These two scenes unravel a whole lot of inherent drama and somehow reinvigorate a show that has frankly become a bit stale. The storytelling suddenly feels more compact, in part due to a return to the backbone of Clash of the Titans.

“Billions” also benefits from the sharpness of its writing, ditching lines that reference films like “Trading Places,” presenting an alpha male take on Harry Chapin’s song “Cats in the Cradle,” and giving Chuck the line , for example, in reference to his public admission that he’s been in a dominant-submissive relationship, “I don’t have any more skeletons in my closet to rattle. Let them try to spit on me.”

The new season has some interesting cameos, one that takes advantage of Prince’s fondness for using basketball philosophies to motivate troops (he’s a big fan of coach John Wooden’s pyramid of success), and another that involves real-life journalist Olivia Nue. Qi, threatening a damaging leak over someone’s head.

However, Rhodes’ campaign against a city run by a “billionaire syndicate” and his bashing of the “rich” provided a hook to move “a billion” from “hold” in five episodes anyway. Return to the “Strong Buy” section.

The sixth season of “Billion” will begin on Showtime on January 23rd at 9pm ET.