7 shows like Ray Donovan to watch if you miss Ray Donovan

Liev Schreiber, Ray donovan
Jeff Neumann / SHOWTIME
Liev Schrieber’s Ray Donovan may be TV’s best repairman, but there’s one thing he can’t fix: the fact that the Showtime drama series Ray donovan is finished. The series about a man who solved other people’s problems, for a price, ran for seven seasons before being bowed out in 2020, and also starred Jon Voight, Paula Malcomson and Eddie Marsan. But Ray managed to get one last solution; Showtime has announced that it will conclude Ray’s story with a film, due for release in 2022.
However, that doesn’t solve our problems of what to watch until then. Let us “fix” that for you with this show list like Ray donovan, whether they feature brooding protagonists, criminal underworld, or the dirtiest side of Los Angeles.
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Looking for more recommendations on what to watch next? We have a ton! And if you’re looking for more handpicked recommendations based on the shows you love, we also have them.
Billion

Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis, Billion
Jeff Neumann / SHOWTIME
Ray donovan and Billion don’t talk about the same things – Ray donovanis a repairman for the rich and Billion talks about the rich struggle to get richer – but when you talk about energy, both Showtime shows definitely come from the same machismo. Ray donovanarrogance can be felt in Billion, which is easily the most masculine show on television. Billion follows American lawyer Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) as he watches hedge fund manager Bobby “Ax” Axelrod (Damian Lewis) like a hawk for any illegal transaction while Ax flaunts his billions of dollars in Chuck’s face . It’s a cock-measuring contest between characters who aren’t quite likable, and that’s exactly the point. [Watch on Showtime, Amazon Prime Video (with Showtime add-on)]
Perry mason

Matthieu Rhys, Perry mason
HBO
Ray donovan is a twist on the dramas of yesteryear, where a tough guy goes all out to solve a problem, whether it’s a detective working on an investigation, a law enforcement sheriff, or a lawyer dealing with a difficult case. HBO Perry mason takes a similar approach, taking it to the next level: it’s a remake of the classic 50s series Perry mason, but it updates his character for modern audiences by making him an alcoholic, pugnacious war veteran who happens to be a fantastic private investigator (and later in the series, a lawyer). Like Ray, Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys) treats the rules simply as suggestions, making him a protagonist that you don’t always respect but can’t help but admire. And the two are more than willing to swing a baseball bat with great effect. [Watch on HBO Max]
The shield

Walton Goggins and Michael Chiklis, The shield
20thCentFox / Everett Collection
As mentioned above, Ray Donovan is one of television’s great anti-heroes: a smart guy who dabbles in criminal activity and who we can only root for. If you are looking for other great antiheroes, you have to start with the greatest of all time (with excuses for breaking Badby Walter White: Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) by The shield, FX’s legendary crime drama that aired from 2002 to 2008. The series follows a unit of the Los Angeles Police Department known as the Strike Team that uses rather dubious methods to keep the peace (or their version of it). in a neighborhood plagued by gangs. Corruption among cops is rampant, with excessive force and evidence tampering with normal procedure as a means of achieving its ends. And like Ray, Mackey considers himself a family man, although not everyone agrees. [Watch on Hulu]
Bosch

Titus Welliver, Bosch
Amazon
Second billing after Ray donovanThe main character of ‘goes to the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, which lies in the shadow of the glitz and glamor of Hollywood. Amazon Prime Videos Bosch explores that same gritty part of the City of Angels, bypassing stardom and following Detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) as he cleans the streets and battles his own demons. Bosch is much more of a detective series than Ray donovan, but like in the Showtime drama, it’s not always easy to tell who the good guys are, as Bosch is often the subject of internal investigations for things he may or may not have done. What if you were drawn to Ray donovan due to Liev Schrieber’s impressive performances, wait and see what Welliver can do. [Watch on Amazon Prime Video]
Animal Kingdom

Ellen Barkin, Animal Kingdom
If there is a show on this list that exists in the same universe as Ray donovan (previously named Donove), this is SoCal’s crime drama Animal Kingdom, which debuted on TNT in 2016. The show stars Ellen Barkin as Janine “Smurf” Cody, who runs a family of criminals that includes her three sons and the new gang member, her grandson. 17 year old son. Things are as dramatic at home as they are at work, as each member of the family has their own unique issues to deal with resulting in clashes as everyone struggles for power. [Watch on Amazon Prime Video]
Banshee

Antoine Starr, Banshee
Cinemax
Ray donovan wallow lovingly in the grit and grime of the detective drama genre, where the tough guys swell their chests and get hit in the face. Well if you like to see faces get hit then you must watch the black series Banshee, which ran from 2013 to 2016 on Cinemax but is now finally easy to watch now that it has found a streaming home on HBO Max. Antoine Starr (The boys‘Homelander) stars as Lucas Hood, a runaway criminal who finds new life by posing as the sheriff of a small town in Pennsylvania. There, he continues his criminal streak undercover while avoiding the ghosts of his past. Banshee is well known for its skin and sin, but underneath you’ll find a luscious action show with some incredibly funny and weird characters. [Watch on HBO Max]
Mr. Between

Scott Ryan, Mr. Between
Joël Pratley / FX
FX Mr. Between make this list the show for Ray donovan fans looking to relax. But don’t think Australian hitman comedy is just for laughs. This under-the-radar gem was created by and stars Scott Ryan as Ray Shoesmith, the Assassin for Hire. Like this other Ray, this Ray’s occupation makes good use of his natural tendencies towards violence, which only causes problems in his personal life as he tries to be a good father to his daughter with his ex- wife while taking care of her sick brother. Mr. Between has all the dark comedy you’d expect from a hitman show – there’s a lot of violence to be laughed at – but also has an extremely huge heart as Ray works to become a better man for his family. [Watch on Hulu]
Ray donovan is now airing on Showtime.