S02.E05: Currency

[PrincessPurrsALot]

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Chuck must rely on an anxious insider. Axe scouts ideas for a quick play.

[riverheightsnancy]

Where is/are Taylor when Axe needs a big idea?

[dmc]

3 minutes ago, riverheightsnancy said:

Where is/are Taylor when Axe needs a big idea?

Axe has her on another project and tells her to stay on it

Best episode to date.  

Finally see how ruthless Axe can be...how strategic.  Also see Wendy at her best helping Wags.  Before we kept hearing how great these people are at their jobs but its nice to actually see it in action.

 

Lara is still delusional, she has been in business one week and feels ready for start up capital.  Asks her husband to get her a meeting and then gets mad when they treat her like his wife when he got her the meeting.  Seeing Axe finally straighten her out...was worth it.

[truecrystal]

8 hours ago, dmc said:

Lara is still delusional, she has been in business one week and feels ready for start up capital.  Asks her husband to get her a meeting and then gets mad when they treat her like his wife when he got her the meeting.  Seeing Axe finally straighten her out...was worth it.

That was really satisfying. Lara likes to throw her weight around as "the wife" but doesn't appreciate that all being in that role gets her is access. Business - and investment banking especially - isn't the local principal's office and she's got to know her shit if she doesn't want the pat on the head she got in that meeting. I'd hope this was the beginning of the end for that marriage because I can't stand Malin Ackerman in that role just that much, but I'm pretty sure that's not a long-term strategy.

It was sad, but I knew Steff wasn't long for this world when she told Axe to "accept losing". Read the room, Steff. Axe isn't ever going to accept losing. I didn't care one way or the other about Wags, but I do like watching Wendy work and it's nice to see all these dick-swinging men are really delicate flowers when their fee fees get hurt.

[dmc]

3 minutes ago, truecrystal said:

That was really satisfying. Lara likes to throw her weight around as "the wife" but doesn't appreciate that all being in that role gets her is access. Business - and investment banking especially - isn't the local principal's office and she's got to know her shit if she doesn't want the pat on the head she got in that meeting. I'd hope this was the beginning of the end for that marriage because I can't stand Malin Ackerman in that role just that much, but I'm pretty sure that's not a long-term strategy.

It was sad, but I knew Steff wasn't long for this world when she told Axe to "accept losing". Read the room, Steff. Axe isn't ever going to accept losing. I didn't care one way or the other about Wags, but I do like watching Wendy work and it's nice to see all these dick-swinging men are really delicate flowers when their fee fees get hurt.

I mean I can understand her wanting something separate from the role of a wife or mother BUT Axe told he correctly...this wasn't an original idea and she isn't offering anything new...you need niche in the market...something that separates you from the competitors worth investing in...the fact that she doesn't know that and her first go to for the competition is illegal sting...it makes me question her business savvy...

[Joimiaroxeu]

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I'd hope this was the beginning of the end for that marriage because I can't stand Malin Ackerman in that role just that much, but I'm pretty sure that's not a long-term strategy.

I feel similarly. For me it's not the actress so much as her age. Seems to me that someone like Axe would've traded her in for a newer model by now. Probably the main thing protecting her is that she knows where so many of the bodies are buried.

[scrb]

Supposedly she gets him in a way nobody else does, which is why he hasn't traded in for a trophy wife, which these guys with so much wealth do all the time.

Boyd is suppose to be like the head of Goldman Sachs.  If that happened in real life, the heat on Chuck from the AG would completely ease off for that arrest.  But guys like that are not arrested and given a perp walk.  Instead they'd give him the "courtesy" of making some kind of plea deal, like you pay a few billion, get to say you're not admitting wrongdoing, and you walk away, not even go to country club prison.

Guys like Axe aren't that well known, though some trust fund people have bought major sports clubs, which is one way they get into the greater public eye.

Maybe Axe will burn the nephew of the pizza owner by raking in money from that upstate town with the muni bond on the casino deal.

[Auntie Anxiety]

4 hours ago, scrb said:

Boyd is suppose to be like the head of Goldman Sachs.  If that happened in real life, the heat on Chuck from the AG would completely ease off for that arrest.  But guys like that are not arrested and given a perp walk.  Instead they'd give him the "courtesy" of making some kind of plea deal, like you pay a few billion, get to say you're not admitting wrongdoing, and you walk away, not even go to country club prison.

In the (not fake) news recently, there have been reports about just this kind of thing; the federal government collected the money/penalty and the previous administration, the money was then handed over to a non-profit group that did the bidding for that particular political party instead of being handed back over to the federal government (i.e., you and me, the taxpayers). From what I understand, that's going to end soon.

Can't remember his name, but I really did think the wire tap guy was blowing it, what with too much wine and his emotions being on tilt, but I was wrong. He did a fantastic job. 

Glad Chuck addressed what I've been harping on for two seasons now--how did he end up with Wendy? They don't seem like they'd have much in common. He did impress me during his breakfast with the kids. Takes a big man to shoulder all the blame and admit he was responsible for their situation.

That macho psychologist bugs the hell out of me. Axe needs to fire his ass asap. Surely there is someone out there less extreme and more effective.

Edited March 20, 2017 by Auntie Anxiety

[truecrystal]

1 hour ago, Joimiaroxeu said:

I feel similarly. For me it's not the actress so much as her age. Seems to me that someone like Axe would've traded her in for a newer model by now. Probably the main thing protecting her is that she knows where so many of the bodies are buried.

I tend to think Axe prides himself on being perceived as a regular guy who happens to be filthy rich, so I don't think he'd be one to trade-up to the newest hot babe - particularly because of his kids.

If anything, I think Axe is more likely to stay married to someone like Lara forever unless she betrays him professionally, not personally ("Affair? Pfft. Just keep it on the DL and make sure you take care of the kids"). And even more interesting is that I don't think he would even cheat (as shown by the groupie last season) except under very specific circumstances probably driven more by intellectual needs than physical.

Then again, I am stuck on Wendy/Axe and am looking for any thread to pull to make that happen. I just cannot accept that the hotness of Maggie Siff and Damien Lewis share a screen without sexy times. I CAN.NOT.

[Inquiry]

2 hours ago, truecrystal said:

Then again, I am stuck on Wendy/Axe and am looking for any thread to pull to make that happen. I just cannot accept that the hotness of Maggie Siff and Damien Lewis share a screen without sexy times. I CAN.NOT.

 

That's about where I'm at. It's just that every scene between the two just crackles with an intensity that's hard to put into words. Seems Lewis is one of those actors that can generate chemistry with most actresses (the actress playing his wife being the exception). If/when they do hook up, it will be explosive. I don't know if the writers will go there though. They've certainly teased it, but I could see the showrunners deciding to just let that strong undercurrent of sexual tension that flows in their scenes be an unspokenly accepted aspect of their relationship. I think in an earlier episode this season, Wendy kind of alluded to it when talking about things just clicking whenever they're together. All I know is that I find their relationship far more interesting (and more chemistry laden) than their relationships with their respective spouses. It's why I'd love for them to explore their backstory more. We got snippets in Season 1, but season 2 hasn't really explored it yet. 

[PBSLover]

4 hours ago, scrb said:

Maybe Axe will burn the nephew of the pizza owner by raking in money from that upstate town with the muni bond on the casino deal.

Not so sure of the casino deal.  Nothing is as it seems on this show so....

[PBSLover]

3 hours ago, truecrystal said:

If anything, I think Axe is more likely to stay married to someone like Lara forever unless she betrays him professionally, not personally ("Affair? Pfft. Just keep it on the DL and make sure you take care of the kids").

I disagree. His character?  Axe would never tolerate Lara cheating.  

1 hour ago, Inquiry said:

That's about where I'm at. It's just that every scene between the two just crackles with an intensity that's hard to put into words. Seems Lewis is one of those actors that can generate chemistry with most actresses (the actress playing his wife being the exception). If/when they do hook up, it will be explosive. I don't know if the writers will go there though. They've certainly teased it, but I could see the showrunners deciding to just let that strong undercurrent of sexual tension that flows in their scenes be an unspokenly accepted aspect of their relationship. I think in an earlier episode this season, Wendy kind of alluded to it when talking about things just clicking whenever they're together. All I know is that I find their relationship far more interesting (and more chemistry laden) than their relationships with their respective spouses. It's why I'd love for them to explore their backstory more. We got snippets in Season 1, but season 2 hasn't really explored it yet. 

I believe Axe loves Wendy’s brain.  And that she is loyal.  He has shown her all of him and she accepts him for who he is.  What a great character she is.

[Lemons]

11 hours ago, truecrystal said:

 

Then again, I am stuck on Wendy/Axe and am looking for any thread to pull to make that happen. I just cannot accept that the hotness of Maggie Siff and Damien Lewis share a screen without sexy times. I CAN.NOT.

Gross on both of them. Especially him. 

So axel has no problem destroying a whole nation of people?  And wags was cured of a serious drug habit over the weekend by talking to the doctor?  So ridiculous. 

I only like the AG people and wish they would show them a lot more. I hope chuck goes out with the sculptor, she seems a lot more pleasant than sour face Wendy. 

11 hours ago, Auntie Anxiety said:

 

That macho psychologist bugs the hell out of me. Axe needs to fire his ass asap. Surely there is someone out there less extreme and more effective.

Them hiring him seems unlikely, he's like a cartoon character. Anyone with a specialized degree and experience would be better than him. Anyone straight out of school would be better than him. 

[Chas411]

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I feel similarly. For me it's not the actress so much as her age. Seems to me that someone like Axe would've traded her in for a newer model by now. Probably the main thing protecting her is that she knows where so many of the bodies are buried.

See the issue for me is that although I can't stand Lara (Moreso Malin Akermans portrayal of her) i do like that Axe is loyal to her and their life together. As intriguing as I find the Wendy/Axe scenes I don't really want to see a romance especially given her marriage to Chuck. It just seems a bit overkill and CWish.

[Sheenieb]

2 hours ago, Chas411 said:

See the issue for me is that although I can't stand Lara (Moreso Malin Akermans portrayal of her) i do like that Axe is loyal to her and their life together. As intriguing as I find the Wendy/Axe scenes I don't really want to see a romance especially given her marriage to Chuck. It just seems a bit overkill and CWish.

Agreed. Axe and Lara are a good match because they both have that 'ends justify the means' type of thinking. He has chemistry with Wendy, sure, but I wouldn't want it to go there. I prefer Wendy being the ego to his id.

But woo, Axe was laying down some truth bombs on Lara. Harsh, but he was right. What's she's supplying isn't well-known to the average worker bee, but in that hedge fund world, it isn't a big deal. It's a side hustle, not a goldmine.

[minamurray78]

The thing about Wendy and Chuck is also about their bdsm relationship, which is nothing to do with beauty or good looks. Not even Axe knew about that side of Wendy's (until he spied on her computer IIRC). That is a hell of a bond W&C share, although it hasn't been talked about at all yet.

And even though I also cannot stand Lara/Malin Ackerman, I think the writers' idea about how tight Lara and Axe are does get across the screen. Not just because of Axe's dirty laundry (which Lara knows plenty about) but also they come from the same place, there's a shared experience about how this new world they're moving around treats them, and despite this business snafu, she's not dumb and she gets her husband and she doesn't judge him for his shit. I think if either of them found out the other one cheated, they'd be crushed, moreso than Wendy/Chuck would be.

Still, I hate this new storyline of Lara. Whatever happened to the restaurant thing from last season? Like, she couldn't weather it out for a while, or open a new one somewhere else? That is a business that takes a while to learn about, just like the produce thing she had going. I'd've imagine her stronger than to give up after her farm was vandalized. But I did hate that thing about the book, and how she would have fucked over that kid's college aplication just 'casue his mom wrote about her husband's shit. She's my least favourite character. Maybe second after Chuck's father, who just keeps getting grosser and grosser.

[Inquiry]

3 hours ago, minamurray78 said:

The thing about Wendy and Chuck is also about their bdsm relationship, which is nothing to do with beauty or good looks. Not even Axe knew about that side of Wendy's (until he spied on her computer IIRC). That is a hell of a bond W&C share, although it hasn't been talked about at all yet.

 

 

There was a line in Season 1 which seemed to imply that BDSM was somehwat newish to them and an implication they may have used it "spice up" their sex life. In fact, the line seemed to suggest that it was Chuck's idea. The scene I'm referring to is when Chuck goes to do a dominatrix without Wendy's permission. The woman there mentioned she was surprised that Wendy was out of the "game" because she's a natural and killed the workshop (didn't even realize there was such a thing). It'd be interesting to find out why the couple decided to do BDSM. Regardless, I'm not sure how that gives them a hell of a bond. Because Chuck makes himself completely vulnerable (IIRC, all their BDSM scenes showed her being the dominant partner)? I could see that intensifying his feelings for her, but not sure it's the basis of a strong bond. I do think they love each other, but the only strong bond between them that I've seen is a result of their children. Hell, the reason Wendy gave for deleting that recording in Season 1 was that Chuck was the father of her children. Also, most of their emotional moments in Season 2 seem to revolve around the children, either implicitly or explicitly. Plus, Axe and Wendy have a pretty strong bond of their own. One of my favorite performances by Pual Giamatti in Season 1 is when he drunkenly tells Wendy that her thing with Axe is weird and deep and he fucking hates it. 

While I'm not a huge fan of Lara/Axe, I also echo posters in that it's one bright spot is showing Axe's loyalty/devotion. The show could have easily made him a serial/occasional cheater (ala Mad Men). Some people might think it's unrealistic, but I think it's a great bit of characterization of Axe. But maybe it's because of this episode's epic putdown, I feel like the showrunners might be leading to a separation/divorce between the two. That would allow Axe's characterization to remain intact while still being able to explore Axe/Wendy and would provide reduced screen time for the show's least interesting character. 

Edited March 22, 2017 by Inquiry

[DarkRaichu]

14 hours ago, minamurray78 said:

Still, I hate this new storyline of Lara. Whatever happened to the restaurant thing from last season? Like, she couldn't weather it out for a while, or open a new one somewhere else? That is a business that takes a while to learn about, just like the produce thing she had going. I'd've imagine her stronger than to give up after her farm was vandalized. But I did hate that thing about the book, and how she would have fucked over that kid's college aplication just 'casue his mom wrote about her husband's shit. She's my least favourite character. Maybe second after Chuck's father, who just keeps getting grosser and grosser.

Yup she just kind of gave up on the restaurant thing.  Speaking of which, he baby sister (the restaurant chef) disappeared from season 2 without explanation.  They could have tied the 2 things ie. she moved west so no more restaurant in Lara's future.  Or did I miss the explanation??

I do not have any problem with Chuck's dad.  He is just a semi-retired old school puppeteer type.  At least the actor's potrayal matched the role

[roughing it]

13 hours ago, Inquiry said:

While I'm not a huge fan of Lara/Axe, I also echo posters in that it's one bright spot is showing Axe's loyalty/devotion. The show could have easily made him a serial/occasional cheater (ala Mad Men). Some people might think it's unrealistic, but I think it's a great bit of characterization of Axe.

I agree with this.  It doesn't matter what kind of job/career you have.  If you love your spouse, you love your spouse, and there is no other person.

[PBSLover]

17 hours ago, Inquiry said:

But maybe it's because of this episode's epic putdown, I feel like the showrunners might be leading to a separation/divorce between the two. That would allow Axe's characterization to remain intact while still being able to explore Axe/Wendy and would provide reduced screen time for the show's least interesting character. 

Not according to way Malin Ackerman describes this season.  She said in a behind-the-scenes interview there will be tension between them, not as rosy as it was in season 1.  But jumping to separation/divorce?  I can’t see it.

Edited March 22, 2017 by PBSLover

[Auntie Anxiety]

I think a separation/divorce between Axe and Lara is probably something the writers would want to save for a few seasons down the road, when they hit the creative wall. You want to keep some of your powder dry, even if you have an overlaying 5-6 year outline. My guess is they'll also keep the door open for an Axe-Wendy romantic relationship. No reason to hurry into it; it will always be there if/when you need it.

[mledawn]

On ‎2017‎-‎03‎-‎19 at 11:47 PM, dmc said:

Axe has her on another project and tells her to stay on it

Let's dial this in, can we all? Pronouns are they, their, them - this is an important part of the character.

[dmc]

On 4/14/2017 at 2:21 PM, mledawn said:

Let's dial this in, can we all? Pronouns are they, their, them - this is an important part of the character.

Ummm no because Axe has them on a project sounds like a bunch of people and he doesn't have a bunch of people he has Taylor.  The better advice would be to use the name Taylor.

[mledawn]

17 hours ago, dmc said:

Ummm no because Axe has them on a project sounds like a bunch of people and he doesn't have a bunch of people he has Taylor.  The better advice would be to use the name Taylor.

It's literally in the show, out of the character's own mouth.

Please take some time to read about people who identify as non-binary and the use of "they, their, them" as accepted gender neutral language.

[dmc]

On 4/17/2017 at 3:54 PM, mledawn said:

It's literally in the show, out of the character's own mouth.

Please take some time to read about people who identify as non-binary and the use of "they, their, them" as accepted gender neutral language.

Please take some time to realize the characters name is Taylor and using that is just as acceptable and less confusing to people reading my comments.  That also came right out of the character's mouth.

Edited April 22, 2017 by dmc

[mledawn]

On ‎2017‎-‎04‎-‎22 at 6:14 PM, dmc said:

Please take some time to realize the characters name is Taylor and using that is just as acceptable and less confusing to people reading my comments.  That also came right out of the character's mouth.

You're absolutely right - it would be easier to say "Taylor" aka their name, and that's something that you can do to help yourself, however; you're continuing to chase something that wasn't the point of my post, so allow me to clarify as I believe this is important.

You said, "Axe has her on another project and tells her to stay on it" (emphasis mine). The use of a female pronoun to describe Taylor isn't appropriate. The character identifies as non binary and uses the pronouns they, their, and them.

Hopefully that clears things up, I apologise that you were confused regarding my point.

[dmc]

12 hours ago, mledawn said:

You're absolutely right - it would be easier to say "Taylor" aka their name, and that's something that you can do to help yourself, however; you're continuing to chase something that wasn't the point of my post, so allow me to clarify as I believe this is important.

You said, "Axe has her on another project and tells her to stay on it" (emphasis mine). The use of a female pronoun to describe Taylor isn't appropriate. The character identifies as non binary and uses the pronouns they, their, and them.

Hopefully that clears things up, I apologise that you were confused regarding my point.

I responded to your point which is that leaving a comment on a public forum isn't conducive to the word their...because no one would know what I was talking about...that is would be better to use Taylor's name as opposed to her. 

[PrincessPurrsALot]

Folks, I think it's time to drop this topic and move on.  Taylor may be referred to by name or using they, them, their.  In their case, they/them are singular.  However, saying they are is appropriate.  Choose "Taylor" or "they" based on whichever provides the best clarity for your statement.  That's all, folks! 

[txhorns79]

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Lara is still delusional, she has been in business one week and feels ready for start up capital.  Asks her husband to get her a meeting and then gets mad when they treat her like his wife when he got her the meeting.  Seeing Axe finally straighten her out...was worth it.

I didn't understand how or why Lara thought she was ready for start up capital given her business was what?  A month old?  And like Axe said, no one is going to want to invest much in a business where nothing is patented, nothing is unique and the entire business plan can be replicated, without the threat of a lawsuit, by anyone off the street.  Or maybe Lara thought she could just send out hookers to disrupt every potential competitor she has.