I just finished watching the first 2 episodes of Brotherhood. First, let me say their is some fine acting and some pretty decent script writing but if you can't get me within the first episode and not even the first 2 episodes then their is something just a bit off and that is what I get from Brotherhoood. Something that is a bit off. After giving it some thought, I realize what it is. Politics. I find stories about underhanded politicians uninteresting in a season. It its what we image real politics are like. The back alley deals, everyone seemingly owing everyone and in the end the family suffers as well as the public.
In the first episode, the prodigy brother returns and he is an old school Irish mafia type of guy. The crook with a heart of gold (of sorts). He is brutal but honest. He answers to no one and lives his life accordingly. Then you have his brother, the state representative who, on the outside, looks like the family guy. He means well, he is trying to do good, but he has to make these deals in order to get what he wants and not all are good. Its kinda like the road to hell is paved with good intentions sort of thing.
Other characters of note is Annabelle Gish, the politician's wife. Who is bored with her life, cheats and smoke pots while putting on the front of a loyal wife. (Thats really all the spoiler you are going to get). Annabelle Gish's character seems like a total waste and its a cookie cutter character meaning its been done a thousand time before. Then you got the mother, who clearly favors one son (the thug) over the other (the politician).
But in the end, this show seems like it arrived to late to the party. The Sopranos, the Wire, even the Corner had already covered this stuff. NBC tried it with the Black Donnelly's and it didn't find an audience either. I don't understand why Showtime is trying to do a cheap version of the Sopranos, when they already have excellent original programs like Weeds, Californication and my favorite, Dexter. Brotherhood just doesn't offer anything new or different in the whole Irish mob/politician thing. All this show really is doing is showing how the Irish are set in their ways and do we really need that stereotype? I give it a 6 out of 10 for the fine acting, the good writing and directing, but it missing out getting a higher mark because the subject matter have been done to death.
In the first episode, the prodigy brother returns and he is an old school Irish mafia type of guy. The crook with a heart of gold (of sorts). He is brutal but honest. He answers to no one and lives his life accordingly. Then you have his brother, the state representative who, on the outside, looks like the family guy. He means well, he is trying to do good, but he has to make these deals in order to get what he wants and not all are good. Its kinda like the road to hell is paved with good intentions sort of thing.
Other characters of note is Annabelle Gish, the politician's wife. Who is bored with her life, cheats and smoke pots while putting on the front of a loyal wife. (Thats really all the spoiler you are going to get). Annabelle Gish's character seems like a total waste and its a cookie cutter character meaning its been done a thousand time before. Then you got the mother, who clearly favors one son (the thug) over the other (the politician).
But in the end, this show seems like it arrived to late to the party. The Sopranos, the Wire, even the Corner had already covered this stuff. NBC tried it with the Black Donnelly's and it didn't find an audience either. I don't understand why Showtime is trying to do a cheap version of the Sopranos, when they already have excellent original programs like Weeds, Californication and my favorite, Dexter. Brotherhood just doesn't offer anything new or different in the whole Irish mob/politician thing. All this show really is doing is showing how the Irish are set in their ways and do we really need that stereotype? I give it a 6 out of 10 for the fine acting, the good writing and directing, but it missing out getting a higher mark because the subject matter have been done to death.