History Series / Brotherhood

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: Tommy ultimately manages to become Speaker of the House and he's no longer distant from his family, though it comes at the cost of him crossing the line by having Freddy kill the developer who was going to testify against him in order to keep himself out of prison(which results in Declan failing to get justice once again and he ends the series alone after Kath and him realize they are too toxic together to ever work out), he's also forced to give up his dream of taking his family and moving out of The Hill due to the real estate scheme that was going to make him rich getting blown up by Michael. Michael on the other hand is ultimately forced to leave The Hill after everyone turns against him as a result of his bloody war against the Mafia and his murder of special investigator Ellis, though as a result of Michael's actions Freddy and Nozzoli are able to get a truce. Meanwhile after having sex with Michael's ex-girlfriend Cass and driving off with her he realizes she isn't cut out for a life outside of The Hill due to her kids and her ex-husband and elects to leave her the money he stole from Michael and go on the run on his own knowing he can't ever come back to The Hill because of what Michael would do to him]].

The show followed the exploits of two extremely morally dubious brothers in New England in different positions of power: Tommy Caffee (Creator/JasonClarke), the young brother and up-and-coming star in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and older Michael Caffee (Creator/JasonIsaacs), freshly returned from a seven year exile and ready to rage his way back to the top of TheIrishMob. The further each brother goes to pursue their own power brings them deeper and deeper into a world of extreme BlackAndGrayMorality until it's hard to say who is more of a monster.

* DownerEnding: One person gets out ahead, but mostly at the expense everyone around them, with everyone else hopelessly scarred and broken beyond repair.

The show followed the exploits of two extremely morally dubious brothers in New England in different positions of power: Tommy Caffee (Creator/JasonClarke), the young brother and up-and-coming star in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and older Michael Caffee (Creator/JasonIsaacs), freshly returned from a seven year exile and ready to rage his way back to the top of TheIrishMob. The further each brother goes to pursue their own power brings them deeper and deeper into a world of extreme BlackAndGrayMorality until its hard to say who is more of a monster.

''{{Showtime}}'s'' short-lived mob series. Was often overlooked as a corned beef and cabbage flavored version of ''Series/TheSopranos'' but was very much its own beast. If anything it shared more in common with another HBO show, ''Series/TheWire''. Lasted from July, 2006 to December, 2008. A total of 29 episodes in three seasons.

The show followed the exploits of two extremely morally dubious brothers in New England in different positions of power: Tommy Caffee (Creator/JasonClarke), the young brother and up-and-coming star in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and older Michael Caffee, freshly returned from a seven year exile and ready to rage his way back to the top of TheIrishMob. The further each brother goes to pursue their own power brings them deeper and deeper into a world of extreme BlackAndGrayMorality until its hard to say who is more of a monster.

The show followed the exploits of two extremely morally dubious brothers in New England in different positions of power: Tommy Caffee, the young brother and up-and-coming star in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and older Michael Caffee, freshly returned from a seven year exile and ready to rage his way back to the top of TheIrishMob. The further each brother goes to pursue their own power brings them deeper and deeper into a world of extreme BlackAndGrayMorality until its hard to say who is more of a monster.

* YourCheatingHeart: Eileen spends most of series one cheating on Tommy with the mailman. In series two after finding out about her affair, Tommy has an affair of his own.
** [[spoiler: Kath cheats on Michael with Colin in series three.]]

** The LaborDay episode was no picnic either.

''{{Showtime}}'s'' short-lived mob series. Was often overlooked as a corned beef and cabbage flavored version of ''Series/TheSopranos'' but was very much its own beast. If anything it shared more in common with another HBO show, ''TheWire''. Lasted from July, 2006 to December, 2008. A total of 29 episodes in three seasons.

* TheObiWan: Jud teaches Tommy the ways of...extremely manipulative and cynical politics.

* FakeAmerican: Neither brother is American. Isaacs is British and Clarke is Australian.

* FourManBand: Tommy, Michael, Freddy and Declan had their own gang of sorts way back in the day on The Hill. Each of them even have unique, similar tatoos symbolizing it on their hands. With their greatly diverging paths though it has created a great deal of tension for them in adulthood.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[PublicEnemies Red Hamilton]] and [[Film/HarryPotter Lucius Malfoy]] are brothers.
** Before Declan became a cop, he was [[ThatThingYouDo The Bass Player]] and [[EmpireRecords Mark]], the goofy worker at Empire Records.

* TheTroubles: It is implied that Colin was once involved with the IRA. True or not, he certainly knows how to mix up a MolotovCocktail.

* HeyItsThatGuy: [[PublicEnemies Red Hamilton]] and [[HarryPotter Lucius Malfoy]] are brothers.

''{{Showtime}}'s'' short-lived mob series. Was often overlooked as a corned beef and cabbage flavored version of ''TheSopranos'' but was very much its own beast. If anything it shared more in common with another HBO show, ''TheWire''. Lasted from July, 2006 to December, 2008. A total of 29 episodes in three seasons.

* AffablyEvil: Freddy Cork can be funny and even happy go lucky when playing minigolf.

* OohMeAccentsSlipping: Fionnula Flanagan started out trying to do the New England accent, then gave up after a few episodes and went back to her normal Irish accent.

* TheTroubles: It is implied that Colin was once involved with the IRA. True or not, he certainly knows how to mix up a {{Molotov Cocktail}}.

* TheObiWan: Jud teaches Tommy the ways of...extremely manipulative and cynical politics.

* {{Thanksgiving}}: The penultimate episode in season 2 in which everyone experiences what is possibly the worst Thanksgiving ever.

''{{Showtime}}'s'' short-lived mob series. Was often overlooked as a corned beef and cabbage flavored version of {{The Sopranos}} but was very much its own beast. If anything it shared more in common with another HBO show, {{The Wire}}. Lasted from July, 2006 to December, 2008. A total of 29 episodes in three seasons.

The show followed the exploits of two extremely morally dubious brothers in New England in different positions of power: Tommy Caffee, the young brother and up-and-coming star in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, and older Michael Caffee, freshly returned from a seven year exile and ready to rage his way back to the top of {{The Irish Mob}}. The further each brother goes to pursue their own power brings them deeper and deeper into a world of extreme {{Black And Gray Morality}} until its hard to say who is more of a monster.

{{Very Loosely Based On A True Story}}, the show is very visibly influenced by the story of the Bulger brothers from Boston (Whitey being a notorious Irish mob boss, and brother Billy being in the Massachusetts State Senate). Shot entirely on location in Providence, Rhode Island, the show is New England to the core, though some liberties are taken with the location to make it resemble {{South Boston}} more than Providence.

* {{Affably Evil}}: Freddy Cork can be funny and even happy go lucky when playing minigolf.
* {{Arc Words}}: ''"There are no secrets in this family!"''
* {{Because Im Good At It}}: Roughly Michael's justification for his career/lifestyle, with a dose of self-loathing.
* {{Black And Gray Morality}}: There are very few, if any characters with significant redeeming qualities and both brothers are shown to pretty much destroy the lives of everyone around them.
* {{Butt Monkey}}: Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy.
* {{Counterfeit Cash}}: One of Michael's operations which causes a number of problems for everyone, though Ma Caffee finds at least one good use for it.
* {{Crazy Jealous Guy}}: Michael.
* {{Deal With The Devil}}: Major recurring theme of the show, with various different forms of Devils.
* {{Dirty Cop}}: [[spoiler: Declan's partner Ralph after Michael helps him cover up an accidental shooting]].
* {{Downer Ending}}: One person gets out ahead, but mostly at the expense everyone around them, with everyone else hopelessly scarred and broken beyond repair.
* {{Ear Ache}}: Early on Michael witnesses Moe threaten a girl and tear off one of her earrings. Michael does not take kindly to this...
* {{Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas}}: Michael.
* {{The Exile}}: The series begins with a series of events which allow Michael to return to Providence after [[WalkingTheEarth 7 years on the run]], two steps ahead of arrest and one step ahead of a hit. [[spoiler: By the end of the series, he's right back where he started.]]
* {{Fake American}}: Neither brother is American. Isaacs is British and Clarke is Australian.
* {{Four Man Band}}: Tommy, Michael, Freddy and Declan had their own gang of sorts way back in the day on The Hill. Each of them even have unique, similar tatoos symbolizing it on their hands. With their greatly diverging paths though it has created a great deal of tension for them in adulthood.
* {{Hair Trigger Temper}}: If Michael is having a problem his most common answer is RAGE.
* {{The Irish Mob}}: A major focus of the show with Michael trying to take control of it and Tommy having many ties to it.
* {{Jerk Ass}}: Moe, big-time. Also Speaker Donatello, aka 'Don Don'.
* {{Karma Houdini}}: [[spoiler: Tommy]].
* {{The Mafia}}: The major league rivals to the Irish mob's minor league.
* {{Neighbourhood Friendly Gangsters}}: Subverted, big-time.
* {{The Obi Wan}}: Jud teaches Tommy the ways of...extremely manipulative and cynical politics.
* {{Shown Their Work}}: While some aspects of Providence are fictionalized for plot purposes much of the feel and dynamics of the show capture the area and culture of New England perfectly.
* {{Sliding Scale Of Idealism Versus Cynicism}}: Way, way off the carts on the cynical side.

** The {{Labor Day}} episode was no picnic either.
* {{The Troubles}}: It is implied that Colin was once involved with the IRA. True or not, he certainly knows how to mix up a {{Molotov Cocktail}}.

<<|AmericanSeries|>>

* {{Affably Evil}}: Freddy Cork can be funny and even happy go lucky when playing minigolf. [[CompleteMonster At other times...]]

* {{Dirty Cop}}: Arguably Declan at times, though {{YMMV}}. Beyond Declan though, definitely [[spoiler: his partner Ralph after Michael helps him cover up an accidental shooting]].

* {{Villain Protagonist}}: Arguably both of the main characters. By the end its hard to say who's worse.
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* {{The Exile}}: The series begins with a series of events which allow Michael to return to Providence after [[WalkingTheEarth 7 years on the run]], two steps ahead of arrest and one step ahead of a hit.