Asia Kate Dillon Plays The Good Millionaire

There are plenty of headlines about greedy billionaires that’ll make your head spin. But not all are out for themselves. For example, once divorced from Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott committed to give away a huge chunk of her $46 billion net worth.

We’re fascinated with the rich and powerful, which is why viewers love to escape into the lavish world of Showtime’s hit drama Billions. Despite the loss of Damian Lewis’ Bobby Axelrod, the series has continued to grow its streaming audience with every season since premiering in 2016. The 12-episode sixth season delivered its most-watched opening week ever.

While this season is still about custom-built yachts and high-end fashion, it’s also focused on how money can help those less fortunate. In a recent interview, Asia Kate Dillon talked about their character, Taylor Mason, who is particularly interested in taking those accumulated billions and changing the world for the better. We focused on the recently aired episode “Burn Rate” and Taylor’s showdown with new boss Michael Prince (Corey Stoll).

In one pivotal scene, Taylor stands up to Prince by saying they each have a responsibility to make positive and lasting change. Prince stands his ground making it clear that Taylor isn’t being realistic; their $100 million goal just isn’t enough to cut it. That nine-digit combination won’t open the lock to the escape hatch, he says. Taylor now knows they must aim much higher. His net worth is more than $10 billion and Taylor realizes that they, too, must join the billionaires club.  

Taylor has become a fan favorite and it will be fun to see what happens moving forward in the season. Like Taylor who wants to use the power of money to make positive change, show creators Brian Koppelman, David Levien and Aaron Sorkin wanted to use the power of a TV show to shine a light on a gender non-binary character. Dillon made history as the first such character on a mainstream television series portrayed by a gender non-binary actor. When Koppelman and Levien originally wrote the character, they hadn’t met Dillon or seen their work.

Dillon, who recently presented at the Gotham Awards, has been an advocate for the non-binary community. In this case, the awards show scrapped gender from all categories and made the focus solely on a performer’s talent.

In a past interview, Dillion explained that the character had originally been written as a person that had been assigned female at birth and identified as gender non-binary; a person whose gender identity falls outside the boxes of man or woman. Because Taylor doesn’t identify as a man or a woman and exists outside the traditional gender binary, there isn’t a use of the pronouns he or she or his or her. Instead, the pronouns they, them, and their are used. 

At the time, just before season two premiered, Dillon explained that Showtime gave them a choice to really shine a spotlight on the fact they identify as gender non-binary, or not, but the decision to be out in the open was clear. “I know that visibility and representation save lives.”

Fans have watched Taylor skillfully navigate the landscape at Axe Cap but now things are shifting. Not only is Prince’s name now on the wall but the goal has changed from that of accumulation to one of giving back.

“Taylor has always struggled with how to be a good person,” Dillon recently explained. “Episode four is the first time we really get to hear from Taylor as to their why – the deeper reasons underneath it all. They really want to affect lasting social advancements and make positive change that stands the test of time.”

Power shifts are expected in these halls but for Taylor, it’s more like running through a minefield. “Taylor still has their guard up about Prince and who he is and what his ultimate motives are and whether he can be trusted. They have PTSD from Axe and wonder if Prince will throw them under the bus.” 

Taylor’s main effort in this episode is to bring free WiFi to the people in Africa and while this is an altruistic goal, they are met yet again with obstacles. “Taylor realizes they are not done learning. They need to really hear what Prince is saying and shift their monetary goal in order to make the kind of change they want to make.”

Dillon is excited to explore the various power dynamics Taylor is engaged in this season. “Taylor can now stand up to Prince without being afraid. They continue to try and figure out how to exist in their world while remaining a good person. Is that even possible?” 

Showtime just announced ‘Billions’ will return for a seventh season. New episodes this season air on Showtime Sundays at 9:00 pm ET/PT.