Customer Reviews

Brotherhood: The Final Season

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't want to spoil the final episode for those who haven't yet watched it, but I hope that those interested can find the time to watch all of the prior episodes before watching the last one of season three (hopefully not of the entire series). The final scene has to be some of the best writing and cinematography ever broadcast on television. In a word, apropos. If this is indeed the final season that Showtime orders, the final scene is a fitting way for the storyline to conclude.
There are obvious similarities to another great crime-based drama of the decade, HBO's The Wire. However, Brotherhood focuses more on the political side of crime/corruption, whereas The Wire spends more time on the street. If either of these shows were available on broadcast TV, they would captivate large and dedicated audiences and be phenomenally successful. When one reads reviews for both of these shows on any reputable website, they're gushing with acclaim. These shows have gained a cult-like following. It's a shame that HBO and Showtime instead choose to promote series like Californication and Big Love at the expense of these masterpieces.
The series examines much more than political corruption - the changing demographics and redevelopment of Providence juxtaposed with the longtime situation and residents of "The Hill" are continuous themes which are portrayed in a subtle, yet nuanced manner.
In terms of the actors, there really are no weak links. However, Kerry O'Malley portrays an incredibly sympathetic and complex character in Mary-Kate (Tommy and Michael's only sister). Her role and performance is supremely underrated. Although I personally have absolutley nothing in common with her role, she is probably my "favorite" character from an incredibly diverse palette that the series provides.
Showtime would make a great contribution to American television by ordering a fourth season.

With season 3, I was once again blown away by this fantastic series. I sure hope this isn't the end of it, but if so, there is a certain inevitable kind of resolution to the various situations. What really amazes me is how the camera will linger on what would normally be considered a mundane scene, allowing you to soak up all of the nuances of the characters lives. This is not something you will find on any other TV show and indeed most movies, as they are so bereft of character development and their plots are so contrived that they must resort to constantly moving the camera around and fast cuts to try to keep you from becoming bored with their vacuity. Brotherhood is a great, great series. I just cannot say enough to properly praise it.

It's a shame this series only gets 3 seasons while shows like CSI Miami and Heroes continue and continue. Definitely was one of the best, if not the best show on television during its three 3 season run. The third season was only 8 episodes but quite possibly the best of the three. Easy five stars and something anyone interested in crime/politics should go out of their way to see. Amazing job by all involved.

The third, and sadly final, season of Showtime's Brotherhood finds the world of the Caffee family getting rocked like never before. For gangster Michael (Jason Isaacs), he's finding that being in charge isn't as cracked up as it could be, made even more so by the release of Freddie Cork (Kevin Chapman) who himself isn't happy about his new role. For Tommy Caffee (Jason Clarke), he seeks to leave his life of politics behind him and finally move his pregnant wife Eileen (Annabeth Gish) and family off of The Hill, which soon enough becomes easier said than done. The rest of the crew has their hands fill as wel, including controlling matriarch Rose (Fionnula Flanagan) and her failing health, Colin (Brian F. O'Byrne) finds his loyalties to Michael tested, and Declan's (Ethan Embry) quest for peace with his wife and job hits a few roadblocks as he makes some huge discoveries that could shake The Hill and the Caffee's to their cores. The third season of Brotherhood really finds the series hitting its stride, which is a crying shame considering that it got the axe after struggling ratings-wise. Still, we should be glad that creator Blake Masters managed to wrap things up as much as he did here, and we weren't left on a never-to-be-resovled cliffhanger. All in all, Brotherhood was a vastly underrated show from its inception onward, but now that it's off the air and on DVD, maybe it will find the audience that it deserves.

i just want to echo what some previous reviewers mentioned about this excellent show only running 3 years, when much lesser shows, like the ones formerly mentioned , run ad nauseum.
this was as good as TV gets and i expected, at least, a 5 year run.
'the wire',and 'six feet under' both had 5 year runs, and they were in the same quality category as 'brotherhood.'
the show,it appears, was cancelled by SHOWTIME because of low ratings.
again, i get punished because of the ignorance of others.
in this america, MEDIOCRITY RULES!

An outstanding series that is considered by fans and critics alike as one of the top shows of all time. Will buy again when it comes out on blu ray. Detailed, authentic, sublime genius. Incredible on every level.

First off, I am extremely upset this is the final season for 'Brotherhood'. I, too, cannot say or even find the appropriate words to give praise to such an in-depth, multi-talented masterpiece, but that I love this series. I find myself following Rose's and Eileen's life's turmoils and triumphs the most. Yet, find myself siding with Michael more often then with Tommy. Hmmm!

Showtime has outdone themselves--they've hit the jackpot with series such as 'Brotherhood' and 'Dexter'. The extremely talented writers develop scripts which allows the audience to really 'think' about the characters, their lives and how they are intertwined. The bottom-line, Showtime needs to extend the seasons for 'Brotherhood'. The all-star 'outstanding performances' cast needs these characters to continue on. They still have a lot more to say!! A+ Rating

The season and the series as a whole are both very good. My 2 star rating relates only to the finale aspect and the very last episode. Do not listen to those claiming "closure" because their is none here. In five years this season could start again and there would be no problems with inconsistencies. Nothing happened in the final episode to close events! Things simply ended and the viewers were left hanging and waiting for more. SPOLIER ALERTS from here on!!!

Michael just walks away after murdering 3 people and torturing another. And how come he can kill two people with one shot each but cannot kill Nazzoli with five shots leaving Nazzoli to be up and doing well in the hospital within hours of being shot.
Tommy becomes Speaker after a presumed deal with a mobster to kill a witness?
Rose Caffey's illness was insignificant and useless.
The house on the shore was the same. It's not like Tommy was squeaky clean until then and only tried a deal to leave the state House.
Why was Eileen forced to stay in bed? Stupid plot point.
Colin screws Cath and leaves her in a diner after his puppy dog love for her? I understand things weren't as they dreamed it would be but simply walking away (like Michael) is not an ending. Neither is Cath returning to her trashed house or her ex-husband hobbling around his job days after being brutally tortured.

I simply don't think the ending got the attention or the respect the rest of the series received and I am very disappointed.

No complaints with the quality of the DVDs. As a collector of many DVD series, TV and movie, my one beef is with the presentation. The packaging with the first two seasons match, but the art doesn't. The art matches for the final two seasons, but not the packaging. I'm flexable with what style they (the poeple who decide)choose; I don't love the fold out style Friends and Supernatual used, but they're consistant. They make a nice presentation on my storage shelves.

Ok, one little thing about the story. It seemed all along money was pretty tight for Tommy. Now all of the sudden he makes a major, in stride, purchase with plans of very expensive related costs. Even his wife doesn't even remotely pause to question the accounting end of it. (as of the next to the last episode anyway)

There's stuff we all like and don't like about any given entertainment production. Storywise, I'm very happy with Brotherhood.

Enjoy

Why do my favorite shows get cancelled? Deadwood and now Brotherhood? This show was a lot better than any show on tv right now.