Ray Donovan
By Kari Croop,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Edgy drama's sex, drugs, violence stop short of gratuitous.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
What's the Story?
Armed with a tough-as-nails South Boston upbringing, RAY DONOVAN (Liev Schreiber) gets paid to "fix" problems for Hollywood's elite by whatever means necessary, from professional athletes to action stars and pop singers. But Ray's got legitimate problems of his own when his estranged father, Mickey (Jon Voight), shows up after 20 years in prison and tries to make nice with Ray's brothers (Dash Mihok and Eddie Marsan), and Ray's wife (Paula Malcolmson) and kids (Kerris Dorsey and Devon Bagby).
Is It Any Good?
Liev Schreiber is an actor who seems to be everywhere, whether in movies, on television, or on Broadway. But in spite of Schreiber's long résumé, Ray Donovan marks his first leading TV role, and he pulls it off with an understated charisma that works well for this ensemble-driven series that's brimming with potential -- and intriguing characters.
True, it's hardly family viewing. (And it's not a show you want your kids quoting.) But Ray Donovan is surprisingly cleaner than it could be for premium cable, with most of the sexual and violent acts taking place off camera. The result is an effectively edgy world that's got true grit, without hitting us over the head with gratuitous sex and violence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the ethics of Ray Donovan's business and how he measures up as a role model. Do his bad deeds detract from any shred of good intention he might have?
Ray's world is full of sex, drugs, and violence. But how does Ray Donovan communicate that message compared to the way other edgy pay-cable series do -- like Dexter, Boardwalk Empire, or The Sopranos? Is Ray Donovan OK for teens, or should it be off-limits?
Are "fixers" like Ray really out there doing dirty work behind the scenes to help Hollywood's elite stay out of trouble? How much of Ray Donovan do you think is real, and how much do you think is fictional?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 30, 2013
- Cast: Jon Voight, Liev Schreiber, Paula Malcolmson
- Network: Showtime
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate