Sue Russell: There Was a Deep Conversation About Wilco on Last Night’s “Billions”

Monday, March 13, 2017

There Was a Deep Conversation About Wilco on Last Night’s “Billions”

Showtime’s Wall Street-focused drama “Billions” is in the midst of its second season. However, last night’s episode, “The Oath,” took a break from the finance for a discussion about Wilco. In one scene, Wendy Rhoades (played by Maggie Siff) and Elena Gabriel (played by Melissa Navia) talked about the band’s classic Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and the relationship between Jeff Tweedy and the late Jay Bennett. Elena asks Wendy, “Do you like Wilco?” They continue:

Wendy: Yeah, yes, I love the one with “Jesus, don’t cry” [“Jesus, Etc.”].

Elena: Yeah, me too, because in that one, Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett had found in each other a perfect mind meld. They communicated on a level few ever reach. But the thing about Wilco in that moment is, it was never that good again. Bennett left the group. Somehow, even though each had to know the other made him better, they just couldn’t find a way to keep going together.

Wendy: Did the band break up?

Elena: No, even without Bennett, Wilco was Wilco. They kept truckin’ along.

Wendy: And Bennett?

Elena: He died. Just a couple years later. He OD’d. Somehow, on his own, he couldn’t keep it together. Makes you wonder how you can find a true partner and keep them.

The episode can be watched here with a cable login or Showtime app subscription. The Wilco scene begins around the 24-minute mark. Wilco’s representatives offered no comment when contacted by Pitchfork.

Last year, Wilco released their album Schmilco. Listen to our podcast “A Conversation With Jeff Tweedy at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.”