There are certainly no shortage of guest stars in Ray Donovan Season 3.

With the introduction of the Finney family, there seems to be endless possibilities for stories to be told as they literally have their hands in every segment of the business world, from sports, to politics, to film studios, as we learned on Ray Donovan Season 3 Episode 4.

You never know what's going to pop up next, and that's kind of fun in this new world of Ray's. But it's definitely not all fun and games. In fact, from his standpoint, it's pretty much the opposite.

Ray must hate being at the beck and call of the Finney family. For much of the hour, I was angry Finney hadn't even bothered to tell him his purpose, so it must have been driving Ray nuts. And, dammit, with his skill set, they should have at least given him that courtesy.

Varick called out of the blue to rouse Ray into work mode (and chauffeur mode) so he could bring Casey Finney to an important meeting at a film studio. Casey kept calling it "his studio." How much work does a dingbat who finds inspiration on a box of Trix really do in any given year? I'm guessing not much, especially considering Paige and Finney were working a sale of said studio under Casey's nose. 

Cheryl Ladd made an appearance as game show hostess, Tina, stuck in the cogs of the Finney family wheel, same as Ray. Maybe that will be Ray's purpose, to figure out a way to give a voice to those who can't do it for themselves.

When guest star Jack Wagner, who played the host of the game show, pretty much slammed Tina's idea of guest hosting, Ray bitch slapped him across the face – twice – much to the amusement of Paige. Of course Tina had her chance at hosting and was far more than tits and ass, which was the host's worry all along. Ray knows his stuff.

Then, in one fell swoop, Paige had a moment of drug induced weakness, sharing not only her feelings about Ray's hire but why she has those damn braces!

Paige: [on the couch in pain] God, I got these f--king braces 'cause I thought they'd help the headaches, but they only make it worse. There's a surgery, but I just haven't had any time. You do know why my dad hired you, right?
Ray: No.
Paige: Because he doesn't want to face the f--king things he's done.

• Permalink: Because he doesn't want to face the f--king things he's done.

Shortly thereafter, Finney decided to sell the studio, a sale the profits with which Paige hoped to bring an NFL team to Los Angeles, build a stadium and rise to unimaginable heights...or something. She considers her father an opponent. Finney reminds Ray he works only for him and as difficult as things will become to remember that as things proceed. 

How difficult will things be going forward? The Finney family sure puts the Donovans to the test when it comes to dysfunctional. Paige's call at the end leads me to believe her father, while hoping to retire, is somewhat worried about her competition and not ready to give up the reins just yet. After what we witnessed with the quarterback and the Navy Seal, perhaps he's hoping she mellows just a little. It wouldn't be a bad thing.

What has Finney done that we have yet to find out? No doubt it will somehow coincide with the skeletons in the Donovan family closet. That pesky priest has yet to rear his ugly head again. What is he waiting for? The calm.

Ray: Get your ass home, Abby.
Abby: You get your ass home, you f--kin' hypocrite.

• Permalink: You get your ass home, you f--kin' hypocrite.

Abby's trip to Boston was refreshing. It's about time we got to know a little bit more about her outside of her life with Ray. She's been relegated to the screeching wife long enough. She, too, was shaped by her life before Los Angeles, before Ray. Let's see what she's made of outside of the Donovans. 

Frankly, I can't think of a better storyline for her at this moment, just off an affair and into a marriage with little left. She needs to remember who she was before she got so wrapped up in the life she's been living and let us know who that person was, too. For the first time, I'm enjoying Abby. Her family gives her some spark.

Conor was never going to be able to make it on his own. He's still a kid. But Bridget is there to get him through. I'm going to really hope this teacher storyline doesn't go down some weird path, because right now there is an opportunity for a nice student/teacher bond to form. The old-fashioned kind, where the two really got to know each other and learn from one another. Please let that be the case here. 

As an aside, I just now realized that Ray Donovan Season 3 Episode 3 was named after the scene in which Ray was watching Three's Company. Sometimes things take an entire week to come up and bash me upside the head to truly sink in.

That said, where the hell is everybody? Surely you haven't stopped watching this brilliant show. Are you all watching the train wreck that is True Detective? I'm glad I can't be a Nielsen family (not just because of this job, believe it or not, I'm banned for other reasons), because I'd be kicking myself for the privilege of having early access to this brilliant show while spiking the numbers of that other Sunday night bomb. Just saying – get on board!

"Breakfast of Champions" was another great episode. Ray's home, but for how long? He better let Dog into the house. Was anybody else grinning from ear to ear when that beast started scratching on the door? Both of Abby's men came home as soon as she flew the coop. She should do it more often. C'mon guys. Drop us a comment!

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.