Brothers In Arms

Okay, so maybe it's because the last season of THE SOPRANOS was such a disappointment -- really, it left a LOT to be desired, despite the fawning of critics who must fear Tony Soprano's vengeance if they don't keep praising the show -- but I'm really liking Showtime's own stab at a contemporary middle-American crime family, BROTHERHOOD. Granted, much of its appeal for me lies in the fact that it was wholly shot right here in nearby Providence, RI (and, indeed, Providence is not just the series' setting, but a major character unto itself), but I also think it offers some sharp writing and dialogue and several great performances, most notably from leads Jason Isaacs and Jason Clarke. I've stuck with the first six eps now and I like how the characters are slowly evolving ... we're starting to see chinks in the armour of clean-cut State Representative Tom Caffey while there are moments of street-smart common sense and loyalty that make the otherwise loathsome criminal Michael Caffey so appealing. I suspect by the time this first season wraps, we'll learn that these two brothers who grew up on "The Hill" are a lot more similar than they'd like to admit.