Brotherhood

What’s the Story?

Set in a fictional Irish neighborhood in Providence, R.I., known as "The Hill," BROTHERHOOD begins with state rep. Tommy Caffee (Jason Clarke) -- a hardworking, ambitious family man -- fielding rumors that his wayward brother, Michael (Jason Isaacs) -- a former gangster with blood on his hands -- is back in town after seven years on the run from the FBI. When Michael finally shows up, claiming he's changed his ways, Tommy and his wife (Annabeth Gish) remain wary, while the Caffee boys' mother (Fionnula Flanagan) is just happy to know he's alive. But it doesn't take long for Michael's presence to start stirring things up on The Hill, engaging Tommy in a precarious dance between family loyalty and the law.

Is It Any Good?

Brotherhood packs a wallop in terms of foul language and graphic violence, but it also offers complex characters whose motivations run deep. Critically speaking, this gritty Showtime drama scores big points for nailing the complexities of the American Dream and taking the time to develop characters who are both good and bad at the same time. But on the road to exploring the theme, too much blood (and sex and verbal carnage) is spilled along the way. The result is an intriguing study of the gray area between good and bad and the age-old theme of sibling rivalry in the vein of Cain and Abel. But make no mistake: It's a show for adults only; this is probably one of the worst shows kids could watch -- so parents should plan to enjoy it on their own time.