S06.E09: Hindenburg

[luckyroll3]

Quote

Chuck fights to unlock the city for the people; Prince and his brain trust hatch a plan to turn the tables; Taylor teams up with Philip.

Original Air Date: 2022.03.20

[aghst]

Prince might have let it go but Chuck had to go and try to dance on the grave of his Olympics bid, asking Prince to give him the property he'd bought for the Olympics.

So they come up with a shiny object for Chuck to chase, which is some fancy park in Manhattan only for the rich.  One of the rich complained that they had to use Open Table to get restaurant reservations, like the common folk

Meanwhile Prince and his team with Sacker's help, are chasing State Senators to have Chuck removed from office for abuse of power.  They specifically mention personal vendettas.  

Why didn't Axe ever think of this idea?  Or hire away Sacker?  He did try to hire Connerty.

In any event, Prince flips all the State Senators he needs, including whose loyalty Chuck thought he earned by attending his wife's funeral, offering them money for projects in their districts.

Chuck is caught completely flat-footed and has to make a hasty defense and gives this one long-winded speech about how removing him from office will be like the Hindenburg blimp.  Even Prince applauds the speech, even though it's nonsense and didn't sway any of the State Senators.

There's no discussion of the reasons he should be removed from office.

All they had to mention was the fact that he took the Olympics from the State of New York.

 

Meanwhile, Wendy is AWOL, supposedly grieving the loss of the Olympics bid and her role as coach.  So Taylor has to prevent Dolla Bill and Mafee from raiding MPC of Ben Kim and Tuk -- worst poker face ever!

Taylor brings them all together and first uses the stick, promising to destroy Bill and Mafee's High Plains Capital if they hire Ben and Tuk away from MPC.

Then they use the carrot approach, telling them how valued they are, how things won't be like Axe Capital again but they'll be great.

Taylor was way more persuasive than Wendy has EVER been at managing, threatening and motivating enemies and employees.

 

 

Edited March 20, 2022 by aghst

[dwmarch]

I liked Taylor smoothly incorporating Jules Winnfield's "say what again" speech from Pulp Fiction. I think I missed about 96% of the other references in this episode and there were lots of them this episode. I wish the show would put out Youtube videos explaining all of these. Anyone know of a channel like Screencrush but for Billions?

Chuck mentioned helium in his speech but the Hindenburg was filled with hydrogen, hence the boom. I thought he was going to circle back to this later (to say that the State Senate had been staying afloat with his helium but switched over to Prince's hydrogen which would lead to predictable consequences) but he whiffed it. I bet he was up all night afterward thinking of how he forgot to close that analogy off. Well, we always think of our best arguments after the fight, don't we?

[paigow]

More tractor and cannon time for Chuck now....

[aghst]

7 minutes ago, paigow said:

More tractor and cannon time for Chuck now....

Thing is, they had him lose his job as US Attorney for SDNY when a new administration took office and the new AG was this Texan played by Clancy Brown and Chuck clashed with him.

So they could have written it so that he gets re-appointed as US Attorney, where his powers would be more broad to investigate any type of crime.

Would have been harder because Prince is supposedly way cleaner than Axe but at least it would have been more credible that Chuck would use his office as a federal prosecutor far more broadly.

As AG for the State of New York, he was sticking his nose in things he had no business doing.

 

That would be the obvious fix, to make him US Attorney again, even if he lost his state job.  But now Dave is the acting AG for NYS so maybe she will do his bidding anyways.

 

 

[Joimiaroxeu]

Sigh, if only Chuck could have managed not to gloat in the loser's face for once.

When you are meeting to do some dirt, why do it in public where you can be seen and possibly photographed or videoed?

Senator Tharp was one frosty dude. I almost wanted to admire him. Almost.

I'm really not enjoying watch Kate do Prince's bidding.

Yeah, fellas, don't be getting into a dick-swinging contest with Taylor. They'll whip their's out and throw it hard on the table while you're still fiddling with your zippers. Again, if those guys hadn't been so obvious they probably would've gotten away with the poaching before Taylor realized what was happening.

But...what if the whole poaching thing was a ruse cooked up by Taylor and Mafee to get Taylor out from under their debt to Philip? And they had specifically rehearsed that nod to Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction?

I would love to find out Dave has been planning to have Chuck's job ever since he hired her. And she's going be an even bigger problem for the people like Prince because she can go after them without being such a hypocrite.

Edited March 21, 2022 by Joimiaroxeu

[janeta]

“As the kids would put it, ‘Yes.’” 😆

”My brain trust is fleecing the rest of my brain trust.” 😁

🤔 If it’s closed to the public, what's Prince doing there?

Wow, that's the actual senate chamber…

Edited March 21, 2022 by janeta

[Bluesky]

That was too stupid to even be entertaining.   Piss someone off and they’ll wave money at politicians to vote a publicly elected AG out of office within 10 hours or so. 

And Taylor and her dead voice affect has become sad.  Decent people don’t bully and threaten employees if they choose to work somewhere else.   Does she have any goals in life except money?  Or were they trying to show that anyone working in that field becomes corrupt.   

[l star]

They finally had an hr story and a major life change for Chuck so they… wrote Wendy out of the episode. The fuck? How does this make character sense?

How did an hr storyline, or in her absence the trader manager’s storyline, become Taylor’s? They had no business there. They have their own employees. I know why- because Wendy and Phillip, as expressed this ep, have more sense than to think threats, blackmail and bribery are a reasonable response to someone considering executing their right to choose where they work. Then at the end, I’m supposed to think that was the right call and Phillip has now changed for the better? That whole storyline was awful. 

So Chuck is no longer AG. He wasn’t kicked out for the cause I’d hoped for, but it was deserved none the less. Of course everyone had to agree one more time that’s he’s great first. I say this every week, but he’s an asshole. A cocky, arrogant asshole who somehow believes he is not one of the privileged few. He doesn’t deserve one more chance to make everyone cheer for him. 

I just really disliked this episode. It was bad, every storyline. I’ve been open to the new direction this season but tonight, I’m wondering why I even watch this show. 

[Taget]

Taylor has lost their moral compass and I am actually fine with that.  There is just something so megalomaniac of someone saying, "They seem like decent people.  Which is why it's essential I threaten to screw them over if they do not do my bidding."  The show has become a bit too preachy with even "the bad guy" being a holier than thou replacement for axe.  Still a yawner of a b plot line meant to puff up the two weaker ex-Axe now Prince employees who are usually there for laughs. 

I find Chuck's removal as AG (as rushed and head scratching as it is) just and in some ways plausible.  He has been going out of control with personal vendettas that have far more to do with who he wants to settle a score with than the public good.  He is a guy worth 8 figures arguing with a guy worth 10 and if we don't get say better and safer subways because of it.  So be it.  What he does share with a lot of politicians who have gotten in trouble is not just public foibles bit what really determines one survival.  Being a gigantic jerk.  It is said it's better to be hated than loved.  But the problem with being hated is when you show weakness no one will stand with you.  As no one did with Cuomo and Spitzer.  Chuck is a guy who picks fights, who until he showed an interest in running for governor was known for not doing fellow politicians any favors, and just made the lives of others uncomfortable.  And that can be a plus for a US attorney since making the otherwise comfortable politicians uncomfortable can be a public good.  But that means if anyone smells blood they go for the kill.

Hope Daevisha Mahar is smart enough not to let Chuck manipulate her.  As a smart former public defender she'll receive a lot of attention that could have a bright future.  Provided she stays far away from Chucks frequent and usually self-destructive grudge fests.

 

[Bluesky]

There are no good guys on this show.   I’m bad at names but Chucks former colleague who went with the billionaire because he could get her elected was disappointing. She tried to keep Chuck in check but has no problem doing the bidding of a corrupt damaged financial guy.   
According to this show all politicians are corrupt and on the take.  Every billionaire is greedy and will do anything to keep every penny.  Regular people are so desperate for money that they will perform sketchy shit for the billionaires.  
I hope they get some of the characters to break rank and do the right thing.  

[janeta]

I just figured Taylor was channeling their inner Bobbie Axelrod. 

[SnapHappy]

Wow, I must be the only person around that still likes the show.  *LOL* 

I'm always entertained at the level I expect.  I was thinking Dave must be thrilled to have ousted the rich old white guy!  I know I was thrilled for her to so quickly get to shove Chuck aside! 

And I did love the park setup, with the asshat phone guy, the nanny and the rest of the performers.     

And Taylor's speech worked for me, especially when they reminded the knuckleheads who trained them.  I love their dead-pan delivery, and the fact that they never have to raise their voice to get their point across.  

So now what does Chuck do with all his spare time?  He's got to have another plan to set in motion.   

[Carolina Girl]

41 minutes ago, SnapHappy said:

And I did love the park setup, with the asshat phone guy, the nanny and the rest of the performers.     

And how predictable and what a media whore Chuck has become that Prince was able to know how to manipulate him with that street theater.  I'd love to know what the Governor put in that "letter" to Chuck and the Senate - but I'm pretty sure that it contained his machinations to keep the games OUT of New York City, and Chuck's questionable insertion of himself into every aspect of the bid.  Also I'm still not convinced that that $5,000,000 that went to Olympic guy came from Prince and Chuck made the accusation without any proof (probably also included in the letter).  

But the charges aren't wrong.  As I've stated before, Chuck picks a target and them goes looking for the crime.  Which is not how this is supposed to work.  

[AriAu]

Quote

That was too stupid to even be entertaining.   Piss someone off and they’ll wave money at politicians to vote a publicly elected AG out of office within 10 hours or so. 

Seriously, what was Chuck removed for....being an arrogant, gloating asshole????  If that was all it took, there would be very few politicians left. Just bizarre approach-I'm shocked they didnt go for entrapment leading to embarrassment, but just odd. 

The set-up was pretty sweet-classic Wags, but surprised to see Scooter so involved.

[Starchild]

On 3/20/2022 at 7:57 PM, Joimiaroxeu said:

Senator Tharp was one frosty dude. I almost wanted to admire him. Almost.

I was so happy to see Kenneth Tigar again, haven't seen him in anything I've watched for years. He's been one of my absolute favourite character actors for decades.

[paigow]

16 hours ago, Starchild said:

I was so happy to see Kenneth Tigar again, haven't seen him in anything I've watched for years. He's been one of my absolute favourite character actors for decades.

Last time I saw him, Loki was going to fry his ass...

[yourmomiseasy]

On 3/21/2022 at 8:31 AM, Carolina Girl said:

And how predictable and what a media whore Chuck has become that Prince was able to know how to manipulate him with that street theater.  I'd love to know what the Governor put in that "letter" to Chuck and the Senate - but I'm pretty sure that it contained his machinations to keep the games OUT of New York City, and Chuck's questionable insertion of himself into every aspect of the bid.  Also I'm still not convinced that that $5,000,000 that went to Olympic guy came from Prince and Chuck made the accusation without any proof (probably also included in the letter).  

But the charges aren't wrong.  As I've stated before, Chuck picks a target and them goes looking for the crime.  Which is not how this is supposed to work.  

I assume that Chuck going after the private parks and private clubs as he was set up to do was overreach that went into the letter.  Otherwise, why bother putting that into play?  It probably wasn't coincidence that Jerry O'Connell was the head of the board of the one park -- Chuck has tangled with him before so it makes it look like he was acting on a grudge and targeting him.

Edited March 26, 2022 by yourmomiseasy

[grommit2]

On 3/20/2022 at 11:25 PM, Bluesky said:

That was too stupid to even be entertaining.   Piss someone off and they’ll wave money at politicians to vote a publicly elected AG out of office within 10 hours or so. 

And Taylor and her dead voice affect has become sad.  Decent people don’t bully and threaten employees if they choose to work somewhere else.   Does she have any goals in life except money?  Or were they trying to show that anyone working in that field becomes corrupt.   

Hi Bluesky..."...any goals in life except money"? Apparently no. 
She wants 10 figures ($1 Billion) to position her to do something...important?  Significant? 
Or does she just want to be in a position to buy any pizza she sees.  S
o, the question is...what does she want to do with that Billion?

[aghst]

12 minutes ago, grommit2 said:

Hi Bluesky..."...any goals in life except money"? Apparently no. 
She wants 10 figures ($1 Billion) to position her to do something...important?  Significant? 
Or does she just want to be in a position to buy any pizza she sees.  S
o, the question is...what does she want to do with that Billion?

Taylor has simple needs.

The standing dinner date at that Chinese place with Mafee, though maybe the bill for a meal runs into the hundreds there.

They do have a multimillion Manhattan apartment.  Maybe some other properties as well?

 

But based on the last episode, maybe Taylor needs some walking around cash to help them seduce some young women they might fancy once in awhile.

 

 

[Bluesky]

7 hours ago, grommit2 said:

Hi Bluesky..."...any goals in life except money"? Apparently no. 
She wants 10 figures ($1 Billion) to position her to do something...important?  Significant? 
Or does she just want to be in a position to buy any pizza she sees.  S
o, the question is...what does she want to do with that Billion?

I think they showed (the show) that if you stay too long you will start to obsess over money and power and justify shadiness and corruptness to amass more and more.  Taylor’s right about the only way to save yourself from this is to quit. Once a certain line is crossed it’s hard to leave.