrated complete ignorance about bitcoin and crypto. Their story didn't make sense at all. But somehow they still managed to keep it entertaining.

The main character in the Billions world is/was Bobby Axelrod, who was poor as a kid and made fortune in the financial markets. He runs the hedge fund Axe Capital. Either because author decided to leave the show, or producers decided to remove the character, in one of the seasons, I believe season five, Bobby was sent into exile. The lead role was given to his rival Mike Prince, who changed the firm into Prince Capital. That season was about rivalry and battle between Mike Prince and Bobby Axelrod. Prince wins, Bobby is paid off and has to leave to continue to avoid prison.

When season seven started, it became very obvious from the start that Bobby Axelrod was still part of the story and was coming back for the final season. It wasn't clear how they achieve that, because Bobby couldn't return to the US. Most of the season Bobby wasn't even involved. Towards the end of the season, Bobby started appearing more and suggested he would play a significant role in concluding the season and the show. I was skeptical that they would be able to bring all pieces together at the right time to end the show with the finale it deserves, a great one.

Season seven was about Prince's ambitions to become a president. Being a billionaire and having achieved a lot in financial world, Prince believed that he could become a great president. However, people surrounding him didn't not share the same thoughts. Slowly almost every character started realizing that Prince had authoritarian tendencies and would be a terrible president. The problem is none of them had any issue with him as a CEO or leader of a company. Everybody had good opinion about his leadership skills. But when it came to politics and him running for a president, their thoughts started changing. This wasn't really clear why. Yes, Prince too is an ego-centric character. But this can be said about the most of the characters in the show. That doesn't necessarily make them bad people or unfit for presidency. But many around him concluded that, but instead of telling him directly what they think, they start sabotaging his presidential bid, even if it would cost them.

The mutiny is soon discovered, and those involved are pushed away from Princes circle. At this point those who have been colluding against Prince need Bobby's help. Bobby starts plotting against Prince from London. It doesn't take too long for him to be cleared to arrive in the US. When Bobby is back in the US he meets Prince. After make their moves, Prince and Axelrod are in stalemate position. Prince is not interested in fighting Bobby, however doesn't also want to surrender. He takes measures to make sure Bobby can't hurt him, and lets him know how Bobby and he associates are in no position continuing to fight against Prince and his ambitions to become a president.

Prince is unstoppable. His presidency is almost guaranteed. But that was the plan all along, to let him rise high, so he wouldn't see the attack coming. Bobby, Chuck, and crew have planned to attack Prince's money. To do that the needed him to be off grid for a couple of hours. The time has arrived. Prince is invited to Camp David to see the president for briefings, where him and his right hand need to give away their phones for a couple of hours. During this time the attack on Prince Capital happens from within and outside. There is an artificial panic in energy sector. The person Prince left in charge of the Prince Capital too already was working with the other side. They let the firm lose most of its money. Prince only finds out about this after leaving the meeting with the president. However, most of the money is gone and he can't do anything.

While orchestrating this attack, Bobby also implements a side plan to protect the money of all Prince Capital employees. So somehow, almost all of Prince's money is lost but the employees get to not only keep their money but also triple them because energy sector bounces back right after Chuck announces that everything is ok in the sector. What Bobby and Chuck did must be criminal. It is obvious manipulation of markets. However, everybody seems to be ok with, even Chuck. Regardless of this illogical play of events, Prince ends up losing not only the hedge fund but also his presidential bid. Because without money his chances of winning drop drastically. At the same time Axe manages to take over the fund with all the same employees. Essentially, we are back where it all started. A few characters decide to take different paths forward, but everybody seems to be happy how things ended up. Prince is the only one who lost, but he still has 100 million. So, not too bad for him either.

It is not clear which characters will return in the spin-off shows. But will be interesting to see how things can develop going forward. I would prefer to see more focus on financial markets world, instead of battles, politics, and legal drama. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.