Thursday, August 22, 2013

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan


Ray Donovan: Season 1, Episode 8 “Bridget” (B+)

This is a very fettle title for an extremely powerful episode that dealt with the residual effects of two Bridget Donovans. The fact that Ray didn’t kill Marvin was almost worse than if he had, since a clearly sorry Marvin revealed to Bridget that he couldn’t sleep with her because Ray had scared him by putting a gun in his mouth and forcing him to move home. Fortunately, Bridget’s grudge didn’t last long, and after leaving a harsh note on the mirror for her parents and running away to Marvin, she was back home to bond with her father and come to a relatively good place of peace. The Donovan brothers’ celebration of Bridget’s birthday was made even more meaningful by Ray telling the younger Bridget that her aunt killed herself because she was pregnant and on drugs. Terry beating up Frances’ husband when he found out that he hit her was both commendable and irresponsible, and ending the relationship was an unfortunate and self-destructive next step. Going to confession only to have the priest tell him not to be so hard on himself was poignant, and I’m glad to see that Eddie Marsan has netted such a terrific role on this show. Rosanna Arquette was the perfect choice to play Linda, the woman at the spa who flirted with Mickey and then got in over her head when she asked him to put a gun to her head and he took her a bit too seriously. That was a great plotline, and it wasn’t the only twisted relationship drama in this episode. Lena punching her girlfriend was an interesting if certainly regrettable choice, and I loved hearing Avi try to get her to open up about her feelings.

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