Ep 8. Tulip

In scene after scene, Ray Donovan is known for escalating tension until your grip on your remote is tighter than you'd like. In this, we find Ray at his most powerful and subversive, his most vulnerable and alone, on the night of his father's funeral. Abby continues to do a great job keeping their family together despite the turmoil that constantly surrounds them. Ray's work as a fixer has him sleeping with one eye open at all times, but he's also begun questioning the morality of what he does. That's not to say he's slowing down, though; he's as motivated as ever, manipulating everyone from Hollywood producers to the police department.

In this episode, entitled "Tulip," Ray is still reeling from the events of the previous episode - his father's death and the sense of being lost that came along with it. But when a friend of Mickey's turns up dead, Ray throws himself into the case. He's aided by his sometimes ally, sometimes enemy, Detective Muncie, who may or may not turn out to be more trustworthy than we've been led to believe.

Meanwhile, Bunchy is still struggling to come to terms with what happened to him in the past and how it continues to affect him. With his wife off to rehab and his father dead, Bunchy is left feeling even more alone and isolated than ever before. His attempts to find a sense of normalcy in his life, whether through a job or through reconnecting with old friends, don't seem to be going very well.

And then there's Terry, who is slowly but surely spiraling out of control. His Parkinson's disease is getting worse, and he's finding it increasingly difficult to deal with. His relationship with his girlfriend, who already has a child, is strained, and he's not sure if he's ready to become a father again himself.

As usual, the show's writing is top-notch, as are the performances by the talented cast. Liev Schreiber continues to impress as Ray, a character who is both ruthless and sympathetic. Jon Voight is still a force to be reckoned with as Mickey, a character who is just as morally bankrupt as his son but who manages to somehow come across as charming. The supporting cast is also excellent, with special mention going to Eddie Marsan as Terry, who manages to convey his character's pain and fear in a way that is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

All of this is set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, a city that is both beautiful and dangerous, glamorous and seedy. In "Tulip," the city is especially important, as it helps to amplify both the sense of melancholy that comes with funerals and the underlying danger that surrounds Ray and his work.

Overall, "Tulip" is a strong episode of Ray Donovan that continues to explore the complex relationships between its characters while also advancing the show's plot in exciting and unexpected ways. With only a few episodes left in the season, it will be interesting to see where the show takes us next.