It’s hard to say, actually, since the series is a lot more like HBO’s “The Wire” (or the short-lived “Boomtown”) than the popular mobster drama, namely because it focuses on several different parties including the politicians, the gangsters, and law enforcement. What I can tell you, though, is that this is Showtime’s best new series in years. It’s just a shame that a lot of people won’t get a chance to see it, since, when deciding which premium channel to fork over extra money for, almost everyone sides with HBO.
Starring Jason Isaacs and Jason Clarke as two Irish brothers from different walks of life, “Brotherhood” takes place in Providence, Rhode Island where politics and crime practically go hand-in-hand. After a seven-year departure from “The Hill,” the block of Providence assigned to brother and state representative Tommy Caffe (Clarke), small-time gangster Michael (Isaacs) – or three-part Mike to his friends – has finally returned. A virtual Boondock Saint in his own right (minus the whole religious mumbo jumbo), Michael’s nickname is derived from his habit of acting as “judge, jury and execution” in matters he really has no business sticking his nose into. Of course, that doesn’t stop him from going all “Reservoir Dogs” on one of gangland boss Freddie Cork’s (Kevin Chapman) guys after seeing the punk beat up a couple on the street.
This role might finally bring Jason Isaacs the credit he deserves, and while we’ve seen plenty of hard-boiled gangster types win awards in the past (i.e. James Gandolfini, Michael Chiklis and Ian McShane), that shouldn’t detract from the obvious: this character is Emmy gold, should the writers point him in the right direction. The rest of the series is littered with familiar faces, from Ethan Embry as a police detective hot on Freddie Cork’s tracks, Annabeth Gish as Tommy’s seemingly loyal wife, and the amazing Fionula Flanagan as the Irish mother of the two boys.
Showtime certainly isn’t reinventing the wheel here with their latest series, but it’s got me excited for the possibilities. Does that mean that I’m going to rush out and order Showtime before the season premiere on July 9th? Probably not, but it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on.
