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Ray Donovan – “Viagra” Top Five Moments. There’s More Than One Way to Get Things Done

  • By

  • August 17, 2014

  • 9 mins to read

Season 2, Episode 6

Airdate: Sunday, August 17, 2014 at 9:00 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

“I want to kneel at your feet…I see the God in you, Ray. I have to acknowledge who you are.” – Steven Knight

Now that we’re finished with guest star Vinessa Shaw’s story arc, Ray Donovan goes back to its tried and true formula of Ray (Liev Schreiber) fixing problems for clients. In “Viagra,” it’s Steve Knight (guest star Eion Bailey), who needs help after punching a waiter. He’s a friend of Ray’s ex-lover Ashley (guest star Ambyr Childers), and having Ashley back in the picture can only spell trouble. Plus, even though things aren’t looking so happy in the Donovan household, two of the Donovan brothers experience an unexpected uptick in the romance department. In the meantime, Lena (Katherine Moennig) helps Ray make contact with FBI Agent Tom Volcheck (Kip Pardue) to seek his help in taking down Cochran (Hank Azaria).

Moment #5

Can you believe how close Shorty’s oxygen tank is to the doobie he and Mickey are smoking?!

Mickey (Jon Voigt) gets his first stipend from Ray and isn’t too happy with the amount. But leave it to Mickey—he always has another trick up his sleeve. While Shorty (Steph Duvall) talks about the two of them pulling a bank heist, which is pretty funny considering Shorty has cancer and isn’t long for this world, Mickey gets together with movie exec Debra Gerson (guest star Kandis Erickson) to talk about his script. Talk about “pipe dreams.” “Viagra” makes quite a statement by having Shorty light up a doobie while on oxygen. I was waiting for the tank to blow the entire room! I guess when you’re Shorty’s age and suffering from a terminal disease, nothing much bothers you. But Mickey? Doesn’t he have better sense than that? I guess not.

Moment #4

Oh, Bunchy (Dash Mihok), you devil, you. The title of tonight’s episode derives its name from the little blue pill Potato Pie (William Stanford Davis) gives Bunchy to help with his nerves after Patty (guest star Heather McComb) invites him to dinner. With Patty’s son Clifford (guest star Aaron Fernando) away for the night, I understand Bunchy’s trepidation at spending a night alone with a woman. Has he ever even been with a woman? Truth be told, I never gave that any thought until now, especially because Bunchy refers to himself as “a homosexual and an alcoholic.” At first, I wasn’t so sure Viagra is what Bunchy needs but from the make out session, which follows an awesome shampoo scene, Bunchy does just fine. Too bad he doesn’t get to experience the full effects of the pill because Clifford comes home unexpectedly. As much as I enjoy seeing little Clifford (he’s so damn cute!), I felt so sorry for Bunchy. Here, he’s looking forward to an evening of unexpected pleasures and now has to keep his ‘feelings’ under wraps. I’m glad the writers brought Patty and Clifford back. Bunchy deserves some real love and a real family in his life, and I’m hoping that’s where the writers are going with this story line. Didn’t you just love seeing Patty and Bunchy on the sofa watching cartoons with Clifford, who is lying down with his head in Bunchy’s lap? Adorbs!

Moment #3

Were you as surprised as I was when Frances (Brooke Smith) shows up at Terry’s (Eddie Marsan) door? If they weren’t already inside his apartment, I would tell them to get a room.I’ve never seen two people who should be together as much as these two; they really love each other. But even though Terry wants to marry Frances, she responds with “I can’t condone murder.” What’s a man to do? You know Ray isn’t going to allow Terry to sell the fight club to get enough money for him and Frances to move to Ireland. Nor will Ray leave a loose end like Frances walking around so I am scared for her. To say nothing of what will happen to Ray and Terry’s relationship should Ray do the worst.

Moment #2

I don’t trust Ray’s new client, Steven Knight, one little bit.

Ray gets himself a new client when he agrees to help Knight, a self-help guru with an anger problem. I must commend Bailey for making me dislike his character from the very first minute he appears onscreen. He reminds me of all the other so-called ‘authorities’ who take money from the poor people they dupe with their promises to fix everything so they can have a better life. I feel dirty just listening to his rhetoric. I’m glad Ray fleeces him for a monthly payment for keeping Manuel (Omar Leyva) quiet about what happened. I can only imagine what other trouble Knight is going to get himself into. What’s interesting about this is Ray listens to Knight’s audio book, Right to Life, and seems inspired by it. Could Ray be turning over a new leaf in his life? Sounds like that’s what happening when he calls Abby and tells her to meet him for dinner. But when Abby doesn’t show, Ray reverts back to his old self. I actually feel sorry for him; Abby really screws up this time.

Moment #1

Lena, you go girl! Way to wrap Volcheck around your little finger.

I don’t know who’s kinkier – Cochran, his wife Donna (Sherilyn Fenn), Volchek, or his wife Megan (Andrea Bogart). One thing I do know, however, is Volcheck doesn’t seem comfortable with the state of affairs (pun intended) between the two couples. Cochran should know better than to screw another man’s wife, especially his subordinate’s. It must be hard for Volcheck to acquiesce to Cochran’s demands when he doesn’t like what’s going on, which is why it is so easy for Ray to appeal to him for his help in taking Cochran down. Of course, Ray has lots of help from Lena, who does a terrific job of setting up Volcheck for Ray. With Moennig being a lesbian in real life, kudos to her for her sexy heterosexual turn in the sauna with Volcheck. But an FBI agent going against his superior like that? I can’t wait to see what Ray does with the tapes from the camera Avi (Steven Bauer) installs in Volcheck’s house in anticipation of the upcoming Scrabble night. I wonder what they spelled this time.

Conclusion

“Viagra” is a terrific episode that takes us back to Ray Donovan’s original premise—a fixer who helps all manner of people—and also brings some romance into the picture for the two men who need it the most. But with romance comes problems, especially for Terry who is desperately in love with a woman who doesn’t want to turn her head away from the fact that Ray killed a priest, even though Terry explains Ray’s reasons for the murder. “Viagra” also sets up an interesting plot point—will Ray blackmail Cochran with the sex tape he now possesses? And what will Cochran’s response be? Interesting times ahead, people, interesting times.

What did you think of “Viagra?” Leave me a comment below or tweet me @SeasideTV. Do you agree with my top five moments?

Tune in to Ray Donovan, Sundays at 9 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 Ray/Liev Schreiber @LievSchreiber, Daryll/Pooch Hall @iam_POOCHHALL, Bunchy/Dash Mihok @dizmihok, Conor/Devon Bagby @DevonBagby, Bridget/Kerris Dorsey @kerrisdorsey, Avi/Steven Bauer @thestevenbauer, Lena/Katheine Moennig @katemoennig, and Terry/Eddie Marsan @eddiemarsan.

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

 

Photos © 2014 Showtime Network, an affiliate of CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

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!

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!