Ray Donovan has fixed his last mistake. Showtime canceled the series after the end of season seven recently, and the news was a shock to all those involved with the series, including the man running things behind the scenes. David Hollander revealed that he thought the series would end with season eight. The writers were working towards that conclusion, and Showtime was aware of that plan when Hollander began writing during season seven.
Hollander said the following about Showtime ending Ray Donovan, per Vulture:
“We’re still scratching our heads. We had no indicator that the show was ending. We were behaving creatively as though we were in mid-sentence. And so, there was no sense that this was going to be a completion. This was in no way a series finale.”
Hollander and his staff already had season eight in mind, and that season was going to end things on a note where the fans would have closure. Season seven did not do that. The fans are left with cliffhangers across the board. Season six’s finale would have closed the series out on a much better note.
Hollander revealed the following about the plot of season eight:
“The pivot we had been making narratively was to move the backstory into the present and run it concurrently. So there were actually two stories to be told: What happened then, really, and how will that impact what happens now? The next step was what happened with Ray and Mickey in the ‘90s, which would have been the creation of Ray Donovan as a character and as a fixer. That’s why we went into such detail to find the right cast.
That [flashback] story was a helpful pivot, at least for me creatively. I felt really good about it. And so, that story was going to run directly against the idea of Ray and Mickey now.”
Could the series return to close things out? Hollander did not count that out, but it would be easier to do sooner rather than later. The sets are still in place, and the cast could be called back in.
Hollander did have this message for the fans:
Thank you, first and foremost. A huge, huge thank you. All we can do is hope that we have an audience that cares. The gratitude is really meaningful to those of us who are feeling a little bit lost by what’s happened.
The other thing that I feel is a bit apologetic. I’m proud of the work that we all did. I’m proud of the way that this year ended. It was powerful and well-acted and they achieved what I hoped they would. However, this wasn’t meant to be [the ending]. You could spin it one way and say that it’s hard to satisfy an audience with a finale, not that I didn’t want to try. I always want the opportunity to try. I just wish I had.”
What do you think? Do you want to see Ray Donovan closed out in a way that ties up the loose ends left by season seven? Or, was it time to end the series?
Well now I can repay the favor and cancel showtime.
We really need a closure! Please
The series can not end like this !!!! Season 8 is a must. I wish there were 20 seasons on Ray Donavon. One of, if not the best series I have EVER seen !!if Showtime doesn’t go forward with Season 8. I beat HBO would air it !!! Just a thought !’
A show we looked forward to and wondered where it went? Then saw the news.
What a shame keeping silly shows on..we all know them and ditching a great one like this with superb acting.
Please consider bringing back the show. PS: someone is having fun with the dislike button on many comments, it looks very false to me.
I just found out Ray Donovan has been cancelled. This is not really fair to the fans who have followed this show from the beginning. We need a closure, probably sooner then later. Knew this show would be ending, but, so abruptly is wrong. I hate it when things are left out in the cold like they did with the “Sopranos”. Please consider bringing Ray back at least long enough to have a ending.
Wow what a way to end one of the very top tv series available, makes absolutely no sense to any of tbe fans or cast. Showtime you have promoted far less quality tv series well past their sell by date – cancelling Ray Donovan is a big mistake you should reconsider quickly and finish the job properly!
Tbe best tv in a world of fantasy and cheao reality tv that only kids enjoy.
Please return for another season this was no way to end. What do we have to do so another network will pick it up.
Most definitely return it. It was one of the best shows and I know quite a few people that really enjoyed watching it . Please bring it back.
Please bring it back!! The show and cast are phenomenal!!
If showtime doesn’t bring back Ray Donovan, maybe another network will. Too many fans to end it like this. My family is devastated that it will not be back.
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU CANCEL A GREAT SHOW?!?!?! TYPICAL.
DON’T CANCEL THIS SHOW. IT’S THE BEST.
the response from the american public has been incredible.dont think the morons who made this decision are not trembling behind closed doors.they never expected this amount of outrage.i love it.tomorrow everyone should lite up showtimes customer service line and dismiss them we have them on the run and cant let up.
Don’t cancel the show
I AM SHOUTING BIG TIME…THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SERIES ON TV…WE ARE INUNDATED WITH CRAPPY COMEDIES AND JUNK….AND THEY CANCEL ONE OF THE CLASSICS OF ALL TIME….PATHETIC …. COME ON PEOPLE LETS WRITE AND DEMAND ANOTHER SEASON AT LEAST….
No way that was enough. There were always questions, this season started answering them. For loyal viewers this is hardly the way. Maybe Ray needs to talk to the studio heads.
I’m very upset that Ray Donovan has been canceled especially with so many cliffhangers we have been devoted fans for all seasons and we need closure please bring back Ray Donovan for at least a final season for us devoted fans.
Ray Donovan is the only reason I pay for showtime. Bring it back