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'Billions' is the hot-button show Wall Street is obsessed with — here's what it's all about

Showtime's "Billions" is back and better than ever in its second season, which tackles timely topics around government and money.

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“Billions,” which just started its second season in late February, is back and better than ever.

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The Showtime drama series gives viewers a closer look at a hedge-fund manager who's making, well, billions. And it also follows the U.S. district attorney trying to out him for insider trading.

And in season two, they've introduced the first gender-nonconforming charcter on television, plus a timely legal storyline.

Here's everything you need to know about "Billions," the TV show Wall Street is obsessed with:

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It’s got a star-studded cast, with Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti leading.

You probably remmeber Emmy winner Lewis as Brody from "Homeland." Giamatti is also an Emmy winner, and an Oscar nominee.

Damian Lewis' character, Bobby Axelrod, is loosely based on a real-life Wall Street guy.

You might also recognize Malin Akerman.

She plays Axelrod's wife. Back in 2009, she was Silk Spectre II in "Watchmen." And before joining "Billions," she starred on ABC's short-lived family comedy "Trophy Wife" opposite Bradley Whitford. She was also on Adult Swim's "Childrens Hospital."

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And Maggie Siff plays Dr. Wendy Rhoades.

You may remember her as Rachel Menken from the first season of "Mad Men." Her character on “Billions” was inspired by real-life Wall Street psychologists and Tony Robbins. In the show's first season she works for Axelrod and is very close to him. But she is married to Chuck Rhoades, Giamatti's character.

There's also David Costabile.

He played the lovable Gale Boetticher on a little show you might have seen called "Breaking Bad." On "Billions," he's Axelrod's right-hand man.

The show is loosely based on a real-life district attorney who took down actual Wall Street execs.

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Preet Bharara”crusader." target="_blank"" target="_blank"cracking down"

Andrew Ross Sorkin, one of the shows cocreators, is a financial columnist for The New York Times.

He also wrote the book "Too Big to Fail," which was made into an HBO original movie in 2011. The book followed the

The series premiere was record-breaking for Showtime.

The drama series' debut episode got 2.99 million viewers, making it the most successful original series premiere for Showtime to date. The record was previously broken with the premiere of “Ray Donovan” back in 2013.

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Season one was all about Wall Street vs. the law.

Hedge-fund manager Bobby Axelrod uses shady techniques to get ahead, but always manages to keep himself free of indictment. And US Attorney Chuck Rhoades is out to get Axelrod, even if it means pushing the boundaries himself.

Giamatti's character, Chuck Rhoades, is into BDSM.

Chuck and his wife Wendy engage in BDSM. Chuck succombs to Wendy as her slave. It's an interesting exploration of why some powerful men are sexual submissives.

The second season has a storyline that echoes the infamous Gawker vs. Hulk Hogan trial.

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In season two, Axelrod's reputation is shatterd thanks to Rhoades. So Axelrod with grievances against Rhoades' corrupt methods and offer to finance their lawsuits.

Season two introduced the first ever gender-nonconforming character on television.

Asia Kate Dillon from "Orange Is the New Black" joins the series as Taylor, a whiz intern at Axelrod's company, Ax Capital. Dillon is also gender-nonconforming and goes by the pronouns "they" and "them."

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