Read the brief IMDb plot summary and check out the, so far, four critics. Perhaps read a few reviews of opposing views and then you may not want to watch it. The only positive indication that this may be a series worth watching is the so far 8.6 rating from IMDb users; my other sources of reference for ratings were not that generous. The best way to determine if it is a series you might like is to watch the first episode and judge for yourself. I was fortunate to do just that; I concluded I wanted to watch the whole thing, and did.
Comparing it to anything else is going to mean outlining one's opinion about two reviews , The Black Donnellys and whatever else it is being compared to, hardly conducive to an objective assessment. If the review was to make some scene or feature/key moment comparison, that's entirely different. I prejudged it, and this is no better, because I did not care for the cast to begin with.
I also would have bet a fair bet that such a series would not last on an American national network for all the constraints placed upon any series with potential violence. The series stood a far better chance of survival ( for at least two seasons) had this been produced for cable network. The terrific Deadwood, Rome and The Sopranos series could not be shown on American national network, too much of it would have been snipped by the censors for being too violent or politically incorrect; director or actors having to ply their art in that environment will not likely produce their best work.
The lead character played by Jonathan Tucker is not as colourful as the other three brothers; whether Tucker's interpretation is to blame or whether it is the part itself doesn't matter. Tom Guiry and the character of Jimmy played by him is the catalyst for all the action. There is plenty of action and, to my satisfaction, it does not feel like it was a mandatory thing, part of a formula TV production; story-wise it was inevitable and that nuance makes a difference for the enthusiasts of the movie genre. The other two brothers in the series help support and move the story along. The series is not ambiguous about its theme, blind brotherly love and family loyalty, and not shy expressing its consequences. What pleased me most about the series was the narration by a character, Joey, very well played by Keith Nobbs, and the pretext for that narration; it's a concept that worked well. I give the series a lesser and fairer rating and acknowledge I liked it, but I won't go out of my way to promote it or recommend it. I recommended the two "Boodock Saints" movies, enough amateur movie critic karma damage for this reviewer.
Comparing it to anything else is going to mean outlining one's opinion about two reviews , The Black Donnellys and whatever else it is being compared to, hardly conducive to an objective assessment. If the review was to make some scene or feature/key moment comparison, that's entirely different. I prejudged it, and this is no better, because I did not care for the cast to begin with.
I also would have bet a fair bet that such a series would not last on an American national network for all the constraints placed upon any series with potential violence. The series stood a far better chance of survival ( for at least two seasons) had this been produced for cable network. The terrific Deadwood, Rome and The Sopranos series could not be shown on American national network, too much of it would have been snipped by the censors for being too violent or politically incorrect; director or actors having to ply their art in that environment will not likely produce their best work.
The lead character played by Jonathan Tucker is not as colourful as the other three brothers; whether Tucker's interpretation is to blame or whether it is the part itself doesn't matter. Tom Guiry and the character of Jimmy played by him is the catalyst for all the action. There is plenty of action and, to my satisfaction, it does not feel like it was a mandatory thing, part of a formula TV production; story-wise it was inevitable and that nuance makes a difference for the enthusiasts of the movie genre. The other two brothers in the series help support and move the story along. The series is not ambiguous about its theme, blind brotherly love and family loyalty, and not shy expressing its consequences. What pleased me most about the series was the narration by a character, Joey, very well played by Keith Nobbs, and the pretext for that narration; it's a concept that worked well. I give the series a lesser and fairer rating and acknowledge I liked it, but I won't go out of my way to promote it or recommend it. I recommended the two "Boodock Saints" movies, enough amateur movie critic karma damage for this reviewer.