Conception

Brotherhood was created by New England native Blake Masters. Prior to creating the series, Masters made a living selling screenplays to film studios; however, he never got an original project produced. Masters' pitched Brotherhood to Executive Producer Elizabeth Guber Stephen as a feature film; the premise was inspired by the real-life Bulger brothers from Massachusetts: William M. Bulger was a prominent state politician and his brother, James J. Bulger, was the leader of the Irish-American crime family Winter Hill Gang.^[2] Stephen told Masters and his agent Brant Rose that it would work better as a series. Masters agreed to adapt it into a television series, reasoning that "the dynamic between the brothers was sustainable and compelling." Stephen brought Masters to present the idea to premium cable network Showtime, who were immediately receptive and financed the production of a pilot episode. After the pilot had been shot, it was shown to the Showtime executives, who ordered an entire season.^[3][4][5] Because of Masters' inexperience in producing television, Showtime executives asked him to find someone to help him spearhead the project. Masters, a fan of Homicide: Life on the Street, suggested Henry Bromell, who had previously worked on Homicide as a writer/executive producer. A meeting was arranged between Masters and Bromell through Showtime. Bromell was impressed with the pilot and accepted Masters' offer to join the production crew.^[6]

Crew

Executive producers Masters and Bromell served as showrunners and head writers during the production of the show's three seasons. Masters wrote five episodes of the first and second seasons, which consisted of eleven and ten episodes, respectively, and three of the third eight-episode season; Bromell wrote three episodes of the first season, five of the second and three of the third. The show has had three writers other than Masters and Bromell: the writing team of Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin, who wrote three episodes of the first season and served as co-executive producers, and executive producer Karen Hall, who wrote two episodes of the third season.

The pilot episode, "Mark 8:36", was directed by Australian director Phillip Noyce.^[5] Noyce's background in film drew some praise for his strong visual sense direction of the pilot but was also criticized for distracting from the writing and not fitting with the direction of later episodes.^[7] Noyce also directed the second season premiere. Veteran television director Ed Bianchi directed seven episodes of the show, including the first and second season finales, making him the show's most frequent director. Other recurring directors include Nick Gomez, who directed three episodes, and Steve Shill, Alik Sakharov and Brian Kirk who directed two episodes each. Jean de Segonzac, Leslie Libman, Thomas Carter, Michael Corrente, Seith Mann and Tim Hunter directed one episode each. Masters and Bromell have also directed the series, with Bromell having directed three episode and Masters two.

Sets and locations

The series was filmed largely on location in Providence, Rhode Island. After producer Elizabeth Guber Stephen was told they couldn't shoot in Boston due to budgetary reasons, Stephen worked out a deal with the Rhode Island Film Office.^[8] Stephen and her team also helped write the tax incentive legislation for film and television production in Rhode Island.^[4][9]

The Providence Journal editorialized on the production as follows:

The production of Showtime's The Brotherhood has enlivened Providence streets on and off for months ... An occasional loss of parking spaces to film crews and tax dollars for incentives to bring them here sets some teeth to grinding, but few don't feel the tingle of curiosity when approaching one of those star trailers ... Movies mean money, and film festivals lubricate our celloid (sic) culture in preparation for more.

— Editorial, Our own little Hollywood, Providence Journal.^[10]

Some scenes were filmed at the Olneyville New York System Restaurant in Providence and Woonsocket, Rhode Island.^[11]

Recurring characters

• Billy Smith as Jeff "Moe" Riley (Seasons 1–3) – One of Freddie's henchmen, he consistently shows a pathological lack of common sense and regard for other people, which makes him very unpopular with almost everyone, especially Michael. Thanks to events in the first season, Moe holds a grudge against Michael that persists through the whole series.
• Kerry O'Malley as Mary Kate Martinson, Michael and Tommy's sister
• Bates Wilder as Jimmy Martinson, Mary Kate's husband
• Madison Garland as Lila Caffee, Tommy and Eileen's daughter
• Kailey Gilbert as Noni Caffee, Tommy and Eileen's daughter
• Tina Benko as Kath Perry
• Karl Bury as Alex Byrne, Tommy's assistant (Seasons 1 & 2)
• Len Cariou as Judd Fitzgerald (Seasons 1 & 2)
• Kevin Conway as Neil Caffee
• John Fiore as Alphonse Nozzoli (Seasons 1-3)
• Michael Gaston as Mr. Speaker (Season 1)
• Damien Di Paola as Paul Carvalho
• Georgia Lyman as Cassie Giggs, Declan's wife
• Frank L. Ridley as Terry Mulligan
• Al Sapienza as Mayor Frank Panzarella
• Brian Scannell as Silent John
• Matt Servitto as Representative Donald Donatello, Speaker of the House
• Scottie Thompson as Shannon McCarthy (Season 1)

Season 1: 2006

The death of a local Irish mob figure, Patrick "Paddy" Mullin, allows for the return of Michael Caffee to "The Hill" neighborhood in Providence. Caffee had been in hiding for seven years after the man vowed to kill him. Upon returning he begins to re-assume his old criminal business alongside his friend Pete McConagle. Michael's boss Freddie Cork tries to blackmail Michael's politician brother Tommy Caffee into assigning him lucrative contracts with a threat to kill Michael. Tommy refuses to be swayed and tells Freddie that he does not care about Michael. Michael manages to arrange a temporary truce with Freddie. Eileen Caffee is cheating on her husband Tommy with Carl Hobbs and is also concealing drug use from her family.^[16][17]

Michael takes over a local store with threats. Tommy defuses the owners intentions to press charges by passing her on to Declan Giggs, an officer who was once friends with the Caffees. Giggs tells her it is too dangerous to testify against the Irish gangs.^[18][19] Michael also takes over a local bar named Mulligans.^[20][21] He rekindles his relationship with Kath Parry and realises how much she cares for him when she stands by him through a shoot out with Russian mobsters.^[22][23]

Tommy turns to Judd for help in preventing a highway being built through "The Hill" and is forced to give up more of his independence.^[24][25] Carl ends his relationship with Eileen.^[24][25] Treasury agents raid Rose Caffee's residence looking for counterfeit money belonging to Michael. They are unsuccessful but the scandal costs Tommy further political capital and he pledges his loyalty to the speaker of the house.^[26][27] Tommy uses his political influence to turn a profit^[28][29] but is outraged when he finds the speaker of the house stealing.^[22][23] Tommy maneuvers his way to the house majority leader position.^[22][23]

Michael helps Declan dispose of a body after Declan's partner unwittingly shoots an undercover FBI agent. Eileen's drug use intensifies and she is arrested for erratic behavior; Pete also gives in to his addiction and Michael takes him to Alcoholics Anonymous. Tommy's eldest daughter Mary Rose is caught trying some of her mother's drugs by Michael and he gives her a job in his store to keep an eye on her.^[28][29] Pete and Eileen realize their common ground.^[22][23]

A bus crash on the way back from a football game leaves several residents of "The Hill" dead. The accident was caused by the suicide of Freddie Cork's son, who was openly homosexual. Michael uses this information to manipulate Freddie. Freddie pressures Tommy into ensuring that his son receives a Roman Catholic requiem mass. Carl is also killed and Eileen resolves to atone for her sins. Marty Trio's wife is also killed and he finally decides to work with the police.^[30][31]

Neil Caffee arrives in town and Michael and Tommy form an uneasy alliance to get rid of their father. Rose confronts Michael about how he makes his living. Tommy discovers that his daughter has been working for Michael, ending their period of cooperation.^[32][33] Everyone in "The Hill" attends a big Irish wedding, as Tommy Caffee tries to avoid a legal trap set up by an ambitious U.S. Attorney, who has promised him immunity if he will testify about Michael's dealing with Freddie. He must also protect his brother from being whacked by Moe Riley, who has been released from prison and is out for revenge. Declan finds his partner may be a dirty cop and must decide where his loyalty lies. He blames Michael for making him "go bad" and pistol whips him.^[34][35]

The titles of all episodes in this season are from religious texts.

Season 2: 2007

Showtime renewed the show for a second season, consisting of 10 episodes (bringing the total number of episodes to 21.) Unlike episode titles from season one which were based Bible passages, season two episode titles were based on lyrics from songs written and performed by Bob Dylan. The first episode officially aired on September 30, 2007, with the season finale airing on December 2. However, on July 18, 2007, the first two episodes of season 2 were leaked to the internet via torrent.^[36]

The season begins a few months after the conclusion of season one. Michael has survived Declan's attack, though his awareness is compromised and he has no memory of the attack. Michael finds himself shut out of the mob's activity, with Freddie having sold the liquor store while Michael was sick. Desperate to prove his competence, Michael kills a jewish gangster who owes Freddie money, but not before having the first in a series of paralyzing seizures. Tommy has grown closer to Judd as he continues to counter Franklin's efforts against both Michael and himself. Judd asks Tommy to rein in Rep. Paul Carvalho, the Portuguese representative who is publicly backing a rival (Portuguese) candidate for U.S. senate in the upcoming election. Ellis Franklin has Tommy sit for a deposition about Michael and Freddie, but when he fails to tell Franklin what he wants to hear, Franklin sets up one of his detectives as a businessman looking to bribe Tommy for a state contract. When Tommy sees through the trap, he sets up Carvalho with the same detective, stalling Franklin's investigation and neutering Carvahlo's support for the rival candidate. Declan spirals out of control after Cassie leaves him and Moe blackmails him, as Moe is the only one who knows Declan tried to kill Michael at the Finnerty wedding. However, Declan assures Moe that if anyone finds out about the wedding, everyone will find out about Moe's deal with the Secret Service.

Season 3: 2008

The third season began airing on November 2, 2008 and consisted of 8 episodes. It ended on December 21, 2008. The titles of all episodes of season three are quotations from Shakespeare.^[37]

Season 3 begins in the late summer, some time after the events of Season 2. The fact that Tommy had known that Freddie planned to kill Michael at the Finnerty wedding and yet said nothing, ruptured the brothers’ relationship, with no immediate prospect of reconciliation. Michael has developed severe paranoia and is now on medication for his psychosis. He is still an informant for Franklin, although this arrangement is imperilled when Paul Carvalho, (the Portuguese politician whom Tommy had set up for bribery charges in Season 2) agrees to talk to the authorities and Jack Boyle arranges Freddie’s release from prison. Michael knows that Freddie will contract Nozzolli to kill him, so he attempts to remove Nozolli by implicating him in a deal to sell HGH supplied by a local dentist, and then exposing the scheme to Franklin. The DEA have been watching the dentist for months and swoop first. Franklin does not care that Michael’s plan has failed, and mocks him. Michael beats him to death. Tommy is still majority leader, although his unsuccessful attempt at capturing the speakership has forced him to become Speaker Donatello's errand boy. This brings him into contact with Brian Kilpatrick, a developer who wants the state to buy decrepit industrial property on the city's waterfront. Eileen, now pregnant, is consequently finding her new duties at Social Services difficult. Tommy wants to quit politics and promises Eileen that they will leave The Hill within two years. The episode concludes with a meeting between Tommy, Kilpatrick and the president of Bodie Company, with Tommy telling the president that he will get a lucrative stake in the waterfront if he buys all of the holdings of Tommy's Landowne development company.

Michael's morality

In an interview relating to the series, Jason Isaacs described Michael as follows: "Well actually, Michael Caffee is not a bad guy. I wouldn't have done this if he was a bad guy. He's a really interesting man. He has a really strict ethical code that he adheres to and he thinks he is better for the neighborhood and the future of the city than his brother is. He thinks his brother is corrupt. He's part of the system."^[14]

Ratings

Despite having a subpar total viewership of 540,000, Showtime renewed the series for a second season due to its critical acclaim.^[47][48] The second season aired in the fall of 2007 as the lead-out for Dexter, which helped boost ratings to 651,000 viewers.^[49][50] It was renewed for a third season consisting of eight episodes on January 21, 2008.^[49]

Critical response

Many critics compared the series to The Sopranos.^{[2][7][13][44]} Some felt that it was actually closer in tone to another HBO drama The Wire^[2][7] in portraying "a fine-textured portrait of a blue-collar city"^[13] and predicted the series would face a comparable struggle in finding an audience.^[13] LA Weekly stated that the show may be more satisfying in its emotional payoffs for viewers than the sixth season of The Sopranos.^[7] Critics have characterized the show as being part of a wave of programming that put Showtime on a level with their pay cable rival HBO for quality.^[2][48]

Critics praised the central performances of Clarke and Isaacs.^{[2][7][13][46]} They have also commented on the authenticity in casting down to the minor roles and the strong characterization of the supporting cast.^[7][43][13] The Hollywood Reporter named the show as the one to watch over the summer it debuted and stated that the ensemble of well-drawn characters creates a "reality that speaks to the collision of interests, the dispersal of power and the impossibility of effective compromise."^[43] The Phoenix singled out Annabeth Gish's against-type role as an adulterous addict as potentially re-defining for her career.^[13] Phil Gallo of Variety said that Isaacs' performance as Michael provides the lifeblood of the series.^[46] Frazier Moore of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer described the show as a "masterpiece"^[44] and Gallo called it "the jewel Showtime has sought for years."^[46] Writing of the third season, Ginia Bellafante of The New York Times wrote, "No show on television has better captured the will to ethnic insularity".^[51]

On review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes, season 1 has an approval rating of 71% based on 21 reviews. The site’s critics consensus reads, "Brotherhood achieves an authentic sense of place while unleashing ferociously good actors onto a story rife with thought-provoking moral quandaries, but some viewers may find the series too glum and patient in its storytelling."^[52] Season 2 has an approval rating of 80% based on 5 reviews.^[53] Season 3 has an approval rating of 88% based on 8 reviews.^[54]

Among the criticisms of the show were that it lacked the humorous approach of Italian-American gangster stories like A Bronx Tale, Goodfellas, and The Sopranos,^[55] resulting in the series incorporating more black humor into season two onward.^[48]

Accolades

The show was a 2006 Peabody Award winner.^[56]