On a separate level, Ray’s day-to-day business of fixing the major screw-ups of the rich and famous in Los Angeles - aided by Avi ( Steven Bauer) and Lena ( Katherine Moennig), a no-bullshit lesbian whose story (like Avi’s) - is barely unraveling in the first four episodes. And there’s another hint Mickey has an explosive secret that can bring down a lot of people, including Ezra Goldman ( Elliott Gould), a confidant, collaborator and client of Ray’s who is slowly losing his sanity. There’s a hint that Ray was instrumental in putting his father in jail. Having seen the first four episodes, another aspect that works is Biderman’s hiding of deeper secrets. It’s a culture clash that is not even close to being the top element in Ray Donovan but provides a unique extra layer. Particularly effective is Biderman’s sense of incorporating something distinctly different - life in South Boston, Catholicism, church abuse, old-school family roots versus the fresh-start reincarnation promise of California. It’s also the perfect city for exhibiting how a little money can create a lust for even more money - hence Abby’s social climbing - and works as a fine metaphor for the tarnished American dream. The series skewers the vanity of Los Angeles and allows Ray to exist in this world where money can fix any indiscretion. ![]() But the sins of the father are close at hand and family is family, even if you hate them. Ray was the lone son that Mickey couldn’t manipulate and he’s gone to the opposite coast to make his escape and his way. The beauty of Ray Donovan is that it combines so many superb angles. That means when Mickey shows up, his charm and dangerous persuasion is working wonders on at least three of his boys, which puts it at 4-to-1 against Ray. First and foremost is that Ray, Terry and Bunchy have a black half-brother named Daryll ( Pooch Hall), who is training at the gym. There are lots of surprises in California that Mickey brings to light. Now Mickey is out and heading to California in what can only be a nightmare scenario for Ray, who has fought his whole life to be separate from his dangerous, manipulative father. And here’s the catch: He was supposed to serve 25. The Donovans are South Boston through and through (as is Abby), shipped to Los Angeles by Ray to get away from their scheming, criminal father Mickey (Voight), who has spent the last 20 years in prison. STORY: ‘Ray Donovan’: Go Behind the Scenes and Check Out the Key ArtĮlsewhere it seems like Ray’s success and ability to control things in life is a valued asset for his two brothers, Terry ( Eddie Marsan) a former boxer now dealing with Parkinson’s disease as he runs a gym in downtown Los Angeles and Bunchy ( Dash Mihok), who was molested by a priest as a young boy and has led a life of addiction and depression ever since. Her maddening push to achieve more and more has strained their relationship - as has Ray’s infidelity - and their two children are caught in the middle. His wife, Abby ( Paula Malcomson) wants to be part of the good life in Los Angeles that Ray dabbles in for work, but hasn’t quite figured out that while her husband is powerful, he’s still working for others. He’s the epitome of the Triple C - cool, calm, collected - as he quashes all kinds of TMZ-styled headlines just waiting to happen.īut as good as Ray is at his job, it’s taking a toll on his family. Your $200 million action film is about to come out and your star is caught on video blowing a tranny? Not a problem for Ray. The series centers on Donovan (Schreiber, who is magnetic in every scene), as a Hollywood “fixer.” A famous basketball player ends up in bed with a dead woman? Ray’s got it. ![]() She’s created the most testosterone-fueled, rough and intelligent drama in ages, and it’s a credit to Showtime’s honcho David Nevins (and other executive producers Mark Gordon and Bryan Zuriff) that he bought into her vision and believed in her ability. There is so much to love about Ray Donovan, but one of the best elements is that 62-year-old executive producer, creator and writer Ann Biderman ( Southland, Public Enemies, Smilla’s Sense of Snow, Primal Fear) has absolutely obliterated the ridiculous industry standard that you have to be some young talented thing to make an impact. ![]() PHOTOS: Summer TV Preview: 51 New and Returning Series 'Murder in Big Horn' Directors on Why "Colonization Is the True Crime" in Their Docuseries
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