A Fixer with a Heart. Review: Ray Donovan – “A Mouth is a Mouth”

Season 1, Episode 2

Air Date: Sunday, July 7, 2013, 10 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“You won’t see it coming.” – Ray Donovan to Mickey Donovan

Ray (Liev Schreiber) and Ezra (Elliott Gould) go to Sean’s (Johnathon Schaech) house to investigate a break-in.

“A Mouth is a Mouth” does a great job continuing the character study that was presented in the series premiere of Ray Donovan. Although we still don’t know why Ray (Liev Schreiber) set up his father Mickey (Jon Voigt), we do get some insight into who was involved and what happened. Sean Walker (Johnathon Schaech), a rich hot shot TV star and Goldman Drexler client, reminds Ray he was high on cocaine he got from Mickey, shot Ray’s girlfriend in the head, and then he and Ray set Mickey up to take the fall. And now that Mickey is back in town, Sean is scared to death. Can’t say as I blame him, though, especially after the “security breach” at his home.

Despite Ray’s warning not to let Mickey anywhere near their kids, Abby (Paula Malcomson) not only invites Mickey in, she lets him stay the night, and then she, Bridget (Kerritt Dorsey), Conor (Devon Bagby), and Mickey head to Malibu the following day. I’d love to know exactly what went on that night with all the mess strewn about the house, and the weird feeling I got from the way Abby wakes up.

Other than wanting the kids to get to know Mickey, which, for the life of me I don’t understand, why does Abby feel it necessary not only to defy Ray’s orders but to lie to him? For that matter, why does Mickey show up at Ray and Abby’s after Ray tells Mickey he’ll kill him if he goes anywhere near his family? Obviously, there are many unknowns at work here, and I’m frustrated that I don’t know what’s going on. I’m sure we’ll find out; I just wish it would be sooner rather than later. That’s my inner, petulant child coming out, though. That’s what makes for good storytelling—knowing when to reveal certain facts. It makes me that much more invested in these characters.

Mickey and Conor talk sex while buying shoes in Malibu.

While everyone has a great time on the Malibu trip—laughing, spending money, eating, drinking, people watching, and picture taking—I find Mickey’s behavior somewhat strange. The title of this week’s episode, “A Mouth is a Mouth,” comes from a conversation he has with his grandson Conor about Conor’s sexuality. Not only does Mickey tell his grandson stories about the “fags” he met in prison, he also tells him to never “let anyone fuck you in the ass. That’s how you get sick.” There are better ways and more relative topics to discuss when trying to connect with someone you haven’t seen for 20 years, especially when that someone is a teenager. And then, there’s his behavior with Abby. Commenting on the lingerie she buys makes not only Abby uncomfortable, but me as well.

I truly thought Ray was going to bust at the seams when he finds out Mickey is spending the day with his family. If Avi (Steven Bauer) hadn’t stopped him, Ray would surely have killed Mickey on the spot. Which brings me to the question, exactly what kind of relationship do Avi and Ray have? It is obviously something more than employee/employer, so I’m sure this is another facet to be revealed at some later point in the season.

Just as Ray helped Ashley (Ambyr Childers) in “The Bag or the Bat” by telling her she had a stalker, he does the same thing with Chloe (Alex Saxon), a transvestite who is blackmailing Tommy (Austin Nichols) for “sucking dick.” I love how sweet Ray comes across when he agrees to pay the $1 million in blackmail. You know there’s no way that will ever happen so how he handles it later is no surprise. What is a surprise is the fatherly advice Ray offers Chloe about her future, and the surprise visit from Lena (Katherine Moennig). Quite different from how Ray dealt with last week’s stalker, isn’t it? Gotta love a fixer with a heart. While I don’t know if Saxon is straight or gay—nor do I care—I admired his character portrayal. Not for one minute did I believe Saxon was anything other than a transvestite trying to capitalize on her relationship with a TV star. Bravo, Mr. Saxon!

Additional thoughts:

One of the facets I love about Ray is how he deals with Lee Drexler (Peter Jacobson). He knows exactly how to put that pain in the ass in his place! And speaking of Lee, while he amused me last week, this week he annoys me. Can’t he say anything without shouting?

I wish Ray’s brother Terry (Eddie Marsan) would take Ray’s advice and ask his nurse Frances (Brooke Smith) to go out with him. It’s obvious she likes him and would most likely agree to a date but something is holding Terry back. Could it be the memory of Bernadette, whose name is tattooed on Terry’s chest? Who was Bernadette, and why didn’t she and Terry ever marry?

Under the category of “Things that Make You Go Hmm,” why does Mickey wear a shirt on the Malibu trip that has so many stains? Couldn’t the wardrobe department find him a clean shirt?

Sorry, Ashley (Ambyr Childers) but no amount of exercise with Ray’s trainer could ever make Stu Feldman (Josh Pais) as hot as Ray. Just saying…

Avi teaches Mickey a lesson by beating up Daryll.

After dropping Mickey off at The Fite Club, he and Ray have another showdown. Ray’s words chilled me to the bone. That little speech, combined with what Avi does to Daryll (Pooch Hall), should be a warning sign to Mickey that he would be wise to keep a close eye on Ray. What puzzles me the most about “A Mouth is a Mouth,” however, is the grin that slowly creeps across Ray’s face when he sees the picture of the priest Mickey assassinated in the series premiere. Is it because he’s happy the priest is dead? Or is it because he knows Mickey killed the wrong priest? What do you think?

Tune in to Ray Donovan, Sundays at 10 pm ET/PT, only on Showtime.

LIKE Ray Donovan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RayDonovanOnShowtime.

Follow the series on Twitter @SHO_RayDonovan. And follow cast mates @LievSchreiber, @iam_POOCHHALL, @dizmihok, @DevonBagby, @kerrisdorsey, @thestevenbauer, @AUS10NICHOLS, @JohnSchaech, @katemoennig, and @eddiemarsan.

Stay up-to-date with the series on the official Ray Donovan website: http://www.sho.com/raydonovan.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!