‘Ray Donovan’ Recap: Ray & Abby Reconcile; Mickey Taunts Ezra

by UInterviewJuly 15, 2013, 12:00 amNews >

Ray Donovan returned on Sunday with an episode entitled, “Twerk” that once again saw the Hollywood fixer juggling the demands of his career and his ever-complicated and ongoing family drama.

When Ray (Liev Schreiber) pulls up to his Calabasas neighborhood, it's clear that it’s the first time he's come by in a while. He seems content to be home when he spots Bridget (Kerris Dorsey)’s family tree, but when he notices the picture of his daughter and Mickey (Jon Voight) he becomes enraged. He dumps a bag of his dirty laundry on the bed for Abby (Paula Malcomson) , and takes off with a bag of fresh clothes. Ray then shoves a wad of cash in Abby’s hands and commands she get herself something nice to wear for Ezra (Elliot Gould)’s late wife’s tribute later that night.

On his way out of the neighborhood, he goes over to the neighbor’s house that’s always blasting music. Instead of knocking, and issuing a reasonable noise complaint, Ray breaks through the doors and tears the cords out of the speaker system. Living in the house is a teenager dubbed “the black Justin Bieber” and a young man who wants the boy emancipated so he can groom him for the spotlight. They eventually convince Ray to look into how they can get the mother to give up custody. Later, Lee tells Ray they have to buy the kid, obviously under the impression he can make them a lot of money.

Back at the house, Abby is livid that Ray took off after paying her off and leaving her his laundry. She scoops up a dozen of his suits and takes off to a church. She tries to casually donate the suits, but the priest recognizes the pricey names in the suits labels. She insists he take them and heads off to yoga where she has a meltdown. While lying on her mat, Abby starts crying and saying she’s a bad and spiteful person. After the workout, she heads back to the church and asks for the suits back. The priest is happy to oblige, especially after she gives him the stack of bills Ray had given to her.

Mickey is now staying with Bunchy (Dash Mihok), clearly trying to manipulate his son, sabotaging his efforts to stay sober. He’s also careless with Terry (Eddie Marsan)’s health, egging Daryl on inside the ring. When Ray comes in to pick up Bunchy, he stops the fight, but not before Terry’s arm begins to bother him. Ray ends up calling Terry’s nurse to sort him out, and tells her on the way out what a good guy his brother is. Then finally, he’s able to take Bunchy to pick up his $1.4 million settlement check. Though Ray and the lawyer both try to convince Bunchy it would be best if he gave Ray power of attorney, Bunchy refuses, believing their father has the right of it. Later, however, Bunchy gets to see Mickey’s true colors, as he makes crude pedophile jokes during Bunchy’s group session.

On a mission for Ray, Avi (Steven Bauer) is across the country in Boston staking out at a church. He eventually sits down for a meeting with the guy, who happened to be the accomplice who brought Mickey from jail to the church where he shot the priest. Avi offers him $50,000 to rat Mickey out. Ray decides they should go through with the plan, and later tells Mickey he didn't shoot the priest who'd abused Bunchy.

While Ray sits down with the young hip-hop artist’s mother at her home, he learns that she’s a crack addict. She says it’s difficult to sign away her son, but says she realizes she’s unfit to parent him. Her son, meanwhile, is trying to romance Bridget. Introducing himself as Marvin Gaye Washington, he ends up hanging out at her house and even getting invited to stay for a meal by Abby. By the end of the day, Ray gives Marvin and the young man the good news that his mom is allowing him to be emancipated. Ray also gives the new guardian a warning about keeping Marvin out of trouble, but little does he know Marvin is asking his daughter for naked pics.

Mickey, who’s apparently been making a habit of calling Ezra, seems determined to unhinge him. After paying a kid off to use his computer at the library, he finds a twerking video and turns up the volume. He then puts another call into Ezra, playing the rap song without introducing himself. While still in the library, he’s approached by a fed who’d been watching him. It’s learned that Mickey had sold out a guy in organized crime to get out five years early. The fed then reveals he knows Mickey has been up to no good since he’s gotten out of prison, and will be requiring more info. At the tribute for Ezra’s wife, Mickey shows up to intimidate him once again – and nearly causes him to confess his crimes on the podium.

As the episode comes to a close, Terry asks his nurse on a date, Bunchy hides his settlement check from Mickey, Ray and Abby kiss and makeup in the kitchen, and Mickey’s FBI agent scans his crime wall of photos, lingering on the image of Ray Donavon.

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