New Showtime series Billions takes impressive reviews to the bank (2024)

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He won a Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe for his role in Homeland.

And it seems like Damian Lewis is ready for another award season run.

The 44-year-old actor is considered as the standout performer in new Showtime series Billions, which premieres on Sunday.

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Lewis portrays ruthless hedge fund king Bobby 'Axe' Axeford opposite Paul Giamatti in the drama which has received generally positive reviews.

One review from Reuters written by financial reporter Jeffrey Goldfarb said Lewis' performance was top-notch.

He wrote: 'Lewis is pretty much the best thing going for 'Billions,' with a ruthless but cool demeanor that steals nearly every scene he is in.'

Goldfarb also had good things to say about Giamatti, 48, who plays US Attorney Chuck Rhoades as he said: 'Paul Giamatti is often at his growling, hang-dog best, though it may take a couple of episodes for anyone who saw him portray Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to get used to him in this new financial role.'

John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal said the subject matter wrapped up in the financial sector is definitely enough to keep viewers compelled.

He wrote: 'Created by writer/producers Brian Koppelman and David Levien and the New York Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin, Showtime’s “Billions” has the posture of sociopolitical expose, the mechanics of a soap opera and the morals of grave robber.

'In other words, it’s irresistible.'

John Powers from National Public Radio believes it is actually Wendy Rhoades (Maggie Siff) who is the most fascinating and original character as she happens to hear everyone's feelings.

He writes: 'Loyal to both her husband and to Axe — to what extent we can't be sure — this gifted psychologist plays the deepest game of all.

'Wendy uses her role as a confessor/advisor to nudge people into doing what she wants. She admits that such manipulation turns her on. It turns us on, too. The show perks up whenever she's on-screen.'

Not all the reviews are quite as glowing as Rober Bianco from USA Today said it should be relatively easy to write a compelling drama around the financial scandals and concerns about income inequality but Billions hasn't exactly hit the mark.

Bianco explained: 'What you get is a ham-fisted, irrational, superficially stylish show that thinks it’s saying something when it’s merely bellowing, and thinks it’s taking risks when it’s merely taking liberties.'

Viewers will have their own opportunity to judge whether Billions hit the jackpot or not when the series premieres on Sunday at 10pm on Showtime.

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