Necrotongue

For the third time in a row, I’m giving an episode five stars. The plot had been stagnating, so I didn’t expect such an improvement. Bunchy, who used to be a pretty dull character for me, finally did something noteworthy.

Looks like the series is finally picking up steam. Episode ten had the same great pace as the previous one, focusing mainly on Mickey and his reunion with an old friend. I had a great time watching it.

The main character's family troubles took a backseat to a dark comedy about transporting a wanted criminal from Boston to Los Angeles. On top of that, Ray’s efforts to help someone who attracts trouble like a magnet were hilarious. Even Mickey had some funny moments this time.

The couple is really getting on my nerves and ruining the overall vibe of each episode. However, Ray’s attempt to get a refund for Bunchy’s house and Mickey’s misunderstanding of the situation were pretty entertaining.

The plot was more lively this time, with Ray's trip to Boston giving the story a nice boost. Abby's adventure and its aftermath were entertaining, but the storyline with Marvin and Bridget didn’t do much for me.

Just my luck — in my review of episode five, I complained about the show's deep dive into interpersonal relationships at the expense of action, and now we have Bunchy's housewarming party. I appreciate characters with depth, but we really need some excitement to break up the tangled relationship drama. 4*-

The show is steadily filling up with more or less (mostly more) disturbed characters, like the stalker who was after Ashley and seemingly passed his obsession onto her:-) I still have an issue with the creators focusing too little on Ray’s actual job and too much on his family relationships.

Surprisingly, Bert, who usually annoys me, was actually quite entertaining. I’m still getting used to the slimmer Martin, but he was perfect both in and out of the surgery. Aunt Ruth clearly outshines Aunt Joan, who was a bit too stereotypical. With Ruth, that’s definitely not a concern.

This episode was slightly better. I really enjoyed the family day in Bel Air — it clearly showed that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Ray Donovan and Stu Feldman wouldn't need paternity tests for their sons. Jon Voight's performance is excellent; his character gets on my nerves, which is exactly what the creators intended.

This episode didn't blow me away either. After the pilot, I expected the story to go in a different direction. Ray's work is still sidelined, with too much focus on relationships and analyzing feelings (especially Abby’s). The season isn't bad so far, but it could use a bit more excitement. 4*-