I'm sure if I asked most of you if you saw "The Black Donnellys", I'd pretty much get back a blank stare. More than likely you hadn't even heard of it. That's because it is one of those series that the networks didn't have enough faith in to keep it on the air long enough for people to see. It seems, out of the 13 episodes that were produced only 6 were ever aired. Hmmm, I'm sure a LOT of people got to see those few episodes. I actually caught some of the episodes when they originally aired, as I'm always attracted to gritty dramas that involve the mob. And here we have a show that featured both the Italian and Irish mobs. I was also attracted to the show because of the involvement of Paul Haggis, who wrote and directed "Crash" and co-wrote "Million Dollar Baby." Credentials like these should have gotten everybody interested.

"The Black Donnellys" was the kind of show I think would have found a better home on HBO or Showtime instead of NBC. The series featured the ups and downs of 4 Irish brothers growing up in New York City. Unfortunately, coming from their working class roots there were a lot more downs. As we are introduced to them, most are working their way through life, occasionally committing petty crimes to make ends meet. Tommy (Jonathon Tucker) is the smartest of the group and is determined to make a better life for himself. Try as he might to stay out of trouble, family loyalty keeps pulling him back to the streets.

The problem is however, that his brothers have yet to learn the error of their ways. Throughout the first few episodes that aired, viewers (few though they might have been) got to watch the downward spiral of the Donnelly brothers lives as they get deeper and deeper into trouble. And we're not just talking about being in trouble with the law… we're talking having the mob on their tail. The decisions they make get worse, and soon they are escalating from petty larceny to murder. I only wish the series had been allowed to play out on the air in order to resolve some of the plot.

Universal is releasing the complete series on DVD this month, which actually includes all of the 13 episodes that were produced. Thankfully, having these additional 7 episodes available helps to tie up some loose ends. However, in that the producers did not know that they were going to be canceled these additional episodes also serve to set up new plotlines that will never be resolved. Also unfortunately, there are no special features allowing the producers to answer some questions that might clear up what direction they had planned to go. Very frustrating indeed.

Don’t get me wrong as far as my frustration. "The Black Donnellys" DVD set is well worth watching as the series is very rough and tumble and tells a great story. Just expect to finish the last episode wanting to see more.

Episodes:
Pilot
A Stone of Heart
God is a Comedian
The World Will Break Your Heart
Lies
Run Like Hell
The Only Thing For Sure
In Each One a Savior
All of Us Are In the Gutter
When the Door Opens
Wasn't That Enough
The Black Drop
Easy is the Way

Starring: Jonathan Tucker, Tom Guiry, Olivia Wilde, Billy Lush, Michael Stahl-David, Kirk Acevedo, Keith Nobbs
Extras: None
Specifications: Widescreen (1.78:1), Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Studio: Universal
Release Date: 9/4/2007
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give The Black Donnellys: The Complete Series a B.