10 Underrated Current Crime TV Shows You Need To Be Watching
2. Billions
Set in the high-powered world of New York’s hedge fund exchange, it excitingly pits two powerhouse actors - Damien Lewis’ dirty CEO and Paul Giamatti’s crusading District Attorney - in what deliciously boils down to Heat set in the high-powered business world.
Lewis is the working-class kid turned billionaire. While some of his methods are questionable - yet, like most criminals in these types of stories - he carries an admirable sense of honour and morality. He’s a fair man, till provoked, then a frightening dark side is unveiled.
Giamatti is at his scene-chewing best as his counterpart, the ‘cop’ whose obsessive quest to capture his ‘criminal’ will costs him all things he holds dear. His unconventional casting makes for a refreshing subversion of this usually chisel-jawed type of hero, and the results are a fantastic showcase for the hard-working character actor.
It's a high-stakes game of mental chess with razor-sharp dialogue that comes close to out Sorkin-ing Aaron Sorkin, with pulse-pounding dramatic stakes that never let up. So, basically spectacularly made TV for adults.
Still, it's baffling neither lead nor the trio of showrunners have landed worthy plaudits or accolades by now. So, do yourself and get on this quality show while it's still around.