Billions!!!!! 2017! Yeah Baby!

Pekelo · Mar 7, 2017

There was a Canadian TV series called Traders (you guessed it right) between 1996-2000. It was supposedly very good, but they only broadcasted it in Canada. (If you saw it back then, give us a feedback.) Only the first season was released on DVD and there are no copies on torrent sites, this was the VHS age...

So I ordered it from Amazon for $8, that is for 9 hours of entertainment. A quick first look didn't really excite me too much, but I have to give it a real viewing.

I thought I would mention it for those who like trading related TV or movies... Once I watched it I will give a proper feedback on it...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115397/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

"In the setting of the Toronto-based investment house, Gardner/Ross, Traders explores the intimate lives and loves, the mystique and monetary machinations of investment bankers whose high-stakes decisions and sizzling alliances can have grave international consequences."

Cuddles · Mar 8, 2017

Started watching 1st season, dialogue was way too cringy w/wannabe "alpha dog" talk and ludicrous S&M story lines. Did it get any better/get different writers?

JamesL · Mar 8, 2017

sle said:
PS Obviously, the actual professional aspects (i.e. finance) are misrepresented but that's true about almost any other show.

Well, it is the baby of CNBC morning host and NYTimes writer Andrew Sorkin, so that might tell you something.

Cuddles · Mar 9, 2017

lawrence-lugar said:
Here's a similar thread about the Billions TV show:
https://www.elitetrader.com/et/threads/billions-second-season-has-just-started.306756/

This hedge fund, wannabe Wall Street/Gordon Gekko TV show is kind of boring -- I think you're frankly better off watching the movies Rogue Trader 1999 and Wall Street 1987 instead

(...and maybe Trading Places and Boiler Room too, just for dumb comedy entertainment)

Yeah, that's about right, I'm not above crude talk or power plays as part of plots, I just get the feeling the writers weren't particularly smart or worse yet curious enough to improve the dialogue and/or research the world of trading (general population may be impressed by the terms "naked short" being used in a semi-accurate way).

It's a shame too, Paul Giamatti is an amazing lead in John Adams, and the other guy does an OK job in Band of Brothers and Homeland.

If you are into infinitely better written dialogue with "alpha dogs" albeit over time formulaic, Suits is a better show. Damages has a pretty similar quality to it, even if it fell off in its later seasons.

sle · Mar 9, 2017

Here4money said:
dialogue was way too cringy w/wannabe "alpha dog" talk and ludicrous S&M story lines.

Don't know about S&M part, but I certainly felt that the type of chatter was very close to real life trading floor talk (which is surprising). I don't recall the first episode, maybe it's a matter of following it for a few episodes to get into the grove.

PS. I thought Suits sucked, for that matter. Damages were such as bore.

mlawson71 · Mar 9, 2017

Frankly, I have seen neither Suits nor Damages. I admit that my eyes kind of glaze over during court-room dramas.

Cuddles · Mar 9, 2017

sle said:
Don't know about S&M part, but I certainly felt that the type of chatter was very close to real life trading floor talk (which is surprising). I don't recall the first episode, maybe it's a matter of following it for a few episodes to get into the grove.

PS. I thought Suits sucked, for that matter. Damages were such as bore.

I think this is the scene that lost me, there's no way some bald short guy bullies another man into picking up dog shit w/their bare hands.

suits:

Arnie · Mar 10, 2017

Ass to mouth!!

LOL

I thought is at the money!!

Arnie · Mar 10, 2017

Here4money said:
Started watching 1st season, dialogue was way too cringy w/wannabe "alpha dog" talk and ludicrous S&M story lines. Did it get any better/get different writers?

My wife I just finished S1. Gotta agree with you the first few episodes I was wondering if I could finish the season. Two of my favorite actors, too. It does get better. Starting S2 tonight

vanzandt · Mar 10, 2017

Arnie said:
My wife I just finished S1. Gotta agree with you the first few episodes I was wondering if I could finish the season. Two of my favorite actors, too. It does get better. Starting S2 tonight

S2 Ep1 is slow.... then the next two are really good.
I had no idea Damian Lewis was a Brit. I saw him on an interview. British accent, born in London.
Its not easy to change your voice like that (New Yorker). Pretty good actor imo.

Of course the real life Axlerods will be at Mar-a-Largo this week.

Don't forget to get me some matches for my cigar box Surf.
I wanna be able to light the brain trust Cuban's with some Trumpies.
Don't steal any towels though. SS will throw your ass in jail and that'll be the end of the Surf report as we know it.
No skinny dipping in the pool either.
The last thing America needs is to see a nekid Surf on cable news during dinner.