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« The Black Donnellys
March 5, 2007: A Stone of the Heart
The original title of this show was supposed to be: The Truth According to Joey Ice Cream. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank whoever nixed that idea. Don’t get me wrong, I love the character, but I don’t get it. How does Joey (Keith Nobbs) know everything? Sure, he keeps saying, “Oh, well, I was there.” But he only painted himself into the background after his lawyer asked him how he knew what had happened. He never placed himself at the hospital, in the van, or where Tommy and Kevin got rid of Louie’s body.
This episode was all about Tommy (Jonathan Tucker) and Kevin (Billy Lush). The best scenes have been between the two of them: last week during the elevator scene and this week in Nicky Cottero’s bar. When Tommy began to walk to the back room to see Nicky and saw Kevin sitting in a booth, I think we were all a bit shocked. I didn’t think they were on very good terms after they had beaten each other to the ground. Kevin had pulled a gun on Tommy, after all. But this scene proved how far they are willing to go for one another.
I’ll admit, I thought this show jumped the shark, but hopefully it will prove me wrong. The minute Jenny kissed Tommy in the hospital I thought it was all over. I’ve always disliked when shows drag out relationships between main characters, but you can go a few episodes, even seasons, before two characters jump into bed together. And that’s exactly what Tommy and Jenny did. After the body was disposed of, the clothes were burned and the blood was scrubbed away - it was time for some lovemaking. I’m glad Tommy finally said, “I love you,” but did you notice Jenny didn’t say it back? She said it last week when she gave her speech about how she mistakenly heard that Tommy had been beaten up, but she didn’t repeat herself in the bedroom. And then Joey explains it all. Could he have been in the bedroom too? (That’s sarcasm.)
Joey took us back to when Tommy ran over Jimmy’s leg. Tommy prayed and prayed to God to let Jimmy walk again. Apparently, when that prayer was answered, the price would be the one thing Tommy wanted most - Jenny. Again, Joey Ice Cream knows all. Either he can read minds or we are being lied to, because I did not see him sitting on that stairwell praying with Tommy.
You could see how painful it was for Jenny to tell Tommy she couldn’t “do this.” Meaning: no more Tommy and Jenny. She did scrub blood off a basement floor for him - if that’s not love, I don’t know what is. But she knows being with him will only hurt more in the end.
I liked the new characters as well. Mrs. Donnelly (Kate Mulgrew) is a tough lady. (Of course she is - she was on the Star Trek: Voyager.) We didn’t get to see much of her, but she loves her sons and she believes in the good of people - even if wrong has to be done. I especially liked the moment when Mrs. Donnelly thanked Jenny for being there: “It’s hard to watch someone suffer.” I assume that Jenny’s mother is no longer living and Jenny had to witness her mother’s suffering.
We also got to meet Hughie Farrell’s brother: Dokey (Peter Greene). He scares the h*ll out of me. I’d rather sit in a room with Sal, Hughie and Nicky Coterro and play Russian roulette for fun. The man carries an ax with him. Yes, the murder of his brother has upset him, but I think it’s obvious that Dokey Farrell was born with a few lose screws. Again, he carries an ax. He’ll be causing a lot of problems for the Donnellys and the Italians.
By the way, for those of you who were so concerned last week: A “viewer discretion” notice was shown before the show began because the show contains violence. Now you know.
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Mar 6, 2007 1:20 AM
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Well, this will probably not be liked by those who hated the violence last week. This week was even worse, but I'm a fan of this type of show.
I think the character of Joey Ice Cream is a little off-putting. If it was a narrator like on Desperate Housewives, a dead woman telling a story, then I'd be more into it. I like his character, but I'm so busy wondering how he knows what happened that it takes me out of the story. I guess we're supposed to believe that he's not important to the brothers so is always around, though not noticed? Just odd.
I don't remember why Jenny's husband is not around, but her being married could be one reason why she's told Tommy she can't be with him....besides the fact that she knows he's a killer and she probably doesn't want to be cleaning up blood the rest of her life.
Give Kate Mulgrew more of a storyline and we might have more going on here. As it is, though I like it a lot, it's kind of a one-note story. It needs more or it's going to lose its audience.
And I agree....Dokey is terrifying. I was scared the whole time Tommy was in that car.
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Mar 6, 2007 3:01 AM
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Shows can't jump the shark in their second episode.
I really wish people would stop using that phrase when it doesn't apply.
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Mar 6, 2007 3:06 AM
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I actually really like this show. The violence can be a little much, but that doesn't bother me too much because of the type of story this is telling and the time of night it is on.
What does bother me is Joey Ice Cream. I like some of the narration because it adds a little more oomph to the scenes, but I don't like it when it cuts to an actual scene with Joey or when they put him in the scene. It kind of took away from the scenes they put him in. I agree, he either should be dead like Desperate Housewives or the narrator should be telling the story after everything is all done and the story is being told like a folktale or myth kind of thing. Otherwise it makes no sense at all that he would know so much.
That aside, I really like this show and I hope it can grab and hold on to an audience.
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Mar 6, 2007 7:29 AM
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I was a little bit worried that after how great the pilot was, the second episode wouldn't be as good. Worries? Gone. This episode just took the greatness that was the pilot, and continued it on, and I know this is going to be a thrilling ride.
Loved all the scenes with Tommy and Kevin (They should really just call it the Tommy and Kevin Show, I'd love it just as much) and the brief scene with Jimmy. And Joey Ice Cream has definitely become my favorite narrator on television. I can't wait to see more. This show astounds me.
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Mar 6, 2007 8:50 AM
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I just have to say - for a seemingly little guy, WHAT a body on Tommy! When he was washing the blood off himself......phew! HOT!
And all I can think of when I see the fabulous Kate Mulgrew is "Mary Ryan!" Long before she hit the deck as Captain Janeway, she was on the soap opera Ryan's Hope...good to have her back on TV! I hope she gets more airtime.
Good episode!
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Mar 6, 2007 8:56 AM
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I loved the scene when Kevin is sitting with his mother and she sees the blood on his cuff and tucks it up into his jacket. It just shows how she accepts what is going on but loves them regardless.
I understand the backlash on Joey Ice Cream, but I kind of love him. On top of being hysterical, it's a fresh take on narration and adds humor to a rather dark show. He seems like the kind of character that is in everyone's business, and is knows a lot of secrets. Whether he was there for particular instances or not, he knows what happened and makes it interesting.
Plus, I loved the first time he "forgot he was there". "Did you pay for that beer?" So funny.
I like this show a lot so far and am spreading the word around. It's well done and relatable on some level. I'm extremely close with my family and would go to the ends of the earth for them. Plus, all the guys are rather easy on the eyes, so that never hurts
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Mar 6, 2007 9:06 AM
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I meant to comment on Tommy's physique. Yowza!! I never would've guessed, quite honestly. That girl left Tommy for Sean? I hope Sean has something amazing under there himself, because I think she may have made a mistake!!
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Mar 6, 2007 9:21 AM
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When first reading the comments, I was surprised everyone hated Joey Ice Cream. I think he is hilarious. I loved that when he was asked how he knew that, he put himself in the story (twice) and the brothers reaction to him. How funny. I also liked the line about paying for the beer and he said “probably”. I love his character. I don't think you are supposed to think too much about how he knew these stories, there are people all over who would exaggerate a story to make themselves seem more important. I see Joey Ice Cream as that type of person.
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Mar 6, 2007 9:25 AM
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Mannie-Annie, that's exactly what I was trying to say. You're not supposed to analyze how Joey knows everything, you're just supposed to go with it. Whether he was there or not, he knows what went down and is telling us a story. So just enjoy the ride
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Mar 6, 2007 9:29 AM
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I thought that they said last week that Jenny's husband was dead, stuffed into something, but no one wanted to tell her, that he wasn't on an extended vacation.
She mentioned last week that she was a married woman, and couldn't do anything, so if that is why she is pushing Tommy away - just tell her, her husband's dead. Being spurned by Jenny is going to affect him I think.
I like this show, but man, a lot of bad stuff happens to these kids all in a row. Gotta wonder how dumb the brothers are, except for Tommy, who seems to get them out of each and every scrape.
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Mar 6, 2007 10:21 AM
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When I saw Tommy in tighty-whiteys, hacking off Louie's ankles, I couldn't wait to see what this blog had to say about it. So imagine my SHOCK when Casey didn't even give it a mention. So what did the rest of you think?
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Mar 6, 2007 10:45 AM
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I shocked you ames6254? I apologize.
Since you asked, this is what I thought: I wasn't surprised he broke Louie's legs with a sledge hammer. Why? It happens in every mob-type show or movie. However, I was shocked that Jonathan Tucker's character (or anyone for that matter) wore tightie-whities, but I didn't care to mention my opinion on men's underwear at the time that I wrote the blog. But you're right - it was a big part of the epsiode so thank you for mentioning it in your comment.
I actually thought they were going to burn the body in the barrell - not dump it into the water. The scene gave new meaning to "sleeping with the fishes".
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Mar 6, 2007 11:33 AM
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Thanks, Casey!!! I think Tommy's underwear choice may reveal an unexpected vulnerability in him. And his chiseled triceps, a strength. Am I reaching?
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Mar 6, 2007 11:58 AM
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I am SO glad I was not the only one who noticed Jon Tucker's triceps-HOLY MOTHER OF G*D they were amazing. He seems like he's be so skinny and them-BAM. Holy Canoli!!
BTW I like the acting on the show and Joey 'Ice Cream' is awesome.
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Mar 6, 2007 12:06 PM
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