Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Ray Donovan: Season One Blu-ray Movie Review

Growing pains notwithstanding, Showtime's latest is a gripping ensemble drama...

Ray Donovan is going places. Its first season may struggle with the early stages of Sopranos Syndrome, but it's a fighter. Judging by the last half of the season, remission isn't just a hope and a prayer, it's a likelihood. Liev Schreiber has always been an actor worthy of any praise afforded him, even if his returns haven't always surpassed or even equaled his investments. (Jakob the Liar, The Manchurian Candidate, Defiance, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Salt and too many others; wonderful performances, less than wonderful films.) Fortunately, the move to premium network original programming plays to Schreiber's strengths and provides ample room to work, and with a deceptively complex title character that has plenty of darkness and skeleton-strung closets to explore. Veteran thesp Jon Voight and a talented supporting cast -- Paula Malcomson, Eddie Marsan, Katherine Moennig, Dash Mihok, Steven Bauer, Elliott Gould and James Woods, among others -- only help, making Ray Donovan an easy-to-watch, easy-to-digest drama that grows more and more addicting as it slowly but surely claws its way out of familiar pitfalls and into more compelling territory.

• The Bag or the Bat: Ray's father Mickey (Voight) is released from prison after twenty years and comes to Los Angeles to reconnect with his family, setting off a chain of events that reopens old wounds. Ray's wife (Malcomson) and children struggle to reconcile their current upper middle class lifestyle with their blue collar South Boston roots, while trying to understand the complicated and distant man of the house. Terry (Marsan) begins a relationship with a married woman. Bunchy (Mihok) confronts personal demons from his childhood.
• A Mouth is a Mouth: Ray activates a plan to send Mickey back to prison. Meanwhile, Abby defies Ray and spends the day with Mickey and the kids. Ray handles two client crises: A-lister Sean Walker (Johnathon Schaech) receives a threatening message and action hero Tommy Wheeler (Austin Nichols) is blackmailed.
• Twerk: Mickey spends time with Bunchy and Terry. Ray "buys" a talented hip-hop artist for his rapper neighbor. Ray's mentor, Ezra Goldman (Elliott Gould), holds a fundraiser in honor of his late wife, but he's haunted by the sins of his past. Meanwhile, Mickey is approached by FBI agent, Van Miller (Frank Whaley).
• Black Cadillac: Ray, Abby and the kids visit Bel Air Academy, hoping Bridget (Kerris Dorsey) will get into the prestigious school, but the day is interrupted when Ray has to take care of a case at a Beverly Hills hotel. Mickey, Bunchy and Daryll (Pooch Hall) visit Mickey's ex-girlfriend (Sheryl Lee Ralph) in Palm Springs.
• Ezra: Ezra has an accident. Terry and Frances (Brooke Smith) grow closer. Bunchy receives his settlement check and tries to decide how best to use it. Mickey visits Ezra to talk about the past and is surprised at what he finds. Ray and his right-hand man, Avi (Steven Bauer), learn some very unsettling news.
• Housewarming: Ray tries to shut down Van Miller's investigation by creating an incriminating video. Ezra is prepped for surgery, but wanders off. Bunchy moves into his new house, but the housewarming party gets out control. Ray finds out that Mickey put his kids in danger and goes after him.
• New Birthday: Ray forbids Bridget from seeing Marvin (Octavius J. Johnson), but she visits with the teen boy anyway. Meanwhile, Ray flies to Boston to search for Sully (James Woods). Abby and Deb (Denise Crosby) commiserate over drinks and get themselves into trouble. Mickey manipulates Sean into working with him.
• Bridget: Ray, Terry and Bunchy toast the anniversary of their sister Bridget's death. Frances shows up with a black eye and Terry goes after her husband. Ray and Avi get Bunchy's money back. Mickey meets a former starlet at a spa. Ray's press agent, Lena (Katherine Moennig), has an altercation with her girlfriend.
• Road Trip: Avi drives Sully from Boston to Los Angeles and encounters unexpected complications. Ray's son Conor (Devon Bagby) wants to go to an awards show with Tommy Wheeler. Mickey works with Van to get his hands on incriminating evidence he hopes to use against Sean Walker.
• Fite Night: Ray and the family attend fight night at Terry's club. Meanwhile, Ray's plan with Sully is put into action. Mickey has a rendezvous. Bunchy encounters someone from his past, sending him into a tailspin Ray and his brothers will soon be forced to deal with head on.
• Bucky F**kn' Dent: Bunchy has a violent encounter with profound consequences. Ray is called to handle a crisis at Terry's club. Ray meets with Ezra. The police question Mickey about a recent murder. Ray sends Avi to protect Abby and the kids from a pressing threat.
• Same Exactly: In the series' season finale, Ray and Avi track down a target. Bunchy kicks his father out of his apartment. Ray leaks a wanted man's whereabouts to the press in an attempt to gain an upper hand. Abby and the kids hide out at a swank Malibu resort.

Ray Donovan: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ray Donovan's Blu-ray debut is an outstanding one thanks to a razor sharp 1080p/AVC-encoded video transfer that doesn't disappoint. Colors are exacting and natural, with lifelike skintones, carefully saturated hues, deep black levels and filmic contrast. The series was shot using Arri Alexa digital cameras as well, so the image is clean and striking, without any grain or aberrant noise to speak of. And detail? As you might expect, it's outstanding from the first shot to the last. Edges are crisp and clean, and don't exhibit even a fleeting hint of ringing or aliasing. Fine textures are so precisely resolved and revealing you'll see more of every actor's scars, stubble, wrinkles and general wear and tear than you ever knew you wanted to see. And delineation is excellent, even though crush is an inherent element of the at-times dark, hotly contrasted series. All told, Ray Donovan looks every bit as good as it should. Fans will be most pleased.

Ray Donovan: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ray Donovan features a subdued but able-bodied Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track that not only gets the job done, it accomplishes each task as reliably and confidently as the last. The series is dominated by hushed threats, prickly arguments and a string of rather front-heavy conversations, and, to that end, dialogue is perfectly intelligible and meticulously prioritized. That doesn't mean the show's sonics aren't involving or immersive, though. The rear speakers offer up first-rate ambient support and subtle directional effects, both of which contribute to a restrained but enveloping soundfield. LFE output is more than capable of flexing its muscle too, despite doing so on rare occasion. Still, the series is dotted with action beats that rely on low-end heft and the TrueHD track is ready and willing to crack skulls or knock down doors whenever it's needed. The results aren't quite as impressive as Paramount's video presentation, but you're not going to hear anyone raising any serious concerns. In other words, no complaints here.

Ray Donovan: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Each episode of Ray Donovan is compatible with "Showtime Sync," a downloadable second-screen-esque app that syncs with playback and provides tidbits of information about the series, its stars and storylines as the first season unfolds. (If you have an Apple device, that is.) Otherwise, the 3-disc Blu-ray release of Season One, like too many other Showtime BDs, doesn't include any supplemental content. Bad form, Paramount. Bad form.

Ray Donovan: Season One Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ray Donovan gets off to a slow start but soon builds momentum, works through its issues, and eventually proves itself a fully realized, fully engaging Showtime series worth adding to your Amazon cart or DVR queue. (Season Two is set to begin in July!) Schreiber and his co-stars are terrific, with nary a missed step or botched assignment to be had, and showrunner Ann Biderman (Southland) and her writer's room deliver an increasingly absorbing character-driven crime drama as compelling as it is addicting. Paramount's Blu-ray release doesn't put a damper on Donovan's approaching sophomore season either. With a striking video presentation and solid Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track, the only irritation you're likely to experience concerns the lack of substantial special features. (Or, if you don't have a compatible Apple device, the lack of special features altogether.) Still, bonus content or no, Ray Donovan: Season One is just shy of a must-see new series. It's easy to recommend. It's just not easy to guarantee you'll enjoy it as much as so many others have.