After two very strong episodes, The Black Donnellys disappointed me this week. Not when it came to storytelling or plot, but in an area that’s just as important attention to details.
When the pilot ended, just two weeks ago, we heard Joey tell the cops that by giving Jimmy to the cops, Tommy not only saved his life but also changed it, as in jail Jimmy got clean. And here we are, just two episodes later and Jimmy’s out of jail, drinking and doing drugs.
NBC had a pretty convenient way of explaining what happened. They aired a “web only episode” on their website that takes place between the second and third episodes. In that episode we learn that Jimmy was released after the witness that saw him steal the truck dies when he’s hit by a bus (Not the same bus from Lost), following an altercation with Kevin. I can deal with that. That’s a pretty good way to explain why Jimmy’s no longer in jail. What I can’t stand is the way the left Joey’s comments about Jimmy in the pilot. All they had to do was edit this episode prior to its first airing and take out the line about Jimmy getting clean. A simple audio edit would have saved them this major flaw in continuity, which shouldn’t happen in such a great show.
Other than that, it was another pretty good episode that did a decent job of advancing the stories.
Tommy continues to lead the brothers and took a couple of steps in his ascension to the top of the Irish mob. The first one was agreeing to host the wake for Huey. Their bar was already a major place in the community, but holding a wake makes it more respectable. The fact that he didn’t even flinch when he was asked to hold the wake for the guy he killed tells a lot about his character and that he’s a true bad-a$$. Later he also showed his cold blood when he stood up to Doakie. During that scene he showed once again that he’s very good in operating under pressure and the brothers would have been long dead if it wasn’t for him. I’m guessing that the next few episodes will deal with a power struggle between Tommy and Doakie over control of the Irish Mob. We already know Tommy will win (Unless that part of Joey’s voice over will also lead a false promise) but the road should be interesting. In the mean time, Tommy learns he’ll have to fight for Jenny’s affection and even though she said she can’t be with him, the battle is not done. She’s clearly into him and after she was so scared of losing him this week, her stand will soon change.
And if Tommy’s the reason they’re still alive, Jimmy will end up getting them all killed. If the first episode showed him to be hot headed, this week showed that he might also be extremely stupid. Who the hell goes to a mafia funeral and literally pisses everyone off. Once again, officers of the law saved his life as the only reason nobody came close to touching him is that the place was crawling with federal agents. But I’m guessing this won’t last long. Kevin also shows he’s closer to Jimmy rather than Tommy, but as long as Tommy’s around, they’ll be safe.
The Black Donnellys continues to show that it has a huge upside. The characters and stories are very strong. But the key to keeping on strong is to avoid major mistakes like the one they had this week. Continuity and attention to details are crucial for every series, especially one that still tries to find its place. I hope this was just a one time thing and it will be left behind.
