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Ray Donovan (2013)

2013 · Crime,Drama · mob-organized-crime, contemporary-realistic, family-relational

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Ray Donovan is a Showtime prestige crime drama built around a single magnetic anti-hero: a 'fixer' for Hollywood's rich and powerful who spends his days cleaning up celebrity scandals, absorbing violence, and drinking whiskey on an empty stomach. The show operates in the Sopranos tradition — a dangerous patriarch under constant pressure, loyalty and betrayal cycling through a dysfunctional Boston-Irish family transplanted to Los Angeles. Its tone is dark, gritty, and grimly funny, carried almost entirely by Liev Schreiber's magnetic stoicism and a strong ensemble. It peaked early, dipped in middle seasons, and never quite recaptured its S1 heights, but loyal viewers found enough momentum in the fixer-of-the-week structure and family drama to stay invested across seven seasons.

From the reviewers

The casting is brilliant. Acting is right on. Writing is great. Direction is fantastic. Cinematography is top notch.
Liev Schrieber is fantastic in the lead role and is reminiscent of Tony Soprano in that he is a dark, violent lead male under constant stress who is protective and nurturing of those he loves, while at the same time projecting an aura of violence and danger to those who would cross him.
the characters have such a believable existence that you can't help but wonder about the things the rich and famous we read about daily really do. I will not be able to read about a scandal without wondering if a "cleaner" was involved.
Jon Voight delivers a remarkable performance as the troublesome father - and I think it is his role that helps elevate this series past a 6-7 rating. He really spices things up.
I think the series suffers when we delve into Ray's immediate family - his wife (Abby) and his children (Bridget and Conor).

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