Ray Donovan - 5x01 "Abby" - Episode Discussion

[u/NicholasCajun]

Season 5 Episode 1: Abby

Aired: August 6th, 2017

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Synopsis: Ray begins court-ordered anger management after a family tragedy sparks a bar fight. Mickey, Bunchy and Daryll prepare for Terry and Maureen's wedding. Bridget looks up a mysterious acquaintance in New York. Conor, away from home for the first time, grows accustomed to military school. Meanwhile, Sam Winslow, a powerful new employer, comes into Ray's life.

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Directed by: David Hollander

Written by: David Hollander

[u/wvumteers4lifw]

Damn that was hard to watch Ray struggle emotionally like that. Real depressing, hope it picks up a bit next week

[u/407dollars → u/wvumteers4lifw]

disagreeable shy crime party weary pocket middle tidy longing hunt

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[u/FanEu7 → u/wvumteers4lifw]

This series in general is depressing as hell

[u/TexasDD]

Susan Sarandon. That's a good looking 70.

Edit: Then I watch the newest Rick & Morty after the newest Donovan. And Susan Sarandon is in that.

[u/skatingee]

Good to see Mickey hasn't given up the Hollywood dream though.

[u/monkette → u/skatingee]

Jon Voigt is so great to watch....

[u/Meldove → u/skatingee]

Loved Mickey reading his screenplay to their dog, he was so responsive to Mickey, it was really sweet. That dog was so important to Abby and it's interesting that Mickey is the one taking care of him after her death, I think he needs the dog as much the dog needs him.

[u/Trottingcutely]

NYC bartender kid was ahead of Abby on the list for an experimental cancer treatment, Ray (possibly with the help of his brothers) infected the kid with meningitis so he lost his spot in the trial, bumping Abby up. Abby found out about it and killed herself because of the guilt. Terry and/or Mickey let it all slip out at the bar, probably in the midst of an argument, prompting Ray to go ballistic on all of them. Bridget called the police, resulting in Ray's arrest and him being sentenced to probation/anger management therapy. Based on what she heard during the argument, Bridget pieced together what happened and went to track bartender kid down out of guilt and curiosity.

[u/crazydogggz → u/Trottingcutely]

This is what I believe except I'm not sure that he had meningitis. The kid paused before he answered the question and I thought it was odd even before I put the pieces together.

[u/SOB200]

So it adds up nicely. The opening with Ray's dad, he was driving Abby's car (she doesnt need it anymore). He was visiting Abby's grave. Learn why Ray was so against selling the bar, it's what Abby would had done when the children are gone. Thought the car accident may have been the reason for her death, and why Ray was so guilty. Learned it wasnt, but are we sure cancer is the reason for her death?

I thought it was a good episode.

[u/reddit809]

Feels like Ray Donovan, I see Ray Donovan characters...it's not the same though. Maybe it's a good thing? They went off the deep end recently with Ray toppling a powerful Russian mob organization etc. Almost shark-jumping, imo. I like this a lot better. It's like Ray is trying to go about business as usual, but nothing is usual. Sad thing about Abby. I wish they'd given her a better sendoff in last season's finale.

[u/evannnn67]

Soo am I the only person that thinks Abby committed suicide?

[u/francoruinedbukowski → u/evannnn67]

Either suicide or got a concussion from the accident and died in her sleep, we know she was an organ donor from the scene with Bridget and bartender.

[u/FatScaredBoyChicken]

I'm intrigued with the Abby thing. but God damn was I confused at first. I thought I picked the wrong episode. then I thought Showtime screwed something up. I'm really looking forward to this season.

[u/[deleted]]

What the hell happened. I miss the first 10 minutes and it's a completely different show.

[u/ghostmrchicken → u/[deleted]]

What the hell happened. I miss the first 10 minutes and it's a completely different show.

Even with the first 10 minutes it's still a completely different show.

I can't believe how different it is now from the first season. The writing, the tone, the pacing...it's just not the same.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm curious on why he beat the shit out of Terry and Micky

[u/08830]

I spent the last week binging s4. I saw the s5 premiere was titled “Abby” and I was really hoping they wouldn’t kill her off but I knew it was coming given the cancer news in s4.

Though sad, I appreciate that the creators have decided to tell a non-linear story in Abby’s death. I’m looking forward to seeing a different side of Ray Donovan and how Abby’s death affects him and the rest of the characters. We got an interesting glimpse in the premiere and I can only imagine that it will get deeper and more intense as the season progresses. I particularly liked the surrealism of the premiere episode. When I think about how I’ve dealt with death/the loss of a loved one, I can totally relate to a number of choices the actors, writer/Director made in this episode.

David Hollander gave an interview with one of the trade pubs. One of the things he said summed up his vision for this season perfectly... “Grief and the complexity of memory and the complexity of how grief lingers is much more interesting to tell as a feeling state than it is as a fact state.”

I’m a huge fan of Paula Malcomson. I’ve loved what she’s brought to the character and to the show overall. I hope they give Abby the sendoff she deserves.

[u/ghostmrchicken]

Is Abby dead?

[u/monkette]

I'm more interested in what "the star" did to merit 500,000 per year each to keep their mouths shut. Ray asked if it was true.

[u/Upsjoey25]

Usually when a show starts adding flash forwards or flashbacks it's the beginning of the end. This shit is stupid

[u/SOB200 → u/Upsjoey25]

A majority of the flashbacks were to fill people in what happened in between seasons. It wasn't flashback to kill time. The writers clearly wanted you to see how much time passed by.

1. See how much older Conner looked?

2. How do you beat the shit out of your dad and brother so bad the cops were called in and you have court mandated therapy? And in 2 days let your dad move in with you, both of their faces healed so well, and you have moved on?

Tons of time passed.

[u/MrBanditOne]

After last season's relatively happy ending it was quite the shift in tone. Seeing Ray in mourning like that was depressing to watch. I'm curious to see how events will play out, especially with regards to Abby's death and the reason he beat his brother and dad.

[u/[deleted]]

Man it sucks that Abby died I was started to like her around season 3. I new the cancer was gonna come back

[u/[deleted]]

Not the strongest start to the season. It just raises a lot of questions.