What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan: The Movie

Ray Donovan: The Movie (B)

I was a big fan of this show in its early seasons but started to lose interest once it got into its fifth season. Though I value many of the actors on the series, it would not have been my first choice to campaign for a wrap-up movie. But I suppose there was more material to cover, and some closure needed with Mickey that Ray had to get, even if things didn’t play out as the police and public would come to believe. What this episode did more than anything was to provide a look back at how Ray became who he was as a result of his father. I was impressed with Bill Heck, an actor from “I’m Your Woman” who played Mickey once before in an episode, and helped to show how his enthusiasm and energy as a young father shaped who Ray was, including his role in the accidental shooting of his girlfriend and subsequent prison sentence. In the present, Ray getting hit with a bat while tailing Mickey and then being thrown off the car window was intense, and he even pulled the trigger on Mickey without much hesitation only to find that it was empty. Bridget being the one to ultimately kill him was an important full-circle moment, one that acknowledged how much he had negatively affected yet another generation of Donovans. Ray taking the blame made a lot of sense, ensuring that Bridget can live free of that burden. We didn’t see much of the other siblings, aside from Bunchy making an effort to be reunited with his family, Daryll leaving town for good with Lena’s help, and Terry imagining being with all of his family around him as he sat at an empty table. This movie was fine but not entirely necessary, but make sure to check out the cool conversation I got to have with actor Eddie Marsan, who plays Terry!

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan (Season Finale)

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 10 “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (C+)

This was an unspectacular end to a truly disappointing and rather pointless season. I’m unsure why the far superior “Shameless” got its final season announced already while this show’s fate has yet to be determined, but that’s maybe because no one cares enough to find out what might happen next after this lackluster finale. We concluded the flashbacks to a young Donovan family with the revelation that Bridget was pregnant when she killed herself with Jim’s baby, something that might feel more impactful if we had known the character before this season. I don’t understand the need for mystery in identifying who Ray was carrying in that body bag since it really should have been Mickey, but yet again there was someone who was temporarily worse and managed to allow him to live just a little bit longer. Daryll showing up to kill Declan was perhaps a bit too clean, though one person doesn’t think so, and that’s Smitty, who no one even seemed to notice had been apparently killed in the crossfire. Ray shooting Jim is one of the most violent things he’s done in a while, and he did it so emotionlessly that it hardly seems like progress for him. Whether his relationship with Molly continues is unknown since she’s much smarter than any of the women he’s been with in the past, Abby excepted. Terry going to see Dr. Amiot and then heading up to the top of the Empire State building was cause for concern, and his fate remains uncertain. This episode featured yet another unnecessary musical montage, and, if for some reason this show is permitted to return for a swan song, I think I’ll have to come back and read this review to remind me that it’s just not worth it anymore.

Season grade: C+
Season MVP: Kerry Condon as Molly Sullivan

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 9 “Bugs” (B-)

I’m glad to see that there’s just one more episode left in this season since I’ve been considering giving up on it and it’s much easier to do that at the end of an arc rather than in the middle of one. There’s little guarantee that the finale will provide too much closure, and also it’s very likely that the show will be renewed for an eighth season, though that hasn’t happened yet. It’s continually difficult for me to follow Ray’s many allegiances on this show, like whether he was most interested in helping his brother Daryll or in serving his girlfriend’s father and former boss, and if he planned for the cop to get killed after he manipulated events to make sure that Judge Scholl would turn on Feratti. I’m honestly just not that interested any more, and Ray has hurt enough people along the way that it shouldn’t matter who goes to jail. Bridget being asked how she felt cutting people’s heads off makes it clear that Detective Perry should have put the whole family behind bars long ago. I thought for a moment that Dr. Amiot showing up in a scene with Terry meant that he was gathering dirt on Ray the whole time, but the look on his face when Terry mentioned his family name indicated that wasn’t the case at all. Smitty seeking advice and consolation from Mickey is not a good idea, and the only way that the finale would be even moderately satisfying would be if Ray finally killed his father, something he’s almost done but never fully been able to do since the very first season.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 8 “Passport and a Gun” (B-)

I don’t think anyone was surprised by the fact that Smitty was wearing a wire, and Ray was really off his game to not realize that until he saw the van parked outside and put it all together. Despite being out of sorts lately, he didn’t seem too startled when he marched angrily towards the van, ready to talk to likely implicate Jim Sullivan in everything since he may have had something to do with Ray’s sister’s death years earlier. Ray doesn’t have a clue that the way that he treats his brothers drives them away, whether it’s Terry who’s still being pulled by this other world and Daryll who continues to get himself into trouble again and again. Bunchy is headed there to, and Ray should also think that maybe his short sentences and lack of appreciation are what made Lena leave (though of course that was mainly so that actress Katherine Moennig could go star on “The L Word: Generation Q”). Daryll seemed to have a negotiating partner in Declan, but he was quickly double-crossed in a very Mickey-style way, and Jasmine’s decision to shoot had fatal consequences that now leave Daryll with no one to help him out of this mess. This is just the latest instance of Ray working for someone he knows is a terrible person, and he can only do this so many times before his eventual way of getting out of the job results in someone close to him getting hurt as a result of his clever betrayal.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 7 “The Transfer Agent” (B-)

This episode wasn’t quite as groundbreakingly revelatory as it seemed to think it was, letting us know that Mickey hates Jimmy so much because he expressly set him up so that he’d get arrested and take the fall for their job. Flashing back to the heist was an interesting device, one that wasn’t entirely convincing but did help to explain that, even back then, Ray had a desire to kill his father. Bill Heck from “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” was a good choice to play the younger Mickey, who was off with another woman while his wife was dying and celebrating the birth of his youngest child, whose life he’s continuing to ruin. Having the money put in Terry’s name rather than Daryll’s was a mistake, and Mickey is quickly losing all of the allies he has left. Jimmy’s offer of one million dollars was clearly something he didn’t mind, and Mickey countering with $100 million wasn’t going to do much for him. Molly stepped in to help try to resolve the situation with the transfer agent, and Ray’s attempt to save the day didn’t go too smoothly, which is pretty much the story with him lately. Bunchy isn’t going to be as much help as he was when he first put on his suit to work for Ray, and it seems very clear that, even if he didn’t talk, Smitty is getting closer and closer to doing that since he doesn’t have much allegiance left for the Donovan family.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 6 “Inside Guy” (B-)

You’d think Ray would have been on to the fact that his father hadn’t in fact left the country before being confronted with that possibility by Jim, and that he’d have a bit more sense that to approach Daryll with the attitude, as always, that he’s merely a pawn in Mickey’s latest scheme. Finding Bridget in his room when he brought home Molly was a surprise, and she didn’t seem too fazed by the warning she got from her new boyfriend’s sibling to stay away from the Donovan family and when Bunchy didn’t remember growing up down the street from her. Inviting Ray back to her place because it was less crowded was a humorous misstep, as Jim was there waiting to greet them. Mickey’s murderous path is bad news for everyone, and Ray’s being trailed closely enough by Detective Perry that he’s sure to get at least a few of them implicated. Arresting Smitty seemed like a vindictive move, but Perry was out of options, and choosing the weakest link to scare into confessing was actually quite smart. Bridget getting Adam to drop the charges wasn’t overly convincing, and Smitty’s response that he wanted them reinstated so that she wasn’t doing him any favors wasn’t exactly the biting, vindictive vibe he was going for, and certainly won’t help him at all. Bunchy is going to fall apart now that the kid he shot died, and I sincerely hope Terry didn’t hurt himself or anyone else when he started driving.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 5 “An Irish Lullaby” (B)

This episode felt a bit detached from reality, with Ray taking some time off to go on a rollercoaster with Terry, an odd sight given the fact that the eternal businessman didn’t even change from his signature suit when he went on the ride. Their trip wasn’t devoid of violence, even if it wasn’t intentional, and Terry doesn’t seem to want to be pulled back into the real world after his recent shaman-led excursions. It’s good that Ray is looking out for his brother and being reminded of what’s important. I like that Molly is making sure she has a voice in her newfound relationship, telling Ray that she’d like to be the one who leaves, even from her own apartment, and then silently sitting with him when they met up together at the end of the episode. I recognized a few members of the Sullivan family, including Kevin Corrigan from “Pineapple Express” as Declan, Josh Hamilton from “Eighth Grade” as Kevin, and Peter Gerety from “Sneaky Pete” as patriarch Jim. For an old man who’s been in prison and presumed dead many times, Mickey can sure inflict a lot of damage, torturing an old cop for information and then killing him after he got what he needed. Daryll once again is in way over his head, aligned with the wrong people and likely on the hook for all of it in the end. Bunchy is trying to make amends for what he’s done, but he’s also getting himself into trouble. Bridget wanted Smitty not to cry and to be angry, and she got exactly what she wanted in the form of someone closer to her father, more interested in hurting other people than talking about his feelings.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 4 “Hispes” (B-)

I’m not impressed with this episode’s title and with a good deal of its content. Ray has always been great at his job because he doesn’t show emotion, and now that he’s valuing being polite to those he’s supposed to intimidate rather than just using brute force, he’s actually considerably less effective at doing what he’s supposed to do. We’re seeing that same transformation in Bridget, who still seeks the affirmation of the father who has tangentially caused her a lot of harm over the years, and who now is treating the people in her life as commodities rather than friends and family. She certainly doesn’t think much of the less-than-brilliant Smitty, who was involved in this idiotic “hispes” public relations play which felt far too silly for this show’s universe. I’m not feeling all too compelled by what Terry is going through at the moment either, and it would be better if most of the show’s characters were in the same place. Bunchy is indeed far too susceptible to be used as a pawn by a white supremacist group, and his quest for belonging and self-worth may take him way over the edge. Mickey is being incredibly reckless as usual in his selfishness, and he’s going to bring down as many people as possible on his way down instead of just laying low as he should be. Ray getting close to Molly is no surprise, though it’s possible that, even if it’s bad for business, this relationship might actually be good for him.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 3 “Family Pictures” (B-)

I’m still debating if I need to be watching this show at this point, and nothing about this episode swayed me towards continuing. Mickey being alive just means he’s talking incessantly and trying to figure out a way to stick around rather than leave the country since he’s inevitably going to get caught, especially with Detective Perry trailing all the Donovans. Her running around and asking them for ticket stubs and backstage photos felt repetitive, and she doesn’t buy any of it anyway since she doesn’t think Mickey could have executed the whole thing. I’d also be suspicious of all of those tips coming in right around the same time, particularly because they were pretty specific in support of the narrative that Ray wanted to construct. Ray is definitely distracted at the moment, not focused at all on getting a ten-year-old boy so that Feratti can announce the charges he wants, and instead decided to help Molly, who I recognized as being played by Kerry Condon, a memorable presence from “Better Call Saul” and “Dom Hemingway.” I also haven’t previously mentioned another strong actress, Louisa Krause, from “Toe to Toe” and “Bluebird,” who’s playing Liberty, who herself is Terry experience a bit of serenity. Bunchy isn’t doing well, earning demerits rather than a promotion for his bold bravery, and it looks like Lena’s finally leaving now, which is a shame, though at least it will free actress Katherine Moennig up for “The L Word: Generation Q,” which premieres this Sunday.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 2 “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (B)

I’m not surprised, but I’m also not pleased. I wasn’t feeling great about this show continuing to be on the air, but if something had really changed, like say Mickey being dead and Ray needing to move on from that certainty, that might be different. Instead, Mickey managed to fake his own death, though I would have thought that the detective trailing Ray could easily have seen him come in and knock on the door at his own unofficial memorial service. This just feels like doing the same thing over and over again, and we already had to suffer through a season of slowly losing Abby through flashbacks, a creative choice I didn’t love. What I did appreciate more about this episode was Bunchy’s newfound fearlessness, a far cry from his last response to being held up, which enabled him to take down the would-be robbers and save the day. Terry and Daryll also rarely interact, and so their rather blunt conversation was entertaining and enlightening. Lena making Bridget promise that she won’t get pregnant with either her boss’ baby or Smitty’s was some worthwhile advice, and I wonder whether her return to Los Angeles means we won’t see her anymore. Smitty sure didn’t seem too comfortable with all the stories of shooting priests that were being shared so freely around the family circle. At least they’re all united in their efforts to cover up their role in the death of those three cops, though the likelihood of them getting away with it seems to be dwindling with every new development.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan (Season Premiere)

Ray Donovan: Season 7, Episode 1 “Faith. Hope. Love. Luck.” (B)

I had forgotten entirely about this show’s existence, mainly because I wasn’t terribly fond of the most recent season, and also because Showtime hasn’t aired new episodes of a series in the 8pm hour on Sundays before, at least as far as I can remember. While I definitely wouldn’t argue that this show needs to continue, I will say that this premiere at least felt like a fresh start of sorts. Ray screaming at someone he was supposed to beat up and then returning to apologize was a change, and Stu evidently wasn’t pleased with his new attitude. The fact that he’s finally listening to Alan Alda’s therapist is big, and he seems to have a semi-legitimate operation going with Lena and Smitty. He’s still dealing, of course, with the heads of cops he killed surfacing, and of course the major bombshell that took place at the end of the episode. Mickey not making a run for it was a surprise, and it looks like he may finally be out of the picture for good, though I imagine that would be way too easy. I’m glad to see that Terry is exploring something new to try to help with his condition, and though we only saw Bunchy for a brief moment, he looks like he might be happy too. For the first time, Ray’s relationship with his daughter also seems to be going somewhat well, so maybe this will be just the turnaround this show needs. If not, I’m not sure I’ll stick through the season.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan (Season Finale)

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 12 “The Dead” (B-)

I’ve been wondering a lot this season about how best to define this show, since, in its early days, it was a drama that had style and intrigue, often driven by its rhythm more than anything. Lately, it’s been prone to cyclical repetitiveness and musical interludes, both played in the background to accompany montages or actually sung by characters, as was the case in this closing hour. Some of what’s happening, at face value, is just absurd. Bridget was walking around delivering sandwiches to her family members as Sandy casually sawed off a dead cop’s dead, and then nonchalantly agreed to take over for Sandy while Smitty was vomiting nearby. Somehow that romantic setup encouraged Smitty to decide that they should get married right away, and no one was bothered by the fact that only Terry was invited to the courthouse ceremony. After a season of playing so many sides, Ray managed to get Lena back on his good side by allowing her to kill Sam’s right-hand man, and possibly Sam herself, while he made a deal with Feratti that enabled him to get Bunchy out. Ray working for Feratti would be more of the same, but he’s going to be a new person now that he’s acknowledged that he needs some help, calling Alan Alda’s doctor to take the next step. I wish I was more excited that this show, which I used to really like, was continuing, but I’m hoping for some serious reinvention in the season eight premiere since this year just didn’t really cut it for me.

Season grade: B-
Season MVP: Eddie Marsan as Terry

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 11 “Never Gonna Give You Up” (B-)

This episode wasn’t bad, but this show is starting to get hopelessly repetitive. It felt like a revolving door of dead bodies after Mickey and Daryll brought over their latest victim, just as Smitty and Sandy had to deal with the accidental stabbing of their nearly-escaped captive. Considering the influence that Ferrati is purported to have, you’d think they would need to cover their tracks just a bit more carefully after taking out two of his lieutenants. The whole system didn’t seem to be working too efficiently after Ferrati seemed unaware when Ray called him that they even had his daughter, and then he opted to meet with the judge he had told Ray to kill, hardly a smart idea given the very public recording that was released. Mac rescuing Bridget and meeting Ray was noble, and it didn’t seem like there was any other way out for him than to end in his life, especially given that his former colleagues were now threatening his family. He was a solid character, among this season’s best features, and hopefully his death will make Ray reconsider what he’s doing with his life. Of all the Donovans, somehow it’s Bunchy who’s looking at a thirty-year jail sentence, determined not to cooperate and give anything up about his father, and hopefully Terry can provide the information he needs and set his brother straight so that he doesn’t go down for a crime that wasn’t willfully committed on his own. I don’t know what the finale will bring, and I’ll have to reconsider whether I really need to watch season seven.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 10 “Baby” (B)

Things have certainly taken a dark turn, with allegiances continue to shift moment to moment. Bridget seemed like she was ready to leave Smitty without any notice, and then she ended up getting taken by the corrupt cops who want to make sure that Ray doesn’t do anything with the incriminating recording of Ferrati. Mac, who has been Ray’s most dependable ally this whole season, is now the villain who’s only treating Bridget slightly more sentimentally than someone who has no connection to our title protagonist would. Mickey’s attitude changed completely when he showed up to demand his money back from Ray, and now he and Daryll are doing the dirty work to beat the location out of the guy they decided to abduct from the bar. Sam telling Ray that she wouldn’t release the tape and then doing exactly that felt like unnecessary revenge since she may have sealed Bridget’s fate, though that turn of events would feel a bit too disturbing for this show, which only offs minor recurring players like Justine. Bunchy getting arrested by the FBI is a long time coming, though I’m still mesmerized that Mickey is free and clear. With two episodes left, we have to hope Bridget isn’t dead, but my question remains, what happens after that? Does this show really deserve a seventh season at this point, or has this story been milked for all it’s worth? No matter how this plays out, there’s not much coming back for Ray after the one member of his family he truly cares about has been put in such clear and sever danger.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 9 “Dream On” (B-)

News broke recently that this show has been renewed for a seventh season, which comes as somewhat of a surprise given the decline in quality, but I guess if the ratings are still strong, Showtime should keep one of its strongest juggernauts on the air. I for one wouldn’t be sad to see the show go at this point, as it has felt for a while like it’s dragging. I was not expecting to see Alan Alda as the doctor who came to feed Ray an egg salad sandwich and then told him he shouldn’t be leaving for his own sake, and while it is a good thing for the show that Ray only spent a short time in the mental hospital, he did get out of there real quick without doing anything to help improve his mental state. Ray can’t even tell what’s real, affirming his own sanity when one patient told him to drink from the toilet and another thought he had an identical twin, only to see that very same twin stopping in to visit his brother as he was leaving. Lena telling Bridget that Ray jumped off the bridge did not do good things for their relationship, though it’s good that she felt she wanted to stick around to make sure her father was alright. Ray’s plan in this hour involved so many levels of duplicity that it’s hard to believe he kept it straight, and the amount of side-switching that he’s doing means that, no matter how many bad fates he escapes, there are so many more ready to pummel him, like Mac’s crew who want to beat him up for snitching. Bunchy stepping in for Terry was a relief, but only until he took one hell of a beating that he seemed to feel he deserved. This week’s closing musical montage set to “Sing for the Moment” was solid, if nothing else.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 8 “Who Once Was Dead” (B+)

It’s interesting to see just how little Ray might have to do in order to set things right, though the damage to his relationships is completely done. Walking in to find Justine dead in a staged suicide in the shower almost didn’t feel real, a very direct consequence of Ray switching sides to work with Emerson in conflict of his employment arrangement with Sam, who did not take kindly to his betrayal and was more than ready to cut him loose completely. Meeting Bridget was actually a peaceful encounter, but seeing Justine’s face when he looked at her was the first sign that he’s really losing it. Lena wasn’t sparing in her takedown of Ray and her wish for him to die alone, and now, after punching a cop in Times Square, he’s in a psychiatric hospital with no one there to try to get him out. Terry could have messed things up with the bartender by saying he loved her and calling her Abby, but she didn’t mind. His refusal to call the fight when his Parkinson’s was acting up was a mistake, and he might not be okay after that. Daryll asking Mickey if he could have some of the money showed just how dependent he is on others rather than able to make it on his own, not that the money is even in any Donovan family member’s possession anymore. I like that Bridget advocated for herself with Anita when she got fired because of Ray, and, if she really can distance herself from her father, she might be able to achieve some success.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 7 “The 1-3-2” (B+)

We’ve seen Ray backed into a corner before, but never have things felt so out of his control, even when he was drinking regularly as much as he did at the end of this hour. The important lesson is that punching Feratti was a big mistake since he runs everything, and what may have seemed like a simple physical act was actually a hugely detrimental one. The police knowing exactly what he’s been up to is disconcerting, and they have clear instructions for what he needs to do next, something that’s going to put him at odds with the employer who so graciously welcomed him to New York and set him up with everything he needed. Getting Justine to go on a talk show and tell the truth about what happened in the park was a devastating blow to Anita’s campaign, and Lena seemed to take the manipulation of Justine personally in a way that probably still won’t make Ray’s most dependable ally question her loyalty. Mac being ordered to get Ray to name Sam probably won’t go well, and there might not be a way out of this for him that doesn’t end with him or someone he loves getting very hurt. Bridget was right to question just how much distance it would take for her to be far enough away from him, yet it was Mickey who showed up to scare Smitty before he bumped into a cop at Penn Station and is now probably going to get caught as he tries to outrun them. This was a particularly poignant episode for Bunchy as he got the chance to confront the religion that had failed him after he and his brothers got to beat up some guys like the good old days in a Boston bar.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 6 “A Girl Named Maria” (B+)

This episode opened with an interesting juxtaposition of an intruder breaking in to Sam’s home with a gun and Ray having forceful sex with Anita, who we then didn’t see for the rest of the episode. I enjoyed the bonding that happened between Sam and Lena, mainly because Katherine Moennig is this show’s most underused player, and that’s saying something considering the wealth of talent in the cast, including Eddie Marsan. This episode’s big mature realist was Bridget, who, upon being called by Terry to watch the baby while he went to fight, wasted no in time in getting in touch with Teresa. I’ve been watching actress Alyssa Diaz on “Narcos: Mexico,” and it’s good to see her back for an intense scene in which she told Bunchy that she hadn’t wanted to end their relationship. Bunchy tried to stop things from escalating on the bus with Mickey, but he’s in way over his head. This episode was an important turning point for Ray, who got the sense from Mac that there was something seriously wrong. The notion that his activities are being monitored and that his orchestration of events involving Anita, plus the fact that he went in to rough up the mayor when he thought that he was the perpetrator who attacked Sam, means that things are not looking good for Ray. He very calmly pulled over after telling Bridget that she’d never leave him, but it’s important to remember that he’s no friend of law enforcement, and just because he’s ready to answer for his actions doesn’t mean the police are going to be nice to him.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 5 “Ellis Island” (B+)

Ray has a truly complicated relationship with his children, and it’s changing now that he’s actually trying to be a present parent. Bridget was furious at Ray when he came home with Smitty even though he was trying to tell the kid not to tell her the truth, and she wouldn’t believe that they hadn’t gone and killed someone. Connor was put off by Ray noting that he smelled like alcohol when he came off the plane, and he blew his father off completely when he suddenly got it into his head to take him to Ellis Island. Running into an Irish redhead on the boat who told him that he looked like his dog had just died almost seemed like a dream, and I have a feeling that she was just a figment of his imagination. He didn’t miss a beat in his work though, helping Sam to get Anita back on track after her attempt to switch teams and back her rival for mayor was met with disinterest from Ed. No matter how unenergetic he is, Ray seems to attract nearly every woman he helps or saves, and his level of engagement with her once they started kissing indicates that this is exactly what he needs right now. Mickey’s latest plan seems destined for failure, and it’s a shame that he’s dragging Bunchy along with him. It was good to see a healthy brotherly moment between Ray and Terry, with the fixer expressing genuine concern for his brother and two of them being on the same level for the first time in a while.

What I’m Watching: Ray Donovan

Ray Donovan: Season 6, Episode 4 “Pudge” (B+)

Things move pretty quickly in this world of connections and lots of money, with Mickey making a demand for $3 million and Ray being able to fulfill it thanks to Sam very quickly. Her suggestion that he put a bullet in his father’s head didn’t materialize because he was dealing with other things, and his sloppiness didn’t even manage to get him caught, merely for him to be double-crossed by his sister-in-law. What happens to Mickey now isn’t of all that much interest; it’s more of a question of how much damage he can do while he’s alive. Bunchy, on the other hand, is on the hook for a whole lot more, namely killing the guard and kidnapping his daughter. Ray making a plea with him not to take the money didn’t work, and now the family is firmly divided, with Daryll not really on either side, spared by his vengeful father but not welcomed with open arms by the rest of them. I was wondering why Smitty was appearing so much, and of course it was for him to have a bonding moment with his future father-in-law which hilariously resulted in him asking Ray why he went for a wooden baseball bat rather than aluminum. Mac is not going to want to wear that wire, and I wonder if he’ll turn to Ray for help. Terry fighting probably won’t lead anywhere good, but it seems to be giving him some sense of purpose and self-determination that he hasn’t had in a while.