'Billions' Season 5: Is Taylor on the verge of losing the ice-cool demeanor and sharp-as-a-computer attitude?
It wasn't an easy start for Taylor Mason (Asia Kate Dillon) in Season 5. First, in 'The New Decas', Taylor's re-entry into Axe Capital was not taken well. Needless to say, the hate between the two teams was real, and the disrespect between the two parties, mutual. Team bonding finally came in the form of Becky Lynch, the WWE superstar, who does a cameo to set the two teams straight.
However, that issue was just the start. In Episode 2. 'The Chris Rock Test', Taylor falters when the deal with Oscar Langstraat (Mike Birbiglia) becomes an issue and by the looks of it, the latter hasn't gotten over the events that unfolded in the past between him and Taylor or "the emotional baggage" as Axe dubs it from the previous season. Now, that is blow No. 2 for the calm and calculative persona.
Then there's a two-punch combo that saw Taylor struggle to become a more efficient version. The company, Taylor Mason Capital finds a potential client in the chancellor of Lawrenceberg University who looks to divest the university's billion-dollar fund but fails in the attempt to convince the board. While the job eventually gets done by Sara Hammon (Samantha Mathis), it comes with a catch of just running the trade, a result that sees Taylor nip the deal off.
Next up is the fossil fuel deal that Wendy Rhoades (Maggie Siff) helps her out with. And from there, it did look like there was some sense of climbing back to success for the whizkid. Taylor Mason Capital becomes Taylor Mason Carbon, an initiative that focusses on projects pertaining to renewable energy and looks at it as a way to make serious gains in their business. Trust is what Taylor brings as the deal to Wendy is 40% control of their partnership. They also bring in Lauren (Jade Eshete) on it along with new crew additions and that's a new direction for Taylor Mason Cap.
With this, it does seem like Taylor has got that much-needed edge back. However, what is distinctly observed is the marginal decline of the ice-cool attitude and that just might see a shade of Taylor the audience has not seen before. The final straw that the demeanor was on the verge of disappearing was when the employees of Axe Cap and Tayor Mason Carbon pop a few Vigilantrix pills and go haywire on their business. It takes Taylor more than stress to get furious, but this time the red mist just climbs.
While the fire is somehow put out, the aftermath sees Axe (Damian Lewis) realize he was wrong. And for the audience, it was the time they saw an explosive Taylor. The question is, will this be the new face of Taylor? If so. then that's worth the watch. 'Billions' is available for streaming on the Showtime app.