Brotherhood: Season 3

Film and television audiences have held stories concerning organized crime with a certain fascination. Perhaps it is the sense of going against the bond of law and social restrictions that allows us to live vicariously if only for a brief time. One connection to us law abiding citizens is the strong code of behavior that even these criminals are held to an internal ethical code that they dare not break. There is a feeling of tradition that pervades the mob thriller that in some dark way fills the need for such continuity within most people. In the forties the crime thriller was one of the most popular genres in the world. It was responsible for creating such stars as Jimmy Cagney and Edward G. Robinson their performances enthralled audiences and set the standard for the genre that has lasted until recently. With the rapid increase of original series programming on premium networks such as HBO and Showtime the bar has been reset to include a higher level of adult themes, violence and strong language. It is not just the exploitation of the relaxed standards and practices that has altered the audiences’ expectations the quality of these series typically ranks up there with the best acting, direction and writing on television or film. One of the most popular and successful formats for this genre concerns the age old theme of sibling rivalry specifically between brothers. This turbulent relationship has been chronicled throughout time and was the driving force with the very first act of violence recorded in the Bible. This was echoed as a theme in those golden age gangster flicks where inevitably one brother grew up to become a criminal while the other was either a priest or the District Attorney. One recent series on the up and coming Showtime cable network was ‘Brotherhood’. Unfortunately the past tense is applicable since the third season is officially the last adding another name on the growing list of ‘Brilliant but Cancelled’.

After HBO brought cable original series to a whole new level the other premium networks had to hustle to keep up. Showtime has not only caught up but in several cases managed to exceed their worthy rival. The case under consideration here is ‘Brotherhood’, a taut, extremely well crafted series that helps to redefine this very specific genre. It takes all the elements that made those old gangster flicks so much fun to watch and perfectly blends it with the modern requirements for gritty realism as a backdrop for an intriguing character study. There is a touch of soap opera used in the construction of this series. Now this is by no means intended as a pejorative comment; just the opposite, it is high praise. The soap opera is one of the most effective ways to tell a story that consists of tightly interwoven arcs. When executed properly, as it is here, the result is the most addictive form of storytelling. Unlike most prime time series using this format the characters are from blue collar backgrounds that provides a means for a broad cross section of the audience to identify with the characters. The brothers at the center of the drama here are the Caffee brothers Michael and his younger brother Tommy. True to the traditional road taken in this genre Michael is a criminal by trade and is very successful at plying it. In contrast Tommy has dedicated his life to public service with ambitions that extend far beyond his initial position in the Rhode Island House of Representatives. His myopic concentration on his career has come at the cost of his relationship with his neglected wife Eileen (Annabeth Gish). It is impossible to tell a story like this without a consideration of the family. The matriarch of the clan Caffee is Rose (Fionnula Flanagan). She is the prototypical Irish mother; extremely strong willed, demanding able to manipulate everyone in her sphere of influence. A constant source of trouble for Tommy and Eileen is their wild child eldest daughter Mary Rose (Fiona C. Erickson). She is a nightmare for a politician acting out with stealing and drug use

It is a shame the third season was the last; the show still had plenty left to tell. In many ways this series is about the dichotomy of good and evil that lurks within us all. The story highlighted the fact that in a tale like this absolutely nothing is black or white. All the characters, no matter what side of the law they ostensibly are on are motivated by a myriad of motivations none of which are completely consistent with the traditional ideas of good and evil. At least all three seasons are available on DVD and perfect for a couple of weekend marathons. I had never been into the shoe until I had an opportunity to review and instantly became a fan. This is the chance to watch a well crafted series so don’t let it slip by.

Posted 09/26/09