Audiences just can’t get enough of watching the uber-wealthy duke it out, writes “Streaming” columnist NICK OVERALL. 

IN recent months millions of viewers have been glued to “Succession”, a show which one might consider “Game of Thrones” set in the world of corporate media.

Now the seventh and final season of “Billions” is streaming on Stan, yet another series where viewers get to watch the filthy rich of New York backstab their way to the top of the food chain.

Like “Succession”, there’s nobody to like in “Billions” and yet it’s still easy to pick out favourite characters to root for.

Among them is Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti), a shrewd district attorney who’s unafraid to take on the most powerful of shady business magnates and who has never lost an insider trading case.

When criminal evidence starts stacking up against hedge-fund king Bobby Axelrod (Damian Lewis) Rhoades thinks it could be the case of his career, ensnaring himself in a zero-sum game with one of Manhattan’s most ruthless moguls.

Among the many players here is Rhoades’ wife Wendy (Maggie Siff), an incisive and calculating therapist who helped build Axelrod’s hedge-fund into the empire it is. Wendy refuses to sacrifice her career and motivations for her husband’s crusade against the company, making for one of the show’s most compelling feuds.

If “Succession” is the TV equivalent of fine dining, “Billions” might be considered fast food in comparison.

It doesn’t have the production values or calibre of writing as its competitor, but it certainly still hits the spot for those who can’t resist a corporate brawl.

Giamatti and Lewis put on forceful performances that are hard to look away from. Their blistering rivalry makes it easy to keep coming back for more.

It’s impressive indeed that after 84 episodes people are still watching. This is thanks to the show’s ardent disinterest in any kind of slow burn. “Billions” kicks along at an unashamedly fast pace, moving so quickly that its flaws flash by with barely a chance to process them. 

This is what has made the series so addictive. “Billions” sells itself as high-brow trash and delivers on that promise. All eyes will be on it to see if it can stick its landing.

DISNEY Plus has dropped its latest “Star Wars” TV spin-off, this prequel set before the events of the original film, which is just shy of 50-years-old.

“Ashoka” tells the story of Anakin Skywalker’s secret apprentice whom he trained in the years before his evil descent into becoming Darth Vader.

Rosario Dawson plays the titular padawan, who in this series is on a quest to hunt down one of the Empire’s most merciless higher-ups, Grand Admiral Thrawn.

Thrawn is played by “House of Cards” star Lars Mikkelsen, whose brother, Mads Mikkelsen, also appeared in the “Star Wars” spin-off “Rogue One”.

How does “Ashoka” stack up compared to the many, many other entries in the “Star Wars” universe?

Put it this way. For aficionados this will be a very safe bet.

“Ashoka” has all the action and well choreographed lightsaber skirmishing a fan could ask for, complete with a coterie of A-list “Star Wars” cameos (Hayden Christensen among them).

But for those with waning interest in this ever expanding franchise, the show is likely to feel like just another routine entry in Disney’s relentless efforts to milk it dry.

It pales in comparison to “Andor”, the previous “Star Wars” spin-off which was so good it even scored eight Emmy nominations including best drama.

What made “Andor” so addictive was that it was bold enough to step away from popular “Star Wars” personalities, instead focusing on characters who have never before had a mention and their struggle for survival in a war-torn galaxy.

“Ashoka” on the other hand falls into the trap of relying too heavily on what came before it, rather than attempting to do something new and interesting.

“Star Wars” pundits are sure to get a kick out of the show but for those who have given up on the franchise “Ashoka” won’t have them turning on their hyperdrive to come back.