21 January 2020
Ray Donovan S1-7
Ray Donovan (Liev Schreiber) doesn’t have a healthy relationship with his dad Mickey (Jon Voight). That’s one of the forces driving the series: Hollywood fixer Ray’s desire to give his family the things he never had growing up in Boston, such as money, a mansion, food on their tables and a loving dad.
But it doesn’t always work out that way, especially because of Ray’s job cleaning up behind celebs and rich folk (like in the very first episode when he makes a dead woman’s body disappear from a pro athlete’s hotel room). He’s on call 24/7 and that takes him away from his wife Abby (Paula Malcomson), rebellious daughter Bridget (Kerris Dorsey) and wanna-be tough-kid son Conor (Devon Bagby).
Ray also has to play father-figure to his two brothers – elder Terry (Eddie Marsan), who is a boxing coach suffering from Parkinson’s, and younger Bunchy (Dash Mihok), who was molested by a Boston priest and is struggling to be a normal member of society.
Worse is still to come, thanks to Mickey being paroled early and finding his way to Los Angeles to be with his boys. “The family don’t want me, as bad things happen wherever I go,” says Jon about his character. But Liev adds, “Ray is going through a midlife crisis. One aspect of his pain is certainly articulated in that, having to clean up his family’s messes – especially his father Mickey’s.”
Season 7 sees Ray (Liev Schreiber) struggling between the dangers that need him to become the Ray Donovan of old, and making progress with his psychiatrist Dr Amiot (Alan Alda) to become a new, better-adjusted man.
Between the mayor of New York City, a range of new and more challenging clients as well as those of old, and a tenacious New York City cop who won’t stop until the truth is out, Ray has to choose between fixing himself, and fixing for his clients.
Ray Donovan has long been a critics’ darling, with the Boston Globe writing, “This fantastic … drama is that wonder of TV wonders, a low concept series that can’t be easily reduced to a quick sentence” and Time Out calling it “an extremely compelling portrait of a unique working-class family.”
All seasons of Ray Donovan are ready to binge-watch on Showmax.
Original African stories by local talent
Nilichoma
The Kenyan Showmax Original docuseries features celebs who received an unexpected windfall, and then blew it all. Premiering on 28 May 2024.
Mince Jou Hare S1
Shimmy Isaacs’s laugh-out-loud sitcom about a factory worker who opens a hair salon in her home lands on Showmax on 20 May 2024.
Untying Kantai
Untying Kantai follows King Kantai, a man who has spent 30 years of his life working hard to provide for his family, only to be conned out of his life savings. Now streaming.
Big Girl Small World
Big Girl Small World follows Ciku, a plus-size woman who stumbles through a journey of self-discovery after a humiliating scandal. Stream now, with new episodes every Wednesday.
Empini S1
Empini is a high-stakes, action-packed drama about Ndoni, a deeply troubled private security bodyguard in search of answers. Landing 23 May, with new episodes weekly.
Original Sin: My Son The Killer
Original Sin: My Son The Killer follows the murder of Andrea Venter by Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who then went on the run from South Africa to Brazil.
Tracking Thabo Bester
From the makers of Devilsdorp and the director of Convict Conman comes the true-crime documentary South Africa has been waiting for. All the episodes are streaming on Showmax.
The Illuminated
The Showmax Original docuseries The Illuminated explores different religious movements in South Africa. All episodes now streaming.
The Real Housewives Of Lagos S2 Reunion, now streaming
ENO S2: New daughter, more chaos
The best of West Africa
Gallery: Stars of Showmax Originals shine at 10th AMVCAs
See all the impeccable looks at the 10th edition of the prestigious AMVCAs, where the stars of Nigerian Showmax Originals exuded glitz and glamour.
Cheta M: The story so far
All the moments that have kept fans gripped in the epic romantic drama Cheta M, now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes landing Wednesday to Friday.
Meet the writers behind Showmax’s AMVCA-nominated series, Wura
Meet the exceptional writers behind the gripping Showmax series Wura, which has secured two nominations at the upcoming 10th AMVCA for Best Writing Series and Best Scripted Series.
Flawsome S2: A look back at the season as final episode is now streaming
Flawsome S2 delivered a rollercoaster of emotions. The season concludes following a captivating 13-episode run, and all the episodes are available to binge-watch on Showmax.