Uber Ray Recap: Ray Donovan

“Uber Ray” (7-20-14) was the second episode of the second season of Ray Donovan. It opens with Ray driving back to the States with Mickey in tow or, rather, handcuffed to the car door. They stop to take a leak and Mickey waves adios to an ocean passerby — a dolphin. Ray asks what’s up with that and Mickey says it’s a friend. He had a spiritual awakening. “Banging whores and getting your kid beat up? That’s some spiritual awakening, Mick”, Ray says. “You wouldn’t understand,” Mickey replies.

Cochran meantime is holding a press conference. He announces Sully’s death, crediting the FBI with taking America’s Most Wanted down. Boston Globe reporter, Kate McPherson, smells a rat. She wants her boss to send her out to Los Angeles to get the real story. Turned down for just a hunch, she insists upon 24 hours to come up with a solid lead and wastes a visit with Sully’s foul-mouthed mother.

Ray brings Mickey to Cochran. On the way in, Mickey says he knows where the priest is buried and he’ll spill if thing go wrong for him. Ray reminds Mickey that Terry, Bunchy and Daryll will go down too, not just him. Mickey asks Cochran where his $2 million reward is for killing Sully but Cochran is holding all the cards and ruthlessly plays them. Mickey’s days of making his own decisions are over, he’ll be on parole for the next few years or, if he doesn’t cooperate, he’ll be in prison for the rest of his life. Mickey is told that his “work” for the FBI doesn’t cut any ice. If anyone asks, Frank killed Sully. Ray asks to speak to Cochran alone and says it’s better for both of them if Mickey goes back to Mexico. Cochran says there is no them and it’s going to be on Ray to make sure Mickey doesn’t screw up or he will be sharing a cell in Leavenworth with his father. Noticing Ray looking at the photo on his credenza, Cochran pointedly says he doesn’t have a second family so Ray can’t blackmail him.

Ray takes Mickey to the gym, continuing to advise him to play ball with the FBI. Daryll, Terry and Bunchy are not exactly jumping for joy to see Mickey, who tells Daryll to let it go (the La Fuerza beatdown). Bunchy finally gives Mickey a hug and Mickey offers him a drink. Ray says that Bunchy is sober now and has a job. Ray goes home and contacts Frank Barnes with instructions to get him a list of parole officers with their social security numbers.

We’ll deal with Abby’s problems later but at home, Ray drops in on Conor to see how he’s doing. Conor is busy being corrupted by Tommy online with a girl flashing her boobs, Conor gets a call from a more immediate bad influence. When he informs his grandfather about his suspension, Mickey does not condone throwing people down the stairs when their backs are turned. Mickey’s parole officer, Lupita, interrupts the call. She wants Mickey to submit to a pee test and Mickey explains he’s had a nip not knowing he’d have to do a pee test. Even though she doesn’t like Mickey’s dumb jokes, she gives him a pass.

When Ray gets to the office, Lena says Cochran is on the short list to be the head of the FBI and Avi has a good lead on a needy parole officer. Frances is waiting for Ray in his office. Terry is stalking her again and she wants Ray to make him stop. She is concerned for her family’s safety. Ray just asks her what she saw and she says nothing. He says her family is safe. Terry is outside and tries to talk to her but a very frightened Frances screams at him to leave her alone and runs off. He goes to Ray, demanding to know what he said to Frances and attacks him. Ray subdues Terry and tells him that Frances is not a threat but he has to accept that she chose her husband.

Supporting Cast of Uber Ray

Reporter Kate is now visiting Sully’s girlfriend’s mother, who is unaware of her daughter’s fate. So far only Avi and Ray know what became of Catherine. She shows Kate a picture of her Catherine with her dog, Baby, and allows Kate to take a photo of the photo. Then we see the dog sitting on Frank Barnes’ lap, licking a liquor bottle. That means Barnes is with his second family because Lena gave the poodle to his “other family” last season, after conning them into letting the daughter try out for a fake modeling job.

Mickey brings Lupita to the gym to show where he lives. Conor arrives and is introduced. Lupita tells Mickey to find a job before their next appointment. Mickey schools Conor on being a Donovan man, while Abby calls Ray to let him know where Conor is and they both go to the gym to collect their son.

Ray visits the casino where his target parole officer has lost big money and offers to buy him a drink but he gets pissed off and doesn’t want to talk. Ray buys him one anyway and waits for him to open up. Soon enough, Ronald Keith is on board to control Mickey in exchange for a big fat envelope and Ray’s Rolex Daytona watch. Mickey’s introduction to his new parole officer lands him in different sleeping arrangements and a job he has to get up at 5 am for.

Lena thinks she’s got the goods on Cochran when he has changed into a very un-FBI like outfit outside an airport bar. Ripped jeans, a tight white t-shirt, leather vest and bandanna but he gets his guitar out, goes inside and sings “Night Moves” with his Bob Seger cover band.

The Abby and Ezra Files:

Ray’s attempt to have sex with Abby in “Uber Ray” ended up with him getting his face slapped and told it makes her feel raped. Abby explains how rough he is and how he has been hurting her. She wants to be close to him but says he needs to open about the priest. Apparently, she thinks S&M looking lingerie will make things better and buys a black corset from Agent Provocateur. Her mixed-up state also leads her to kiss her yoga teacher because she thinks he really “sees” her.

Ray found a Trousdale property flyer in Abby’s bedroom and went off to look at the property but has to stop by to see Ezra. When he gets there, Deb says she is now in charge of the cancer center’s fundraising. Ray wants to know if she gave the flyer to Abby and Deb says yes. Abby fell in love with that house. Ezra comes in and demands that Ray collect a $5 million dollar pledge that June Wilson owes. Tikkun olam.

Abby again confronts Ray at the gym after putting Conor in the car. Not letting her know Mickey was back makes her feel like a child, not a partner. She accuses Ray of being unwilling to save their marriage. He says he didn’t know it needed saving.

Ray drops by to see June. She’s at a restaurant with Carlos who is told to go have a cigarette. June thinks she must have been drunk when she pledged $5 million to Ezra and will have to sell her art collections, but wants to honor it. Ray says he can handle Ezra but she won’t hear of it and writes a check that Ray tears in half. A phone call probably could have accomplished this, but after the Abby and Frances scenes, we need a reminder that Ray is not totally heartless in his dealings with the fair sex.

He calls Abby to ask her to meet him at the Trousdale property. When she learns that he is going to buy it for her, she is so overwhelmed that she undresses to reveal her S&M corset and proceeds to go down on him. Just like his approach with Abby, it looks like something to endure rather than enjoy.