Ray Donovan Season Finale - "Exsuscito" Review. Family Responsibilities

Season 3, Episode 12

Airdate: Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“You think this is over? You think you can kill my boys and it stops? This will never stop. You are dead; all of you are dead. Your children are dead.” – Mrs. Minassian

What a powerful season finale! While “Exsuscito” begins a bit erratically, writers David Hollander and William Wheeler give Ray Donovan fans an episode that will surely remain in their minds for a long time to come. “Exsuscito” deals with family—how a father handles his daughter’s not so innocent relationship with her math teacher; how a man comes to terms with his past in order to save his dying brother; and how a newlywed deals with the news of impending fatherhood. The season three finale also provides an exciting conclusion to an excellent season, as well as the requisite cliffhangers.

Bridget has some serious daddy issues this season.

Courtesy of Hollander, who is both the writer and director of this episode, the first five minutes move from plot point to plot point so quickly, my head was spinning. The episode begins with a brief moment where Paige (special guest star Katie Holmes) questions what she did to her father (special guest star Ian McShane) in last week’s episode, “Power.” The scene changes quickly to Bridget (Kerris Dorsey) at the Santa Monica Pier afraid of what Ray (Liev Schreiber) is going to do to Mr. Donellen (guest star Aaron Staton) when he finds out about their relationship, and then shifts to Mr. Donellen’s house, where Abby (Paula Malcomson) goes to find Bridget. The episode then changes focus completely to Teresa (guest star Alyssa Diaz) seducing her new husband, Bunchy (Dash Mihok), in a manner worthy of a scene from Fifty Shades of Grey.

Thankfully, things settle down as “Exsuscito” turns its attention to the problem with Bridget and Mr. Donellen. With Bridget missing, and Abby off looking for her, Terry (Eddie Marsan) takes it upon himself to tell Ray what’s going on. Instead of thanking Terry for filling him in, Ray accuses him of being too close to his wife. Obviously, Ray feels guilty for not being more in tune with what’s going on in his own home. Ah, if he only knew. But as viewers see later, it’s not the only thing Ray feels guilty about.

Neither Bridget nor Mr. Donellen are thinking straight.

Knowing both Abby and Ray are looking for her, Bridget tells her parents she’s at Mickey’s (Jon Voight), and then rents a motel room while waiting for Mr. Donellen. I swear that girl loses all sense of reasoning when it comes to that man; then again, she’s spent all season looking for what she doesn’t get from her father, and Mr. Donellen is obviously a father figure for her. I’ve been wondering all season long why he would want to get involved with his student knowing the consequences, and I finally get my answer when Mr. Donellen breaks down, coming to his senses before Bridget can remove anything more than her blouse. But the damage has been done and Ray is out for blood.

Daryll is so over Mickey, and rightfully so!

Throughout season three, Grace Zabriskie has done a wonderful job of portraying Mrs. Minassian as one tough old broad who thinks nothing of ordering people’s executions. The audience sees another side of her, though, in “Exsuscito”—a fairly creepy side involving her grandson Davros (Nikola Kent) and his food. But the plan they hatch to teach Mickey a lesson is anything but creepy. It’s terrifying, actually, when you consider Terry (Eddie Marsan) is at Mickey’s looking for Bridget. Davros and Vartan (Ken Davitian) open fire on Mickey’s motel room at the El Dorado just as Ray and Avi (Steven Bauer) show up. While I felt sorry for Daryll (Pooch Hall), my heart was in my mouth as the doctors and nurses wheel Terry into emergency surgery. I appreciate Hollander’s use of camera angles to illustrate the effect of the news about Terry’s prognosis on Ray. He is not a well man; this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Ray react badly to upsetting news.

The two men are of one mind when it comes to both Bridget and the Minassians.

Both Mickey and Ray know they have to deal with the Minassians, although Ray doesn’t want Mickey around when he does. It’s interesting that they come together anyway, along with Avi, to handle matters. Ray isn’t fooling around with the amount of fire power he and Avi have; it’s evident Ray is intent on making the Minassians pay dearly for putting Terry’s life in danger.

Lena (Katherine Moennig), ever the persistent assistant, succeeds in locating Bridget so after the shoot-out, Ray heads to her motel room. He is blind with rage over Bridget and Mr. Donellen’s inappropriate relationship and does what any father would given the same scenario. But Bridget sees it as him smothering her and she doesn’t “want to live with that anymore.” I wonder if she’d feel the same way if she knew Terry isn’t the only Donovan to take a bullet at the El Dorado Motel.

Ray loves Terry dearly and will do anything to save him, including paying a visit to Father Romero (guest star Leland Orser). He has but one thing on his mind—getting Father Romero to absolve Terry of his sins before he dies. But Romero is smart enough to realize Ray is the one who needs forgiveness. Shockingly, Ray makes his confession just as Terry’s death becomes imminent. Confessing isn’t enough, though; Romero pushes Ray to tell him why he killed Father O’Connor. For the first time, Ray acknowledges the abuse the priest subjected him to as a boy. Schreiber absolutely knocks it out of the park as a broken man who finally accepts his role in what happened to him so long ago. My heart broke for him as tears course down his face, as well as mine. Will Father Romero absolving Ray of his sins be enough to save Terry? God doesn’t work that way, though, does He?

Other Observation

Teresa and Bunchy’s sex life is different from what one might expect, but, hey—whatever floats your boat, right? He’s like a puppy dog, willing to do anything she wants just to please her. Bunchy’s reaction to her news, however, leaves a lot to be desired, although I understand why he feels so overwhelmed. Like any other woman in her position, Teresa is afraid Bunchy doesn’t want her anymore but that’s not true. He just doesn’t have “any idea how to be a father,” nor does he want to let Teresa down. This plot point is kind of cute in a way, and provides a more lighthearted element to a season finale laden with heavy drama.

Overall

“Exsuscito” is a compelling season finale, with the last 10 minutes filled with such heartbreak, it’s almost difficult to watch. Not only do the viewers not know Terry’s fate, they also don’t know whether Father Romero gets Ray to the hospital in time. And with Mickey bound for Nevada, Bridget taking off for parts unknown, and Teresa pregnant, we have much to look forward to in season four.

What did you think of “Exsuscito?” Leave me a comment below or tweet me @SeasideTV. I can’t wait to discuss it with you!

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Follow the series on Twitter @SHO_RayDonovan. And follow cast mates Liev Schreiber (Ray) @LievSchreiber, Pooch Hall (Daryll) @iam_POOCHHALL, Dash Mihok (Bunchy) @dizmihok, Devon Bagby (Conor) @DevonBagby, Kerris Dorsey (Bridget) @kerrisdorsey, Kate Moennig (Lena) @katemoennig, Steven Bauer (Avi) @thestevenbauer, and Eddie Marsan (Terry) @eddiemarsan.

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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!