Billions | S01/E06 | The Deal
This episode is a lot of fun, but it's also a very important one for future complications.
While both Chuck and Axe don't want to settle and the backing and forthing to get there is very engaging, there's something that's better still.
Chuck loses Bryan Connerty's trust. I included the clip because it's enormously important. Even without being aware of what happens in later episodes, his reaction to Chuck's admission that they were going forward with the plea deal is a display of an absolutely foundation loss of faith in the man.
To pour salt in the open wound, Chuck doesn't simply say 'this is the way it is', he DISMISSES Connerty like a lapdog in such a brutal way it really shows us how Chuck views a lot of people around him. In this way, he's very different than Bobby: our billionaire capitalist shows unerring loyalty to everyone in the shop until loyalty or disrespect is shown to him. Then and only then do the knives come out.
Connerty wanted more time. That's it. Chuck wanted to end it because he wanted to protect his precious 'no lost cases' record.
Adding insult to injury, Chuck let his ego fuck the deal anyways. Mostly because he can't help but poke the bear, which is childish in and of itself. When both parties turn it into a pissing match, which IS fully understandable, it's just ridiculous. They might as well be five year olds at the playground daring each other to flinch.
I mean we knew the deal couldn't possibly go through, and the writers laid it up in the most perfect of ways, but still. Imagine being so childishly egotistical as to let ANOTHER manchild's words hurt your feelings, and in such a way that it borks a 1.9 BILLION dollar plea deal!
The sad thing is that even though Connerty's pleased with how things shake out and trust is restored, Chuck's ask at the end destroys it all over again.
If I had to choose between working for someone like Chuck or Bobby, right now? That choice is clear. I don't like Chuck Rhoades Jr at all. He's a petty lord holding power over his fiefdom while Bobby gives what he gets. I'd be a shit earner at Axe Cap, but I'd bust my ass because the loyalty angle is what makes it work for me.