(S01E01) I have a confession to make. I'm an idiot and didn't re-prioritize some Season Passes My TiVo failed to record the first 15 minutes of The Black Donnellys and I missed it. Not the gesture of someone who is supposed to write up a review, I know.
Luckily for me, NBC has been like the pushy neighborhood crack dealer with this show and airs no less than 10 promos an hour and has a healthy web presence, which has already spawned a number of fan sites which made it easy to familiarize myself with what I missed.
They also made the show available for free on iTunes, so I downloaded it this morning and watched/listened to it on the drive to work thanks to an auxiliary input in my Jetta. So what does the first 20% of this review have in common with the first 20% of The Black Donnellys? Back story, only mine is pure drivel while the show's is critical to the advancement of the plot.
The first 12 or so minutes is dedicated to introducing us to the main characters of this saga, starting with the pathological embellisher Joey "Ice Cream", who also doubles as the show's narrator. Despite having the worst nickname on television, I appreciate the Ice Cream's flair for fibbing. We all know people who talk in a manner that paints them in a more positive light. While we usually don't like them, Joey is so entertaining we can kind of forgive him.
From the get go we glean quite a bit of information about the protagonists:
Tommy Donnelly is the good brother who spends an inordinate amount of his time keeping his three brothers from being completely consumed by the chaos they tend to create. He does this all while pursuing an art degree at a local university.
Jimmy Donnelly is a heroin junkie with a limp and will know doubt be the source for most of the angst the brothers experience throughout the show as he proved in this episode. He also won a run-down bar in a bet which is fortunate for him since he also loves the sauce.
Kevin Donnelly is a chronic gambler whose gene pool was sadly skipped over when the whole "luck of the Irish" thing was being allocated.
Sean Donnelly is the younger brother, lacking in real-world experience but he probably doesn't care much because the ladies love him.
Finally, Jenny Reilly is a childhood friend who has a thing for Tommy as she discloses late in the episode. She's also married and because I can't think of anything else memorable about the character - she's smoking hot. I need to remember to ping the IMDB to see what else she's been in.
Of course, this is an oversimplification of characters who will no doubt grow to be pretty dynamic over the course of the season, but it's a decent summary of the people as we see them.
Whenever I start watching a show or movie where the main characters speak with an accent, it always takes me a little while to acclimate and understand what they're saying. The accents really aren't that strong, which can probably be attributed to these characters living in Hell's Kitchen all their lives, but I still found myself having to break out the eight second rewind occasionally when one of the characters went all Rocky Balboa on me.
This pilot focuses mostly on Tommy, although his brothers all play an integral part in moving the plot along. To say this pilot was crammed full of story would be an understatement. After the introductions end we are quickly thrust into the story where Brother Gambler ends up owing someone between three and four thousand dollars while losing at a game he doesn't know how to play.
Jimmy cooks up a scheme to help Kevin out of debt by stealing a shipment of shirts and selling them for .50 cents a pop, only the shirts are stolen before this transaction can take place. I got a kick out of seeing Jimmy's face every time one of the shirts made an appearance on different characters throughout the rest of the show. Nice comic relief. Did anyone else notice the shirts looked like they were tailored in the early 90's? Do present day New Yorkers really where stuff like this? If so, do they also still drink Crystal Pepsi or wear Panda Coin Rings? I need to know these things. I digress.
I can't say I was too surprised when Jimmy kidnapped Sal's nephew for ransom, nor was I surprised when Sean got the hemoglobin kicked out of him in retaliation, but I was quite surprised to find a bullet going through the nephew's head at minute 28 of the show.
I think it's critical that an event of this magnitude happened so soon because it changed the shows pacing from fast to blazing, and I'm willing to wager it kept anyone who was wavering glued to their TVs to see what would transpire.
If there's one thing this show beats you over the head with, it's the fact that blood is thicker than any substance on the planet and that these brothers would shimmy through all seven circles of hell with their extremities cut off just to keep one of their siblings from feeling pain.
This is essentially what happens throughout the entire show leading up to the climatic end when Tommy has his young Michael Corleone moment and simultaneously protects his family, starts a gang war, and becomes the undisputed leader in his community - all by offing a mob boss.
Ultimately, we learn the reason for Tommy's dedication to his brother Jimmy. I found it a little contrived that Tommy was responsible for Jimmy's gimpiness. I don't think this detail was really needed to convey Tommy's devotion to his brother. Regardless, I guess the writers thought viewers could empathize with the fact that it's often hard to forgive ourselves for the ways we've harmed people in the past. Necessary? Hardly, but whatever it takes to get a point across, you know?
Overall, this was a pretty loaded pilot that did a good job of capturing my imagination. I'm actually a little surprised at how well I feel I know these characters. It usually takes me a little while to start caring about characters. That's either a testament to good writing or a decent job by the actors. Most likely it's a combination of both.
Whatever the case, I'm excited to see what happens next week. I can't quite say I'm hooked, but if future shows hold my attention like this one, it won't take long before I am.
Now, let the Irish Godfather/Sopranos comments commence.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-27-2007 @ 12:12PM
Steve said...
although they said the show is about 4 brothers living in Hell's Kitchen, it is definately not Hell's Kitchen. A lot of people are saying it is Long Island City in Queens. I thought it was Spanish Harlem.
So many character's names to remember. Hopefully the show lasts long enough to learn them.
Jenny is Marissa's girlfriend from The OC.
Jimmy is the kid from The Sandlot.
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2-27-2007 @ 12:33PM
Forrest said...
I really enjoyed the show. After the first few minutes of character introductions, it really had my attention the entire show and I kept looking at the clock hoping that the show would go on a bit longer. It definitely had the feel of Boondock Saints IMO. At last count, there were 5 guys shot to death, 1 guy got his throat slit,1 brother was beaten senseless, and the bartender started a fight with a patron. If that's not Bookdock Saints...I don't know what is! Looking forward to next week and directing my friends to watch the pilot on iTunes.
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2-27-2007 @ 1:07PM
Hank said...
The SETTING is Hell's Kitchen; but like every other show that shoots in New York, the five boros get neatly compress so that even Tottenville is within a subway ride of Harlem (There is no subway on Staten Island); and Shea Stadium is withing walking distance of the Empire State Building (about 10 miles in a straight line).
My favorite of this is when 'Upstate' is a local boy scout camp within the city limits, and Hoboken, NJ doubles for Penn Station. (See various episodes of Third Watch, Law and Order in its variations)
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2-27-2007 @ 1:13PM
khamel said...
the girl is super hot. its the only reason im going to watch the next episode. its like a bad version of sleepers gone wrong. actually its like if brotherhood had sex with sleepers and the child was born 2 months premature. i am a tv whore so i'll give everyone a try but this could come off the tivo quickly.
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2-27-2007 @ 1:22PM
JJ Hawkins said...
I thought he dropped an F-bomb too, but I skipped back and he definitely says "bug off". I thought I was watching HBO or FX for a second...
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2-27-2007 @ 1:23PM
Curt said...
meh, I didn't think too highly of it. It could be that it was a pilot and most pilots suck, but it just seems to be another TV cliche.
Though I was surprised to here the F-bomb on NBC unchecked. And from a kid no less.
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2-27-2007 @ 1:39PM
bobinnv said...
This is another show where there are no good guys. The main characters kidnap, rob and murder. Why am I supposed to care about these 4 jerks?
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2-27-2007 @ 1:46PM
kip said...
The show started off well but it seemed like it did nto know how ot end the episode. I guess I'm spoiled with the wire but seeign instantaneous implosion of characters to go to the very dark side is somethign that Isuually liek a little development for. I think the show is moving a bit too fast for its own good and its making the criminals out to be idiots with some really good luck.
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2-27-2007 @ 2:01PM
Hugeliver said...
I thought this show was great! I may be prejudice because the writer is from my town (London, Ontario, Canada) but I thought it was just great.
VERY Boondock's Saints. That's true.
One complaint...what was with the Scarface music when they were making the drop? I know the uncle was the assassin in Scarface so was this done on purpose? It sounded JUST like the ominous music heard at the beginning (hell, throughout) Scarface.
GOD I hope this one lasts since 24 has gone to pot.
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2-27-2007 @ 2:32PM
Frankie said...
It was fine but I doubt that I will tune in again. I just couldn't buy the fact that these guys were tough. Take the gun out of their hands and they lose almost every fight.
Too bad.
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2-27-2007 @ 2:46PM
Frank said...
I really like this episode, but I could definitely see why people may be turned off.
At times, it was definitely a little cliched and they do beat you over the head with themes they want to get across. But that's what you get with Haggis and Moresco.
Still, interesting characters (even if they do border on charicatures at time), fast paced, fun, weaving plot. Definitely some potential here.
I already care more about the Donnellys than ANYONE on Studio 60...
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2-27-2007 @ 3:04PM
sharonlee said...
You had a good show with Studio 60, smart, funny & creative but you did not give it a chance. This show is about as complicated as your review. Now we have young bad boys, who turn into gun slinging bad men in bad neighborhoods. Don't we have enough of this stuff already. No reason to turn on the tv on Mondays anymore same old same old. No wonder Netflex does so well!
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2-27-2007 @ 3:22PM
Jack said...
Well I loved the show, it may have the same flow as Boondocks does and alittle sleepers but holds its own very well. For those of you who dont understand why we should feel for these characters, let me help you. If you are not a brother or have ever had someone as close to your hear as one, you will never understand. In this world good does not always get a fair shake, so with the good you must have the bad to prevail. But in closing, I'm a brother and someone who was brought up to always put my brothers above all else......so you must see where my heart lies.
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2-27-2007 @ 5:00PM
Greg said...
I don't know sharonlee, I tried. I really, really tried to like Studio 60. Just didn't happen.
TBD started with a few good gutpunches and, while it seemed uneven, I'll give it points for being the pilot. I hope the next episode someone turns on the lights, 'cause I couldn't see a damned thing last night.
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2-28-2007 @ 8:49AM
Pamela said...
I really enjoyed the show and liked it better than Studio 60.
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2-28-2007 @ 11:57AM
Jackie said...
The bar they filmed at is the Parkside Lounge in the Lower East Side (E. Houston) and much of the street scenes are from that area, but it doesn't jive with the elevated subway.
The Parkside is a dive bar, but a pleasant enough one. I included some shots of the area in my own blog entry about the show.
I had the series figured for Boston before it aired as the Irish mob scene in NY pales to the one there these days, but I was glad to see real familiar territory and enjoyed the premiere.
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3-03-2007 @ 6:39PM
La Ritt said...
I only saw Studio 60 once, and I just had no interest in the trials and tribulations of TV executives and actors.
I did love TBD. I thought it was fast, funny, dark, great. I'm looking forward to the next episodes. I think I'm going to like a show about bad people for a change. I'm getting sick and tired of all the virtuous law enforcement characters.Although I do not watch that much tv, so there may be better shows that don't feature solving crimes.
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3-05-2007 @ 1:26AM
sam said...
"I had the series figured for Boston before it aired as the Irish mob scene in NY pales to the one there these days, but I was glad to see real familiar territory and enjoyed the premiere."
You're right about the Irish mob in Boston, and to be honest, after hearing that this show has been in the works since '96, I wouldn't be surprised if the original setting was in Southy (Boston), but after The Departed came out, they couldn't have it set in Southy or Dorchester or anywhere in that area.
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3-06-2007 @ 10:05AM
kagemiller said...
After watching the first episode, I would say I am hooked. Along the line of Boondock Saints (which is one of my favourite movies) it also reminded me of Sleepers for some reason. I think we all just need to give it a couple of episodes. My husband watched the premier last Monday and couldn't get into it, but then watched the re-run with me on Thursday and said he really didn't give it a chance and got into the second time.
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