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'Billions' Season 5 Episode 8: Paul Giamatti's dramatic weight loss surprises fans

If a clean-shaven Chuck Rhoades left audiences in disbelief, his ridiculous weight loss had most of them worried

Spoilers for 'Billions' Season 5 Episode 8 'Copenhagen'

'Billions' Season 5 finally returned on Showtime and that was good news for fans who missed the complex drama about power politics in the world of New York high finance. Among the various talking points, the chatter was all about Paul Giamatti's look in the latest episode. If a clean-shaven Chuck Rhoades left audiences in disbelief, his ridiculous weight loss had most of them worried.

After a lackluster mid-season finale, 'Copenhagen' sees Rhoades look for alternate avenues to save his father, Rhoades Sr.'s life, and while at it, he receives a jolt in the form of Merle Howard. Rhoades reportedly rigged the Yale Student Council during his college days and Merle had evidence of it. The rest of the episode centers on how Rhoades intends to fight for his reputation that would take a beating. In the end, he steps down from his role at Yale.

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Moving on to the reactions now. One of the fans felt Giamatti looked mighty aged after losing weight and shaving off the beard. "Eh Paul Giamatti has aged so much since the last episode #Billions, you can tell, eish, even lost so much weight," the tweet read. This was seconded by another who wrote: "Paul Giamatti sans facial hair is kinda weirding me out. He also looks like he's lost weight. COVID off time, y'all. #Billions."

Talking about the weight loss when the trailer was Giamatti's co-star, David Costabile who plays Wags on the show. In an interview with Extra in July, he said he had "no idea" about the star's dramatic weight loss. “Maybe he just fasted the entire pandemic,” Costabile laughed. “I decided to keep the beard and add weight. I added all of Paul’s weight. That’s a lifestyle choice.”

Some of the viewers felt Giamatti losing weight was a good thing. "How much weight did Paul Giamatti drop since COVID? Dude looks great (and cannot wait for @SHO_Billions to resume this weekend!)" one of the comments read. "Was Paul Giamatti's appearance change part of the script or his call during the break? #askBkopp," asked one of the fans to Brian Koppelman, the co-creator of the show."
 

What are your thoughts on Paul Giamatti's weight loss in the second half of 'Billions' Season 5?

'Billions' Season 5 airs Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT on Showtime.