'Billions' Season 5 Episode 9 Spoilers: Will Wendy and Tanner's relationship end?
Maggie Siff's Wendy is not in a great space in Season 5 of 'Billions'. She may make a nine-million dollar bonus at Axecap, but her relationship with artist Nico Tanner (Frank Grillo) seems to be in the doldrums and only time will tell if they can indeed stay together. That relationship blossomed before the mid-season finale when she helped Tanner to paint a masterclass after he went through a bit of a rough patch.
It all started when he thanked her with a kiss and before we knew it, in the most cliche' one-thing-led-to-another moment, the duo had become a couple, much to Axe's (Bobby Axelrod) chagrin. It appeared that fans of the show liked their pairing as well, however, the recent events seem to have put that relationship in troubled waters. The previous episode saw him pull back from Axecap's culture of limitless cash and entitlement along with a power structure he strongly despises.
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Quite simply, this is a classic case of people trying to stay true to the ones they love and failing miserably at it. A similar story is with Paul Giamatti's Chuck Rhoades who wants to desperately help his ailing father, Rhoades Sr, but has enough struggles of his own.
This wasn't the first time the Tanner-Wendy relationship hit a speedbump. Previously, it was Axe who drove a wedge when he sabotages their evening with a display of the artist's latest work. This may have caused a rupture and only time will tell if her boss' intention is to separate her from the artist or use it as a ruse to get her closer to him. There is still nothing concrete to prove whether Axe has a thing for Wendy, but there have been inklings.
The promo of Episode 9 titled 'Implosion' sees Mike Prince (Corey Stoll) gunning for revenge after Axe plays dirty and exposes his rival for swindling his best friend who died in a drunk-driving accident. The other part of the promo focuses on Rhoades making a plan to put the lock on the crooked lender that Axe has been looking into. There's also a brief scene where Tanner shatters the canvas as a shocked Wendy looks on.
The official synopsis reads: "As Prince spirals in the wake of a scandal, Axe looks to take his attack to the next level, putting Taylor's business in the crossfire; Chuck reckons with his father's mortality; Wendy worries the money may be getting to Tanner."
What are your thoughts on the future of Tanner and Wendy's relationship?
'Billions' Season 5 airs Sundays at 9 pm ET/PT.