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« The Black Donnellys
March 26, 2007: Run Like Hell
I’m glad I didn’t grow up with the Donnellys. It’s hard enough trying to find a decent man in general, but in their neighborhood? I would have been single for the rest of my life! Seriously, was Tommy the only “good” guy for women to choose from? Of course, that was before he committed murder, stole from widows and beat up old friends to collect gambling debts. And even after all of that, he still looks to be the pick of the Irish-cream crop.
Maybe it’s not the women’s fault that they picked deadbeats to marry. Jenny will soon take over the family diner (as suspected, her father is suffering from Alzheimer’s) and has always seemed smart. Marianne owns her own printing business. She has to have some brain cells. And yet, both ladies married losers. At least Marianne’s husband, Eddie, is still alive. The neighborhood didn’t need another widow this week.
I’m also shocked at who my favorite leading ladies are. Of course, Kate Mulgrew is the greatest mom on the East Coast. We’ll get to her later. But for some odd reason, I find myself liking Jimmy’s drug-addict girlfriend, Joanie (played wonderfully by Betsy Beutler). She lit up the screen tonight. It was the only real excitement during the show. That and the shovel to the back of Nicky’s head. By the way, I believed Joanie over Whitey (Kevin Corrigan).
I jumped out of my seat when Nicky got slammed with the shovel and fell to the ground. My first thought was that it was Dokey. Then we saw that it was actually Nicky’s boss. Nicky likes to bend the rules. Sal had asked him not to hurt the Donnelly brothers, and then he beat the crap out of Sean. And his new boss simply sent him to get an answer from Dokey - not to kill three Irish Union workers. Nicky is very arrogant. And so is Dokey. With Sal and Huey gone there is no one to keep the peace between the Italians and the Irish. Watching both Nicky and Dokey is almost painful. I feel like any minute one of them is going to explode. Nicky seems more controlled than Dokey, but Dokey and his axe have only hurt their fellow Irish. Nicky knows no boundaries.
Sean (Michael Stahl-David) is finally getting more screen time. The poor guy really needs some female lovin'. “SOS. Calling all Kims!” I was surprised how embarrassed he was when his mother walked in on his phone call. I doubt Kim will return. And if she does, will anyone ever explain to Mrs. Donnelly that she had nothing to do with Sean’s beat-down? Speaking of Mrs. Donnelly, Kate Mulgrew is one of the greatest TV moms I've seen in a long time. She devotes herself to her boys, but stands her ground. I loved her response to Sean when he said he wished she hadn’t told Kim to stay away: “Yeah, well, I wish your father was still alive and I lived in the country.”
And finally, we were introduced to another new character — Jack Trevor, the councilman. Apparently, he was close with Huey Ferrell and Bobby Donnelly. Joey told us that it was no surprise he was the only one standing. So, what did he do to get so lucky? He definitely has some deals made with the Italians, or he wouldn’t be so concerned with Dokey’s actions. I think he will be the most evil character on the show. Most politicians are. It will be fitting to see his true colors as the story line expands.
By the way, I’m trying to find out which episode will air the showdown between Jimmy and his new business partner, Whitey. When I know, you’ll know.
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Mar 27, 2007 7:50 AM
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I think they really need to speed up this show.
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Mar 27, 2007 9:50 AM
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This episode was excellent. I was thrilled to see the councilman and find that someone actually has some control over Dokey. Since he goes way back with both Huey and Bobby, he has interests in both the Italian and the Irish operations I bet. At the very least, he doesn't want the attention bodies dropping would cause. Dokey looked like a whipped dog when he was being chastised. I think I love the Councilman...
Nicky should've gotten beaten up, his boss is right. The writing's on the wall, Nicky is definitely trying to be the big boss and has no use for rules. It's only a matter of time before he thinks he's mobster enough to kill the boss.
Jimmy is so volatile, but you're right the dope addict girlfriend did light up the screen and I believed her too, Whitey's a creep.
I just knew when Tommy got that money from Jimmy that he was going to give it to Jenny. I think she'd just be better off not asking any questions. I get it, she's disappointed in the route that Tommy has chosen to go but she's known him forever and should realize he's only doing what he has to. That mailman is a douche, but I bet he'll get his.
Kevin following up the glass to the head to Whitey was hysterical. Jimmy is so volatile I don't know why anybody would do "business" with him.
The mom is absolutely spectacular as I imagine any single mom with 4 boys in the neighborood would have to be. I'm thinking Sean will be sneaking out soon because if he can't be with Kim, he certainly has to have a backup.
I think Tommy is the only decent guy in the neighborhood. I felt bad for Marianne when Tommy told her she deserved better and she said but this is what I got. Eddie's a bonehead to try to play Tommy. Of course he would never have dreamed that Tommy would've pistol whipped him. He's lucky that Tommy got involved though cause there's no way Jimmy wouldn't have killed him.
I guess the word is going to be out now in the neighborhood that Tommy's gone over to the dark side....
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Mar 27, 2007 9:51 AM
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I liked the episode last night. It didn't really have a lot of violence (compared to previous eps). I am not looking forward to that awful knife fight! (ok so I kind of am)
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Mar 27, 2007 10:14 AM
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Last night was fantastic. I am finally starting to really care for the characters - good or bad!
How sad was it to see Jenny and her Dad dance around his Alzheimer's issues. I felt so bad for her. I was shocked to see that he had been using the Mail Box to drop off the deposits. And how appalling was it to see that Postman lie to Jenny?
My main conflict in this show is that brother Jimmy is probably the most evil person there is. How long can Tommy allow Jimmy to run amuck?
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Mar 27, 2007 11:40 AM
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So, admittedly, I missed a few moments here and there because I thought it was a little slow. But I have a question.
What was Jimmy giving money to his girlfriend for? It was my impression that he had paid her to put on a little show about Whitey, so she was making every thing up about Whitey. If that's wrong, I know you'll all let me know....and next time I'll be more observant.
I'm sure Tommy will take care of Mr. Postman.
Always love Kate Mulgrew in anything.
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Mar 27, 2007 12:08 PM
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Jimmy agreed to pay Joanie $200/week if she'd allow to use her apartment for the bookmaking operation. She said she doubted she'd ever see the money. Jimmy then paid her for the first week.
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Mar 27, 2007 12:18 PM
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Thanks, Sheldon. I guess I will have to pay more attention.
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Mar 27, 2007 12:32 PM
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I loved it as always. Kate Mulgrew is fantastic. How wrong was it that they went to a gamblers anonymous meeting to get clients, and Kevin wanting to bet off his own book.
Poor Tommy he wants so hard to be a good guy but his brothers will never let it happen.
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Mar 27, 2007 12:54 PM
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Not feeling the mom (Kate Mulgrew) love although it is the writing not the acting that is bothering me.
Her confrontation with Kim led us to believe that she was clueless in regards to what is really going on in the neighborhood and not seeing her boys as they really are. This was further reinforced in that same episode where Kevin was acting very suspicious in watching over her and again she didn't seem to pick up on what was really going on.
Given her own history with her husband's death, and the numerous misdeeds of her children, I would have thought the character would be written to have a much better idea of what is really going on around her. And perhaps working a bit harder to try and keep them straight.
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Mar 27, 2007 1:37 PM
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I'm not feeling the mom/Kate Mulgrew love either. I think what bothers me is that they are trying to portray her as a strong female character, yet her actions don't reflect that. If she truly is clueless to what her boys are doing, she'd be a weak character. If she was strong, she would do something to stop them instead of just ignoring it.
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Mar 27, 2007 1:51 PM
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I think that when Hewey was around the family really didn't have to worry about anything - especially Mom because Hewey was her hubby's best friend. Now that he is dead Mom hasn't quite came to the conclusion that her sons are in deep and that may jeopardize her safety.
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Mar 27, 2007 2:22 PM
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I agree with Ranger99, I don't think the mom really knows that they're anything more than delinquents. And look at Jennie, she doesn't even know her husband's dead.
I think it's most likely a typically male dominated world where "the little woman" is on a need to know basis while the menfolk take care of things. Not very different than Carmela Soprano. Sure she knows her husband's a mobster, but she has no real idea of the kinds of stuff he does. Like killing Adrianna or Ritchie etc.
Yeah that's very 1950s, but I think possible.
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Mar 27, 2007 3:27 PM
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KAD - you may have a point, and I might feel it more IF they didn't have the fabulous Kate Mulgrew in the role. I guess we just expect her to be a smarter cookie. I think she would at least suspect a lot more than she does.
Well, I thought I had a convert in my honey. He's watched the last couple of episodes with me, but last night he didn't get through the whole thing. Why? Jimmy. He just can't stand Jimmy. Before he left the room last night he said someone needs to take care of him, and that it seems like he deserves everything he gets. I agree with him, but I'll keep watching. I know I put in one of my previous posts that I kept saying Jimmy needs a bullet in the brain. I guess I just can't suffer a fool. This is the type of character that makes my peace loving, non-violent self, itch to pound him into the ground. At least give him a good violent shaking.
How sad for Jenny. Sorry that it took so much to get her to finally follow him around. What a scuz that mailman is.
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Mar 27, 2007 3:48 PM
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Oh, Mom knows what they're up to, all right.
That husband she wishes were still alive? Totally mobbed up with Huey and the Councilman. I'll bet money that Huey and the Councilman killed him, just like Tommy killed Huey.
Mom's just choosing to look the other way, rather than confront any of this. The question is whether Jenny's going to turn into her or not.
I love when Kate Mulgrew plays Irish women. OK, I love Kate Mulgrew in anything. Been a fan since her Ryan's Hope days, and I'm glad to see her back on my TV.
And I have to say, Tom Guiry has come a long, long way from playing that kid in The Sandlot. I love an actor who can disappear in a part, even when I know his work. He's done an excellent job of inhabiting Jimmy; I almost don't want the addict punk to end up dead.
I'm sick and tired of The Mob, though--I don't care that this one's Irish, I'm sick of The Mob as a storytelling device--but the acting on this show has kept me from turning it off completely.
For the moment, anyway.
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Mar 27, 2007 4:33 PM
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