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The end of a great series: ‘Billions’

Unexpected alliances, white-collar betrayals, luxury exiles and triumphant returns are all part of a show the delves into the carpeted jungle where anything goes

Paul Giamatti, in an image from the latest season of 'Billions.'

Ángel S. Harguindey

Nov 01, 2023 - 16:42CET

Last Saturday marked the end of one of the best series in recent years: Billions. The show created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien and Andrew Ross Sorkin went for seven seasons, with the final season made up of 12 episodes. Over this time, it has masterfully shown the ins and outs of stock market speculators, with excellent performances by its two lead actors, Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti.

We must also acknowledge the additional merits of the show, such as breakout star Asia Kate Dillion, who plays the disturbing Taylor Mason, and David Costabile, who stars as the cynical and wise Mike Wagner. Also of note is characters such as the ambitious Mike Prince, played by Corey Stoll. Prince — a kind of bald Donald Trump — sounds alarm bells with his attempt to be elected the president of the United States.

Unexpected alliances between those who were once sworn enemies, white-collar betrayals, luxury exiles and triumphant returns are also part of Billions, a series that delves into a world unknown to most mortals, that of the carpeted jungle in which anything goes if the bottom line is right. In any case, Brian Koppelman and David Levien, two of the three initial producers, are already working on a series of spinoffs to that mysterious world of billionaires: Billions: Miami, Billions: London, Millions and Trillion. In other words: ambition — considered one of the fine arts of television — is not limited exclusively to market speculators.

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