This is whynot many shows even attempt switching gears once they’ve developed a pattern.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
But what about redemption?
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How does a show about family become stronger by removing one of its main characters?
She was the glue that kept the Donovan family together through thick and thin and countless tragedies.
Up until “Horses,” Season 5 seemed flat.
Image via Showtime
It appeared as if the show had run out of gas and was going through the motions.
While the strategy is not new, it hasn’t always worked.
The most well-known instance in recent memory was the character arc ofSkyler, played byAnna GunninBreaking Bad.
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This was the tightrope that the creators ofRay Donovanhad to walk.
In the end, it turned out to be the right decision.
The power and autonomy to end life on her termsallowed Abby toemerge as a fully formed person.
It also made the show go in a different, deeper direction.
Who’s the ultimate kingpin?
A straightforward narrative would have killed off the suspense and led to a tone of causality.
Abby’s passing also reshapes the Donovan family dynamics.
The episode was undoubtedly a turning point that changed the course of the show.
