Ray Donovan Renewed: Moving to NYC for Season 6

Yes! “Ray Donovan” has been renewed for another season and it was also announced that the show will be moving to New York City, and will no longer be set in Los Angeles.

Ray lost his wife, Abby, in Season 5 and his kids took off – Bridget went to New York. Conor was in military school, planning on joining the Marines. Ray’s brother, Terry, also went to the Big Apple with his protege, Damon, after the collapse of his marriage. In the penultimate episode, “Michael,” the marriage of Ray’s younger brother, Bunchy, went on the rocks, too.

Showrunner David Hollander says, “For our show, creatively, New York is exciting. Fashion, media, finance, theatre, culture. It’s going to present new challenges for Ray Donovan which mean new opportunities for us as dramatists.” He also pointed out that “Ray came to Los Angeles to build a life for himself and his family. They’re not there anymore. Ray’s career has changed and he is looking for a place to rebuild his life. Ray thinks he went to New York to help his daughter. He’s going to find out he’s there to help himself.”

We think it’s a great decision to breathe new life into the series and get out of the “same old, same old” rut that many series fall into. We can see plenty of possibilities. Out in L.A., Ray was the Grand Poobah of fixers. How quickly will he achieve that lofty position in NYC? Whatever, David Hollander and the writers really need to get the memo that no one gives a damn if Ray fixes himself. It’s kind of like what Detective Bobby Goren said in “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” when he had to go to therapy. He compared self-examination to what an auto mechanic friend told him about old cars: the biggest mistake people make is cleaning them out because, after a thorough cleaning, it can’t run again. All that “gunk” was bad was plugging up the holes and keeping the old car going. Ray could lose his edge and no longer be effective at his job.

Of course, we are wondering where this leaves Mickey and Daryll. Right now, Mickey is in jail. The Season 5 finale is coming up tomorrow, October 29th. Showtime’s synopsis says “Ray goes to New York to arrange an illicit surgery that will hopefully save Smitty. Sam agrees to help – but only on the condition that Ray commit a brutal act. Meanwhile, Daryll struggles with his loyalties as Mickey tries to get himself out of jail by turning the tables on Ray.” We like Darryl and hope he doesn’t get written off the show, but if Mickey goes, we go, too!