THE CONTINUOS FEUD: BILLIONS

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

When a political man born with a silver spoon in his mouth met head to head with a self-made billionaire businessman who rose from scrapes of odds and ends. What do you think will happen when two divergent men brush each other's shoulders? Shall we find out in the 2016 American television series created by Brian Koppelman, David Levien, and Andrew Ross Sorkin entitled Billions... 

They, Bobby "Axe" Axelrod and Charles "Chuck" Rhoades Jr., both had a common denominator in life, a strong-minded woman. Wendy Rhoades, M.D. was the wife of Charles "Chuck" Rhoades Jr. and a psychiatrist and in-house performance coach at Axe Capital. Her driven mindset and and on-the-fence character became more valuable but at the same time led to vulnerability by both of them. 

He saw the advantages of the 9/11 terrorism coordinated attacks on The Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre in New York and the attacks on Washington. Instead of mourning the lost thousands of lives, Bobby "Axe" Axelrod (Damian Lewis) saw the post- September 11th chaos auspiciously different; a way of augmenting his financial assets. In what way? In the episode, “Boast and Rails”, there was a meeting with his lawyer outside usual appointments to recapitulate the September 2001's events and the position of his firm. They were working out a severance agreement but it ceased when the The Twin Towers were hit. Its because he could foresee the financial profits by venturing his firm from the ashes of the brave souls to the top of Wall Street's hedge fund game. That was the explosive summary of his company's new name, Axe Capital, personal rise to power in 2001. However, he didn't just keep all the three quarters of a million profits he had piled-up. He and his wife, Lara, helped financially a lot of families whose loved ones died in the terrorism attacks. They also shared the yielded “sensitive dough” by donating millions worth of things to worthy charities.  

(Damian Lewis as Bobby "Axe" Axelrod)

Bobby "Axe" Axelrod's spearheaded standpoint in life and brilliant mind on Wall Street's hedge fund game was strengthen and balance morally by his devoted wife, Lara Axelrod (Malin Akerman). She was a nurse by profession with a blue-collar upbringing who fascinated and bewitched Axe when he was still a low-key profiled man. According to one of the episodes, because of her unrefined charisma Axe fell in love with her instantly and the next day, they got married. The fruits of their love and devotion as a couple procreated 2 complaisant boys. Despite their wealthy status in life, Lara remained unpretentiously balance especially when her family members and their jealous friends would like to ruin her husband's reputation. She deterred in her own approach a few plotted public humiliations against Bobby "Axe" Axelrod- even when it involved her family. However, her sensibility as a wife was muddied every time her husband defended and highlighted in their conversations the company's in-house performance coach, Wendy Rhoades. That is why, when her sacred vow as a wife was rimmed by jealousness because of one untold truth she left Axe with the boys in a troubled state.  

(Malin Akerman as Lara Axelrod)

When Axe was just starting and wasn't well-heeled in life yet, Wendy Rhoades, M.D. (Maggie Siff) stood beside him as company's psychiatrist and more so, as a bestfriend. They were bonded with a strong attachment as grown-up professionals who both respected each other's private life. Wendy's sympathetic characteristic at work was valued highly by Axe as she was the only one who could pacified his unuttered caprice. That is why, when Wendy decided to resign her post at Axe Capital because of her husband's stilted vendetta, she also cut all direct personal communications with Axe. Undeniably, the business equilibrium mindset of Axe was distressed despite the fact that they hired a new in-house performance coach. Her resignation was a great loss for Axe which also resulted in a marital separation with Chuck. However, they were able to work again at Axe Capital when Wendy gave Axe an assent phone call in the episode, "Indian Four". They met in person and she favourably asked him to drop all of the lawsuit charges against her husband, Charles "Chuck" Rhoades Jr.

(Maggie Siff as Wendy Rhoades, M.D.)

He came from a silver spoon family who had a quick uplift exposure in politics because of his father's wealthy connections. Charles "Chuck" Rhoades Jr. (Paul Giamatti) thinks highly of himself as a great defender of justice who had a particular distaste for wealthy criminals. Yes, he had significant power as a U.S. Attorney who tried to set aside personal motives in order to follow jurisdictions. However, he became more twisted like the corrupt officials in power when he focused more on placing the nouveau riche, Bobby "Axe" Axelrod, in prison. Because of his withhold personal animosities, it affected his matrimonial relationship with his wife, Wendy Rhoades. He pried on Wendy's laptop and found out some confidential conversation's jottings with Axe in the episode, "Magical Thinking". Because of his rapacious behaviour, Wendy resigned at Axe Capital and also decided to extricate herself emotionally from him as a wife. Chuck's life didn't just evolve in the yearning for more political power as he was also an “ill” man. He had a secret life which he dearly enjoyed and couldn't resist in the world of erotic roleplaying (submission) called BDSM. His obsession for roleplaying was a secret in the public's eyes but not to his wife, Wendy. She understood and even embraced roleplaying as well as enslaved Chuck as the dominant Ma'am. 

(Paul Giamatti as Charles "Chuck" Rhoades Jr.)

Taylor Amber Mason (Asis Kate Dillion) is the first-ever non-binary character and in real life has been using preferably the pronouns “they, their and them” as an uncustomary identification. They was an intern at Axe Capital under the supervision of Mafee (Daniel Soder) when their was introduced to Bobby "Axe" Axelrod. Taylor's forthright hedge fund knowledge caught the full attention of Axe who later in the second season proposed to them a staggering and brilliant offer to be an employee at Axe Capital. The offer was accepted and as the series continues, they role in the company progressed headily as an appointed C.I.O. Because of their unequivocal attitude towards Axe, Taylor was invited to play on Axe's team at the Alpha Cup to which their crushed and shamed Todd Krakow (Danny Strong) in the episode, "Optimal Play". Taylor became like a right-hand man to Axe and when Bryan Coonerty (Toby Leonard Moore), Chuck' point man, found out about it he cajouled Taylor to testify against Axe's fraudulent hedge fund. However, them calm  mind paved the way for they disregard the high moral grounds that was accounted for by Bryan. As a result, they went to the U.S. Attorney's office with the twist of embarrassing Bryan and turning down the impunity proposition in the episode, "Golden Frog Time".

(Asis Kate Dillion as Taylor Amber Mason)

Generally speaking, both Axe and Chuck had stubborn personalities and wanted their own way. Chuck, a defender of the law, went too far and broke the trust of his office in order to catch Axe. The common upstart, Axe, also broke the law knowingly and was aware of what he was doing. As they battled, we see their human frailties which constantly dogged their higher plans.

When main motives are clouded by personal animosities, always expect to reap worst chain reactions, which is either a long-faced consequence or the tearful collapse of your entire life.

MIDNIGHT, TEXAS

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

  

It can be said that in any family snap there is always a black sheep; one who does not quite fit in. No matter how memorably special was the picture when it was first taken. Elaborately speaking, when you feel at variance with the rest you'll eagerly gravitate to follow your gut feelings which are anchored by your intelligence. What more does it entail? You will soon find your sole path, then sweep yourself away from the majority and/or renounce any forms of direct communication with the people you have loved and cared for. 

I just started watching another American Supernatural T.V. series based on Charlaine Harris' book series. I read a synopsis and heard an outline of the T.V. series before but never bothered with it because of my fondness of the Mikaelson siblings in The Originals. 

The first episode of Midnight, Texas was only playing for a few minutes, when I jumped to the conclusion that it wouldn't be my cup of tea. I labelled the first few minutes of the episode as quite a stereotypical story. The scene of a guy, Francois Arnaud a.k.a. Manfred Bernardo, running away from the troubling threats of his mysterious creditor, Hightower. Personally speaking, I don't now have the fitter and higher quality of patience I had years ago when watching films or series that mainly involved cliched stories. I would prefer more real life documentary programmes in which dramatic temper tantrums are not included (the least) and with no hackneyed happily ever after ending. 

(Francois Arnaud a.k.a. Manfred Bernardo)

When I almost decided to stop watching the “Pilot” episode and not bothered with the programme. Francois Arnaud a.k.a. Manfred Bernardo  had just driven to the ingress of a small town called Midnight, Texas; he was running and this was his final destination. That was the time when my attention shifted and I continuously watched it. The small town setting reminded me of True Blood's' small town in Louisiana and more importantly, the main characters made me think of X-Men's fictional characters.

The main characters in this series are inhabitants of a small town where the concept of normal is relative. As a matter of fact, the town itself is a safe haven for vampires, witches, psychics, hit men and others with extraordinary backgrounds; who work together. Once you are in Midnight, Texas and the leading supernatural inhabitants come to trust you, you will be welcomed into this elusive family. A family who work together in fending off the presence of unruly biker gangs, questioning police officers and shades of their own dangerous pasts.

After finishing the Pilot episode of this series, I inextricably played another one. Thereupon I pursued and without knowing I just ended up finishing the “Blinded by the Light” episode. I didn't regret it as I saw a beefcake man fallen angel in the persona of Jason Lewis as Joe Strong. I WANT MORE, PLEASE! 

(Jason Lewis a.k.a. Joe Strong)

TRANSPARENT (TV SERIES)

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Parenthood has no retirement and inevitably, responsibilities broaden as children grow and as time passes by. A stage which perpetuates even as the children get older and mature. Whether you like it or not, there is no switch off button when you are feeling tired of the obligations or just getting fed up with the daily responsibilities. Actually, it continues even when relationships break apart and parents live separately. That is why, a switch off button is neither an option and does not exist!

I just finished watching the first set of episodes of the TV series entitled Transparent. Each episode was delivered and carried out delightfully by the actors. It's not the stereo typical parenthood story but a delicate view of the reality of people embracing transitions in life. In particular, it was a more realistic approach of an evolving transgender woman's progression and also included other LGBTQI+ people. Disappointingly, this series hasn't been given much attention yet on TV channels or seen as important by some big networks. 

His fascination of becoming a woman and decision to dressing-up as a woman were concealed while he responsibly fathering his children... 

A university scholar who loved and supported his energetic wife, Shelly. They created a family of 3 children and he was generous in tending to their demands while growing up. He was a typical husband who worked very hard to fund the family's lifestyle and always came back home full of optimism. Apart from being very reliable, what came out gradually and incresingly was his desire to embrace his hindered  feeling of becoming a woman. Until one day, he fully unraveled the truth of his feeling and revealed herself as Maura Pfefferman.

Each episode highlighted the subtle transitional life of the father in becoming a transgender woman. Apart from his own challenging odyssey, it included the chaotic life of his eldest daughter, Sarah, who was once married to a man and later, cohabited with a lesbian. It also covered the confused personality of his youngest daughter, Ali, who became an eccentric lesbian and as the years passed also getting involved intimately with both sexes. The story also featured the bravado son, Josh, who was sexually defiled at a young age and subsequently got involved with a post-op transgender woman.

"Hey, honey I want to borrow your panty as it's now becoming the rage at the moment?". He asked his wife. "It was the biggest camel toe I've ever seen in my entire life". His wife shared these comments with her dear friend and cachinnated. That was the starting and deciding point when the husband/father explored the wearing of women's clothes and appearing clandestinely as a woman. Despite the fact of his great desire to be a woman, he still fancied women and remained to love every woman's aspects from top going down to her v*gina. Yes, his hindered sexuality and metamorphosis didn't change or modify his immense attraction to women. 

He met a friend named Marcy... 

During his sneaky exploration, he accidentally met a friend who had the same life as his. They exchanged ideas on how to deal with their lives while reconnoitering as women; which influenced greatly and benefited their friendship. One day, they discovered an advert in a magazine which made them think seriously while adoring dressing-up as women in a hotel's restaurant. There was a sudden reluctance in their voices but their gay prattle helped them decide to give the boot camp a relishing shot. 

They drove together heading to this well-moated leafy boot camp where they saw, met and chatted to most of the transgender women who had no trace of fear on their faces. They felt the excitement of sprucing up as a woman, especially when they reached the hub of the boot camp. The usual qualms on their faces vanished and their life's discretion was replaced with blissfulness. No more jittery rubbernecking! 

All throughout the boot camp period, they mingled with fathers of the same status quos; chatted to closet queen men who feared being deduced wrongly and even, drank with wives/women who were in full support of their husbands/friends' transformation. A heavenly feeling that they’ve been yearning for. They appreciated and loved as dawn came to dusk each day. Who would not be? They were human beings whose only desire is for happiness and to be accepted into society. However, they are always frighten of being vindictively judge by narrow minded people and then, maltreated like a plague. 

Personally speaking, sexual transition is a fragile and delicate stage in one's personal life. The gradual embrace of change as time passes by from their loved ones will ease their fears and free them from inexhaustible woes. It takes time to accept the honest blunt truth especially if it is all about the person we dearly admire and love. Verily speaking, some of us will feel apprehensive in welcoming unfamiliar changes especially if they are too close to home. However, this does not imply we can't embrace the piecemeal outcome of change.

QUEEN VICTORIA'S BUDDIES

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

  (Gibbs, DiNozzo and McGee)

They do not talk as well as breathe, but their presence always warms and charms my days!

Every time I see the three of them who behave quietly on top of the wardrobe or on the couch, my works on the world wide web are provided with inspirations. I prefer to call them as stationary buddies who also provide a  good company when doing my tasks on my laptop.

My buddies have names that I adapted from the main casts of a T.V. Series called N.C.I.S. (Naval Crime Investigative Service) ...

I like watching N.C.I.S. and have to admit that I am an avid fan of biddable geek Timothy McGee; the cheeky and ballsy Anthony DiNozzo as well as my favourite, the handsome Leroy Jethro Gibbs. For those reasons, I named and baptised my buddies as Gibbs, DiNozzo and McGee.