S02.E12: Ball in Hand

[Tara]

I'm team Axe all the way, which is funny because I couldn't stand him on Homeland.  I find Chuck slightly repulsive.

But, this is a most captivating show!  Can't wait till next season.

[jvr]

On 5/7/2017 at 11:39 PM, grommit2 said:

Didn't Chuck's wife save the family fortune by joining the short play?

These two are still on very shaky ground and Chuck and Wendy have shown us that they are a modern couple that do not mingle finances. Wendy has money, Chuck had a trust (but of course they support each others lifestyles i.e. that beautiful home and private school education). Wendy was fine during the separation, Chuck was broke trying to keep up this lifestyle on a public servant salary. I doubt these two are lacking a prenup, probably Daddy Rhoades was the advocate for it lol. So if they go their separate ways Wendy has a lot of money and Chuck does not (besides whatever was agreed upon regarding alimony). Did I miss it or did it seem like a day or two had gone by since the stock crash and Wendy had not told him she shorted it? Not even when asking him how he felt regarding losing all his money...she didn't tell him about that huge bonus she got last year when quitting Axe Cap, she doesn't talk about her money it seems.

On 5/8/2017 at 4:00 AM, scrb said:

But the bottom line is that Bobby went to see Wendy before he (temporarily) lost his freedom, not Lara and the kids.  It was Wendy to whom he made promises once he was free again, not Lara.

What is that place suppose to be anyways, seemed like a busy intersection, not some place with the sentimental value to make them misty-eyed.

A side note, he did go to see his kids before Wendy (at school). And as others stated that was the 9/11 memorial and I took note that Axe said that they were back to "where they used to work together" which is another reference to them knowing and working together before Axe Capital was formed (and before Lara). It was probably a much simpler time for both of them, I wonder if Wendy was married to Chuck already at that point?

On 5/8/2017 at 3:29 PM, Adultosaurus said:

1:  Connerty showed some weakness in character, and it turned Sacker off immediately.

Yup! And we saw in the beginning of this episode in the shower scene that he is sleeping with the stewardess woman that the DAs office blackmailed earlier this year to collect evidence. Not illegal to be fucking her but a little skeevy and shady. Sacker has her head on straight and her eyes on the prize, she probably sensed he is a good guy (now) but he is conflicted and tempted and he can possibly lead her astray.

On 5/9/2017 at 0:45 PM, PBSLover said:

How about when the FBI show up at Axelrod’s home, Lara and her cigarette?  The way she played it was right out of a 1940’s movie: cops at the door and the uncaring harlot/street walker/prostitute answers the door leisurely dragging on her smoke. 

lol, I laughed at that scene. She looked dumb. 

As @Rock knocker stated, nothing Wendy did regarding her short was illegal. She had no knowledge of what Bobby had done to Ice Juice and she had no knowledge that Axe Cap was shorting because of Bobby's market manipulation tactics (even Axe Cap traders didn't know). Her short was based solely on the fact that the company was shorting, which is public knowledge. I doubt they can prove anything she did wasn't on the up and up but it looks bad, so I expect some stress for Wendy and Chuck.

I'm Team Fuck All Of Them (except Wendy, Sacker and Lonnie). May they all end up in a cell together.

Edited May 11, 2017 by jvr

[ribboninthesky1]

On 5/8/2017 at 0:53 PM, minamurray78 said:

Ira will be able to sue Axe Capital... After Bobby gets convicted, It'll take years, they said maybe 7 years. Ira was getting ready to quit his job that very day. It was a hell of a blow.

Roadhes Sr however, will have to suck it up. His involvement with the juice business must remain hidden for a reason I... didn't quite get actually. In fact, I thought that would be a selling point in court and with the public opinion: that Ax sabotaged the juice knowing of Chuck's father's investment because of personal animosity against Chuck. But Ax cried entrapment. Was it really though? All Chuck did was make sure Bobby got the tip of what his father was doing. Which he could've heard from someone else, it's happened before. I'm not quite clear about this part.

You're not alone regarding the bolded - I thought the same. I do feel bad for Ira - he was definitely used as bait, and I can't blame him if his friendship with Chuck is permanently over. I didn't feel much sympathy for the dad because, to a degree, he created the monster and was shocked (shocked, I tell you!) when he got bitten himself. Plus, he was hella shady with that whole Sandicot business that indirectly ties back to Chuck. 

This episode felt overly long to me. I was like, "Just arrest the man already!"  I was annoyed with Boyd giving him the heads up at the top of the hour.  I also thought Chuck going to see Axe in jail was unnecessary and ill-advised.

I'm sure I should find Chuck deplorable, but I don't.  I don't expect Axe to serve any real jail time.  Otherwise, not much need for season 3. 

[PBSLover]

I wonder when Lara emptied the safe in the house how much of a dent it is in Axe’s personal fortune.  Taylor is pulling the trigger using Axe’s personal money.  No clue but Lara swept that money away for herself.

1 hour ago, ribboninthesky1 said:

This episode felt overly long to me. I was like, "Just arrest the man already!"  I was annoyed with Boyd giving him the heads up at the top of the hour.  I also thought Chuck going to see Axe in jail was unnecessary and ill-advised.

I liked that it was strung out.  We saw all the character’s storylines tied-up-in-a-bow.  I especially liked the Wendy and Axe moment.

Edited May 11, 2017 by PBSLover

[Adultosaurus]

19 minutes ago, PBSLover said:

I wonder when Lara emptied the safe in the house how much of a dent it is in Axe’s personal fortune.  Taylor is pulling the trigger using Axe’s personal money.  No clue but Lara swept that money away for herself.

I liked that it was strung out.  We saw all the character’s storylines tied-up-in-a-bow.  I especially liked the Wendy and Axe moment.

Taylor wouldn't be using anything that was cash on hand, so Lara was in the clear taking it.  BUT, if they spooked the cousin's cell, they know that Lara gave the cash to her, so...

[Seppuku]

11 hours ago, jvr said:

As @Rock knocker stated, nothing Wendy did regarding her short was illegal. She had no knowledge of what Bobby had done to Ice Juice and she had no knowledge that Axe Cap was shorting because of Bobby's market manipulation tactics (even Axe Cap traders didn't know). Her short was based solely on the fact that the company was shorting, which is public knowledge. I doubt they can prove anything she did wasn't on the up and up but it looks bad, so I expect some stress for Wendy and Chuck.

I'm Team Fuck All Of Them (except Wendy, Sacker and Lonnie). May they all end up in a cell together.

 

It may not be illegal, but it would look very bad because it would appear to all others that Chuck used Wendy to protect their family against the anticipated (huge) loss, by ensuring that they offset the loss with the profits from the short, while throwing the other investors under the bus.

[jvr]

26 minutes ago, Seppuku said:

 

It may not be illegal, but it would look very bad because it would appear to all others that Chuck used Wendy to protect their family against the anticipated (huge) loss, by ensuring that they offset the loss with the profits from the short, while throwing the other investors under the bus.

Yes, but Chuck made sure no one but Ira and his dad will know they were on the other side of the trade. He doesn't know right now that, besides not wanting to be tied to Axe getting arrested, it may also keep the heat off his family regarding Wendy's participation in riding the stock down when he knew beforehand it would crash.

[BillDavis]

Great episode. Great show.

[grommit2]

Pretty good episode.  Lots of intrigue.  But the real star? Taylor!  Taylor will save the day for AxeCapital. 
Her reward?  
She gets to play lead guitar with Axe's favorite rock band: Metallica.  
Then she gets a fire-engine red Porsche.
And a double-decker house overlooking Long Island Sound. 
Then she gets to be besties with Peter Quinn from Homeland (yes, she resurrects him from a seeming fiery death...Taylor is that good).

And then I get to be a writer on these series.  Ha!

[Carolina Girl]

Quote

It may not be illegal, but it would look very bad because it would appear to all others that Chuck used Wendy to protect their family against the anticipated (huge) loss, by ensuring that they offset the loss with the profits from the short, while throwing the other investors under the bus.

This is setting up the Season 3 drama.  Chuck does NOT know that Wendy shorted and you bet your ass it looks suspicious.  Also let's remember that Chuck set Axe up to buy the stock in the first place through Boyd.  Good defense attorney sticks Chuck on the stand and starts to grill him, brings up his illegal invasion of the trust (doesn't matter if Daddy Dearest says he took it upon himself - it's going to look very suspicious that Chuck chose to use Ice to get Axe if he DIDN'T know what the plan was.  A REAL good defense attorney is going to use the word "entrapment" as much as possible, whether it was or not.  

And since Chuck put in motion a manipulation of of the stock AND was an insider because he was controlling it in some ways, Chuck is not going to escape.  Wendy's short is going to have long-reaching consequences for him although he doesn't know it yet.  Not to mention the machinations of Daddy Rhodes regarding the casino.  That town is going to be pissed as hell when they find out what happened - especially when, if I recall correctly - Daddy Rhodes has made some "investments" in the new location for the casino.

I cannot WAIT for Season 3.  In which the calm, cool, calculating Taylor takes over the World.  

[PBSLover]

13 minutes ago, Carolina Girl said:

This is setting up the Season 3 drama.  Chuck does NOT know that Wendy shorted and you bet your ass it looks suspicious.  Also let's remember that Chuck set Axe up to buy the stock in the first place through Boyd.  Good defense attorney sticks Chuck on the stand and starts to grill him, brings up his illegal invasion of the trust (doesn't matter if Daddy Dearest says he took it upon himself - it's going to look very suspicious that Chuck chose to use Ice to get Axe if he DIDN'T know what the plan was.  A REAL good defense attorney is going to use the word "entrapment" as much as possible, whether it was or not.  

And since Chuck put in motion a manipulation of of the stock AND was an insider because he was controlling it in some ways, Chuck is not going to escape.  Wendy's short is going to have long-reaching consequences for him although he doesn't know it yet.  Not to mention the machinations of Daddy Rhodes regarding the casino.  That town is going to be pissed as hell when they find out what happened - especially when, if I recall correctly - Daddy Rhodes has made some "investments" in the new location for the casino.

I cannot WAIT for Season 3.  In which the calm, cool, calculating Taylor takes over the World.  

Great post.

[meira.hand]

On 5/8/2017 at 0:14 PM, coop said:

I'm having trouble with Chuck having no problem at losing his entire inheritance as being worth it to bring Ax down.

Initially he did not plan on loosing his entire inheritance, just allowing his father to use a small part of i. It was his father greed, when he saw how much he could get back on it, that decided to invested it all. Chuck was quite shocked when he discovered what his father did, but his hate for Ax was so intense, he eventually decided it was worth the loss. His cry/laugh in the hotel was almost biblical: "“Let me die with the Philistines!”"

[MV007]

I really loved this episode up until the final scene where Chuck and Wendy are back together.  That was kind of annoying.  Wendy is way too good for anyone on this show never mind the the sleazeball she's married too.  Also, Chuck and George have a nice chemistry and I'd love to see her own him.

One thing that I really love is that no matter what happens between Axe and Chuck, Wendy seems to come out ahead.  Getting in on the short and reaping those rewards is sweet justice while both of those two take themselves down.

[NeenerNeener]

On 5/8/2017 at 1:34 AM, minamurray78 said:

But what I like most about this show, is that wathever shit happens to the characters, they mostly have it coming. They have been scewed over and screwed someone else.

 

Yeah, it's fascinating to watch. And it seems like it's illustrating the old saying about revenge and digging two graves. Nobody is going to win this; these guys are going to destroy each other.