The Black Donnellys

Meet the Donnelly brothers: Tommy, Jimmy, Kevin and Sean. There is nothing these four Irish brothers wouldn't do to protect each other, and for them that means lying, cheating, stealing and, occasionally, calling the cops. Narrated by wannabe gangster Joey "Ice Cream," this gritty series bears witness to the Donnelly brothers' sudden involvement in organized crime, focusing on how they go from boys to mobsters, and showing how their new life affects their relationships with friends, family and lovers.

The Black Donnellys (2007) is an American crime drama miniseries created by Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco for NBC. Across thirteen hour-long episodes, four Irish-American brothers, Tommy (Jonathan Tucker), Jimmy (Tom Guiry), Kevin (Billy Lush) and Sean (Michael Stahl-David), are pulled from neighborhood scrapes into the rougher business of organized crime. Their protagonist-style pull is simple: they will lie, cheat, steal and occasionally call the cops to protect one another, and every favor they owe or collect draws them deeper. Olivia Wilde plays Jenny Reilly, whose tangled relationship with the family adds personal stakes, while Kirk Acevedo's Nicky Cottero brings menace to the criminal orbit. The story is narrated by wannabe gangster Joey Ice Cream (Keith Nobbs), whose romanticized voice frames the brothers' rise. Each episode weaves street-level jobs, debts and betrayals into a larger arc about how their new life strains friendships, family bonds and love. Set in gritty working-class New York, the series has a raw, melancholic and pulpy register, with the mood of a neighborhood tale that keeps tightening around its characters. Fans of The Sopranos, Goodfellas and Boardwalk Empire will find resonance in its blend of mob mythology, loyalty and moral compromise.

Audience reception is positive, with viewers praising the brothers' bond and the gritty Irish-American crime world of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen.

• The Sopranosshared gritty organized crime drama, loyalty among family and crew, criminal life rising from street hustles
• Boardwalk Empireshared Irish-American crime milieu, brotherly loyalty and moral compromise in criminal underworld
• Goodfellasshared young men drawn into mob life, narration-driven crime tale with brotherhood at its core

Created by

Paul Haggis, Bobby Moresco

Release Date

2007-02-26

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

8.1 / 10 (81)

What is The Black Donnellys about?

Four Irish-American brothers in New York are drawn from street mischief into organized crime, with their loyalty to each other tested at every step.

What is The Black Donnellys like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Black Donnellys as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is The Black Donnellys violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Black Donnellys as moderate.

What did critics think of The Black Donnellys?

Audience reception is positive, with viewers praising the brothers' bond and the gritty Irish-American crime world of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen.

Which shows are like The Black Donnellys?

Shows with a similar feel include The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, and Goodfellas.

How long is The Black Donnellys?

The Black Donnellys: 1 season, 13 episodes.

Is The Black Donnellys still running?

No, The Black Donnellys has ended.

Where can I watch The Black Donnellys?

In United States, The Black Donnellys streams on Peacock Premium, Peacock Premium Plus.