Ray Donovan Season 3, Episode 1 “The Kalamazoo” (original air date July 12, 2015): “You don’t know who you are anymore,” Ezra told Ray at the end of Season 2, and he was right. The season 3 premiere of Ray Donovan begins with a barely distinguishable Ezra (Elliott Gould) bedridden, clinging to life via the oxygen supply feeding him when a
Deb (Denise Crosby) comes to Ezra’s side demanding the priest leaves. Distressed by the visit, Ezra tells Deb he is responsible for killing the girl. Of course, Deb thinks it’s a symptom of his brain tumor and reassures Ezra that he didn’t kill anyone. But Ezra knows he needs to talk to Ray and he needs him now. “Call Ray. Call Ray,” Ezra pleads. Deb reminds him that Ray hasn’t spoke to him in months. Ezra gives final confirmation on whose side he’s always been on giving a heartbreaking plea, screaming “RAAAAAAAAAY.” Deb calms him and then tells the hospice staff that they aren’t interested in seeing clergy, but the staffer shares that there are no clergy on staff.
Enter Ray walking the seedier side of Los Angeles alone. He dismisses a call from Ezra, as well as a call from Deb. He takes care of some small time business at Hollywood Lanes and then heads straight to a bar uncaring of anything. His phone rings again. This time he answers. It’s Abby (Paula Malcomson) she tells him that Ezra is dead.
“What the fuck are you talking about,” Ray asks.
“Come home Ray,” Abby pleads.
Ray won’t. “Go back to sleep,” he tells her and hangs up. It’s devastating to see the fabulous Gould end his run on the series.
Ray swirls his drink and remembers a young Ezra telling him that he knows people and that Raymond is someone special. He takes a girl home from the bar and empties his darkness into her, as only he knows how.
Bunchy (Dash Mihok) is looking and acting pretty slick these days. His hair is styled, he’s got new duds and is managing the gym now as Brandon Donovan, gym manager. He’s also on match.com as “Bunchyman.”
Deb sees Ray and charges at him. “He needed you! He was screaming your name at his deathbed and you abandoned him,” she rages. “He treated you like a son … I don’t want you here. Leave. Leave!”
Pained, Ray turns and leaves the funeral of his one true father figure. Abbey, Conor and Bridget run after him pleading for him to come home. He keeps walking.
It’s good to see Ray return to the office, with Lena (Katherine Moenning) and Avi there as well, but things aren’t the same. They’re all grieving. “They had no right treating you like that,” Avi tells him. Avi’s filled with guilt. He’s never been more loyal to Ray, yet Ray can’t see through it. “I have nightmares. I hate this … I hate that we don’t even talk,” Avi tells him.
Mickey takes Aubrey to prison to visit Terry, Daryl’s (Pooch Hall) along too. Terry’s not taking visitors.
Abby stops at the gym after a blowout with Bridget and finds Bunchy trying to find an online date. She coaches him on what to say to get girls interested and helps secure payment from a group of Mexicans who are refusing to pay their gym. Abby’s no match for them and she gives the leader a good tongue-lashing and the man easily turns over his credit card.
“This is so ridiculous. He’s fine,” Paige tells her father. But Finney wants his son home and the whole business to go away. He gives Ray the 5 million and tells him to work it out with no bloodshed and no press. “Do as you see fit.”
Mickey has a sit-down conversation with Gary. He doesn’t like how Gary is pushing Ginger around, and doesn’t think it’s an appropriate place for Audrey. Gary doesn’t give a shit; he see’s a woman’s role as “swallowing cock.” Yeah, we all want Gary to die now. As the Xanax slowly kicks in, Mickey has had enough time to decide this guy isn’t worth keeping around. As soon as Gary passes out, Mickey gives him a swift push off his chair and into the pool. As Mickey watches him drown, Gary’s phone rings and suddenly Mickey takes on a new occupation as head pimp. How perfect!
Bridget can tell Abby’s been drinking when she picks her up from school. She tries to take her car keys, but Abby slaps her hand, which prompts Bridget to take the bus instead. As Abby heads home she comes close to hitting a dog on the loose with its leash dragging behind. She sets off on foot trying to chase down the pooch. She succeeds and later claims the dog as her own.
Ray goes to meet the kidnappers. Two guys in masks, empty warehouse. Casey Finney is bound and gagged; another guy is lying in front of him in a pool of blood. Looks like a fake set up. Ray uses an Uber driver as a decoy and is able to foil their half-ass plan, one of the kidnappers is shot, and the other Ray tells to run. Casey tells Ray that the kidnappers were fellow addicts (he’s one too) looking for their next source of income. Finney is happy with Ray’s work and hands him a check, it looks like a new partnership will form. Finney tells Ray that his father was a criminal and ensured that he didn’t have to be one.
Images: Credit: Michael Desmond/SHOWTIME