That pair is U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) and financial genius Bobby “Axe” Axelrod (Damian Lewis), mortal enemies in every possible way. For two seasons, the two played three-dimensional chess, moving pieces around as Axe attempted to avoid prosecution by Chuck, who sacrificed everything to get his man. The unfolding drama introduced us to a number of key players in the world of Rhoades and Axelrod, including their wives, Wendy (Maggie Siff) and Lara (Malin Akerman). Wendy happened to work for Axe, pulling her between the two power players. And we also met key soldiers on both sides of the war, including Bryan (Toby Leonard Moore), Wags (David Costabile), Sacker (Condola Rashad), Chuck’s father (Jeffrey DeMunn), and Taylor (Asia Kate Dillon). I’m being intentionally vague about how all of these characters intertwine because the joy of “Billions” is in how the show’s creators define the complex relationships within the construct of their show, and you really should catch up if you get a chance.

Suffice to say, Chuck Rhoades made a major play at the end of season two, finally toppling Axelrod in a way that Chuck presumes will be fatal. The third season opens with both men trying to pick up the pieces. Axe is trying to stay involved in the only world he understands, even as his marriage falls apart. Chuck can’t directly handle the case against Axe, and has destroyed relationships in his effort to nail him, especially the one with his father. Both men are at a crossroads, but they’re looking back from whence they came to make sure no one is coming up behind them. They’re paranoid and nervous, and Lewis and Giamatti are great in these episodes.

One of the reasons they’re so good is how much they cede to one of the best supporting casts on television. I’ve always been a sucker for a phenomenal ensemble (it’s what made “Deadwood” so good) and I love the cast of characters on “Billions.” Lewis and Giamatti get a lot of the attention, but this is a show that doesn’t work without the entire ensemble. Costabile and Siff have been great since the beginning—as have Kelly AuCoin, Dan Soder, and other familiar faces—but the show really got a boost from the season two addition of Asia Kate Dillon as Taylor, a new Axe employee who identifies as “they/them.” Introduced into a truly masculine, testosterone-heavy world, the inclusion of a brilliant character that defies traditional gender constructs invigorated the writing on “Billions.” And Dillon gives one of the best performances on television. It’s great to see their role expanded even further in season three. The same goes for the work of great character Jeffrey DeMunn in the first arc of the new season. He's phenomenal. Finally, in a show that has always cast its characters brilliantly, there are some fantastic new faces this year, including Clancy Brown and, later in the season, John Malkovich.