Smitty’s Inferno: Death by Donovan

Eyes soft & spongy, lips pulled over the face, an airway reduced to that of a straw. Smitty collapses on granite, a mistaken bullet finding the wrong residence. An accidental home invasion with no insurance. The mind races helplessly to reset one hour back but finds time only moving forward. Caught in the 9 circles of Donovan.

This article contains spoilers for Ray Donovan Season 7.

The future is always bright on paper. Smitty’s wife had just held onto his hand again like the day they walked down the aisle at City Hall. Tomorrow was a canvas slathered with the dazzling neon-paint of Los Angeles and fond memories. A reverie soaked in nostalgia of when everyday was made of the sweetest licorice and a relationship bloomed effortlessly. Yet, revisiting the past is rarely the same the second time around.

Smitty will never have the license to steer towards that realization. He’ll never even arrive at his wife’s prescribed cure-all destination. Instead just like his grandfather-in-law before him, Smitty’s brief happiness will be sullied and debased. A future in his grasp, fingertips length, that can never be reached. Look but don’t touch, imagine but don’t clutch. Each Donovan quick fix, every patch on the 50-year old rusty pipe, was always bound to spring another leak… Until the resulting flood sank its teeth into another victim like a Python, head struggling under water. This time, it was Smitty’s turn. Submerged by the family he married into.

(L-R): Josh Hamilton as Kevin Sullivan, Jon Voight as Mickey Donovan and Graham Rogers as Smitty in RAY DONOVAN, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Photo Credit: Karolina Wojtasik/SHOWTIME.

Play the blame game. Blame Declan, Mickey, Daryll, Bridget, Ray, Smitty himself. Everyone shared a part, no one’s truly innocent, no one’s hands are clean… But no finger point will bring Smitty back. No matter where it’s extended. Smitty’s last moments were spent lying in the middle of the road, face up, staring at his real presumed future. Abandoned.

Collateral damage in the crossfire of a war he was drafted into and never signed up for. Blood streaming from his neck with no end in sight. Smitty’s so-called family turn into onlooking voyeurs. All collectively suffering from the Bystander effect. The fresh bouquet of flowers Smitty purchased for Bridget escaping his iron grip. Now, newly loose as spaghetti.

Jon Voight as Mickey Donovan in RAY DONOVAN, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Photo Credit: Karolina Wojtasik/SHOWTIME.

Mickey momentarily picks up the flowers, body fully tensed, tuned into fight or flight mode. The last remnants of Smitty’s hopes and dreams in Mickey’s hands. He chooses flight. Dumping the bouquet on the ground unceremoniously. Escaping Smitty’s misfortune to save himself, like every time before. Fleeing guilt itself. Each petal forsaken to its fate. Deserted on the fields of battle. After ‘Treachery’ comes the 10th circle, Donovan.

Be sure to read Smitty’s big decision on Ray Donovan: Would you do the same? and A father playing favorites leads to Ray Donovan tragedy: Brother vs Brother. Check out more coverage in the Ray Donovan Articles section!