The Black Donnellys

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Season 1
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 222 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 196 out of 222
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 222
  3. Negative: 23 out of 222
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User Reviews

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  1. Nemodogdad
    May 10, 2017
    10
    This just goes to show how flawed NBC programing decisions are, and how online whole season releases save great shows because of superior response abilities. This show was great. Had it run today, netflix would have bought it and put out at least two more seasons. Until I saw it this year, I never heard about this show. I found it compelling, and am crushed that I will not see any plotThis just goes to show how flawed NBC programing decisions are, and how online whole season releases save great shows because of superior response abilities. This show was great. Had it run today, netflix would have bought it and put out at least two more seasons. Until I saw it this year, I never heard about this show. I found it compelling, and am crushed that I will not see any plot developement or narative resolved. Pity, it was great.....… Expand
  2. james0tucson
    Oct 27, 2015
    10
    It was an extremely well-conceived series. Unfortunately, it was produced in denial of the reality, that it wouldn't reach its audience until it found its way to internet streaming, years after it was cancelled. Oh well. It's the last thing keeping my subscription to Netflix active. Once I'm done with Black Donnellys, there's nothing left on TV worth watching, IMHO.
  3. Tss5078
    Oct 18, 2015
    4
    NBC's answer to the Sopranos, was a show called The Black Donnellys, and it was a show about the Irish mob, starring Jonathan Tucker, who is as talented as he is good looking, so what went wrong? As it turns out, there were a lot of things wrong with this show that could have been easily corrected. We forget though that this is the era of on-demand, DVR, and Netflix, and in today's world,NBC's answer to the Sopranos, was a show called The Black Donnellys, and it was a show about the Irish mob, starring Jonathan Tucker, who is as talented as he is good looking, so what went wrong? As it turns out, there were a lot of things wrong with this show that could have been easily corrected. We forget though that this is the era of on-demand, DVR, and Netflix, and in today's world, network shows that don't crack the top 50 in their first 13 episodes, don't stand a chance.

    The Donnelly brothers grew up in a tough Boston neighborhood, and their father, was heavily involved in the Irish mob. Wanting a better life, Mr. Donnelly's four sons inherited his bar and try to run a legitimate business. There is of course a problem, not all the Donnelly's are keeping their noses clean. Eventually, a pair of brothers run into problems with the Italians, and have to learn the lessons their father never wanted them to learn. The show has a very solid backstory and if it were presented in the correct way, I think it could have been a huge hit, but as it turns out, the show was like a bad joke, which only a handful of viewers seemed to get.

    For starters, the show is narrated by a wise-cracking family friend who is always telling the story in some comedic way to one law enforcement agency or another. The big joke is how does this guy know all these things when he's not there, and then, just like that, he's randomly there in the background, with everyone looking confused.

    The timing of the story is also problematic, because when you're doing a show like this, you need to draw viewers in before starting the story from the very beginning. Would anyone have watched the Sopranos if Tony Soprano was a twenty year old kid, just getting started? If this show had started a few years later, when the brothers were established gangsters, in some full on mafia war, and then gone back and showed how it all started, it would have been a lot more interesting. As I watched the episodes, I could see the show leading into something bigger and better, but it never go there. I suspect there were big plans for future seasons, but how can you start a show assuming there will be more seasons?

    As for the brothers, they are all former child stars, led by Jonathan Tucker. While he's not a huge star in Hollywood, he has made it a lot further than his co-stars, and his experience and talent are very evident, especially by comparison. Tucker has what it takes to take the lead in a show like this and draw in an audience, but that's impossible when the show is poorly written and just doesn't seem to go anywhere.

    The bottom line, I like the idea behind the show and there were a couple of really interesting characters. If this show had lasted, I have no doubt that it would have grown into something bigger and better, but as it stands, The Black Donnellys didn't make past it's first season, and with good cause. I kept waiting for things to happen that never did and eventually gave up on it too. Having an idea for a long running series usually means that show will be well written and highly intelligent, but in today's world, if you want to go beyond one season, then you really need to go all out, right from the beginning, if not, you'll be a forgotten show on Netflix, that some talented reviewer finally sees eight years after the fact.    … Expand
  4. DaveStone
    Feb 5, 2013
    10
    I thought this was a very good show that was not given a chance. I enjoyed the plots of each episode and I thought the characters were interesting. All in all, good entertainment. I would have liked to have seen what happened in the second season but, alas, the show was canceled.
  5. fyzaha
    Sep 8, 2009
    10
    Will the network see these votes? If so, the drive is to bring back this drama, and they should consider what the viewers would like!
  6. SteveO.
    Aug 25, 2009
    10
    This is one of the only shows I've ever cared enough about to never miss an episode. The dialog, the story-telling style, the plot, and the acting were excellent. The only better show ever cancelled after one season was Firefly.
  7. AndrewD.
    Jan 4, 2009
    10
    The show just went to air in New Zealand. Great show. I couldn't what to watch them weekly so downloaded the whole lot in one hit.
  8. gina
    Aug 7, 2008
    10
    Love the show! definitely has underground following.
  9. JJ
    Mar 25, 2008
    10
    Haha I like this Bryan M comment. "The Irish thing is overdone to the tenth power" HAHAHA and the italian mob thing is Fresh of the street, right? You obviously are an only child or not Irish. I have a brother and we look out for each other all the time. My dad had to take care of his sisters and my grandpa had to take care of his brothers. Being Irish means to look out for your family Haha I like this Bryan M comment. "The Irish thing is overdone to the tenth power" HAHAHA and the italian mob thing is Fresh of the street, right? You obviously are an only child or not Irish. I have a brother and we look out for each other all the time. My dad had to take care of his sisters and my grandpa had to take care of his brothers. Being Irish means to look out for your family and having a hell of a good time doing it. As for the show, It's great: great acting, great writing and a really great story. They gotta bring this show back.… Expand
  10. AaronI
    Mar 24, 2008
    10
    Watched the show every week while it was on the air and was definitely disappointed when it got yanked so fast. Bought the DVD set and after watching all the episodes I am still wanting more. Would love to see it back again someday.
  11. jims
    Mar 21, 2008
    10
    Awesome show,kept me hanging on to each scene,characters and personalities most everyone can relate too, whether real or fiction.
  12. EmptyHead
    Mar 17, 2008
    10
    I love this show! I wish NBC would bring it back. One of my favorite things is the strong connection many of the fans have made trying to save it. I hope they can get some closure.
  13. bhkgghlkjh
    Mar 4, 2008
    10
    This show is awesome the best in the world. I would pay to watch it!!!
  14. AlexA
    Feb 9, 2008
    9
    A true original.
  15. AlfredR.
    Dec 28, 2007
    9
    Great show To bad it's off the air!
  16. RollieS.
    Dec 17, 2007
    10
    The Black Donnellys is down right fantastic. NBC is the home of crappy reality TV, and never deserved such an amazing show. Everyone I've ever shown this series to has been hooked from the first episode. Which ever network decides to pick this series up is not only smart, but absolutely gunna be a hero for me.
  17. SeanF.
    Nov 12, 2007
    10
    I think i enjoyed this even more than the sopranos. Fantastic.
  18. DaliahH
    Nov 5, 2007
    9
    I am a big fan of The Black Donnellys and like a lot of others I was quite disappointed to see the show cut short even before the first season was over. Some friends and I used to get together every week to watch this show Monday nights. I really wish that the show didn't get canceled. I felt as though the show was doing really well. Everyone I know had positive things to say about I am a big fan of The Black Donnellys and like a lot of others I was quite disappointed to see the show cut short even before the first season was over. Some friends and I used to get together every week to watch this show Monday nights. I really wish that the show didn't get canceled. I felt as though the show was doing really well. Everyone I know had positive things to say about it and the ones that didn't had nothing to say because they had never even heard of the show. I random l found the show and when I did I fell in love with it. I think that if more advertisement and promotions about the show were done then the size of the audience would have grown dramatically. Since I bought the show on DVD, I've shown the series to many friends who had never heard of it and it left them wanting more. I think that this whole ordeal was a situational dilemma and would've worked out with time. I still have hope that it will be back on t.v. sometime.… Expand
  19. NoelA.
    Oct 1, 2007
    10
    Incredible show. Hooked!
  20. MaryA.
    Sep 26, 2007
    10
    Best show ever!
  21. DesireaA.
    Sep 18, 2007
    10
    This was a bad ass show NBC sucks for pulling it off air I no longer watch anything on NBC because of it.
  22. CamilleG.
    Sep 17, 2007
    10
    This is an amazing show and I hope that a network will pick it up.
  23. DanE
    Sep 7, 2007
    10
    Great show - love it on HD net. Hopefully it gets picked up for season 2.
  24. AliS.
    Sep 6, 2007
    8
    This show is the sh.t. I'm serious. I started watching online a couple of weeks ago and I hadn't realized how good this show was until it was canceled :(. It seems like anytime NBC comes out with a quality show it goes off. I just wanna know what happens to Jenny and her dad, Tommy, Seanie and his girl and all the rest of em...
  25. AriannaS.
    Aug 30, 2007
    10
    Great show I don't understand why it was canceled. The only time I saw anything about before the show actually aired was in the movie theaters. I think given time the show would have been a hit at least it is with me!
  26. scotti.
    Aug 28, 2007
    10
    the black donnellys is like one of the best shows i have ever seen, and they still cancelled it. it shows Nothing But Crap (NBC) is wiling to cancel good shows at the expense of bad ones. the black donnellys is cancelled before las vegas. las vegas has declined significanlty since the first season. but the donnellys get canceled. crazy
  27. mattH.
    Aug 22, 2007
    10
    This show is a mind blowing tale of rights , wrongs , betrayels and violence i personally have come to love this show. and by the way Brendan D there have been irish mobs in this country just as long as there have been italian ones maybe not a national recognizable but try to google the names " Whitey Bulger" " mickey featherstone" "Mad dog cole" "The winter hill gang " " the westies" " This show is a mind blowing tale of rights , wrongs , betrayels and violence i personally have come to love this show. and by the way Brendan D there have been irish mobs in this country just as long as there have been italian ones maybe not a national recognizable but try to google the names " Whitey Bulger" " mickey featherstone" "Mad dog cole" "The winter hill gang " " the westies" " howie winter" " owney madden" try all that on for size tough guy then tell me we irish have had no organized crime .… Expand
  28. ChristianO
    Aug 3, 2007
    8
    I really liked this show. It kept me watching every week, but I can't find it anymore. Oh, and I think Brendan D's comments are ridiculous. Read a book dude.
  29. JoshO
    Jul 28, 2007
    10
    This was my favorite show on telivision. Also there is an irsh mob.
  30. MarcG
    Jul 19, 2007
    10
    One of the best shows ever. I don't understand the critics. they are really wrong this time!
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Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best TV Season of 2007
6
#6 Most Discussed TV Season of 2007
40
#40 Most Shared TV Season of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
45

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 30
  3. Negative: 12 out of 30
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Doug Elfman
    75
    These tall tales flow into a stream of consciousness. That's good. The acting is convincing. That's good. The Irish stuff is heavy-handed. That's bad.
    Read full review
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    58
    Haggis equates the slow revealing of character and plot with classy writing; you'll probably experience it as stuff you can see coming a mile away.
    Read full review
  3. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Tim Goodman
    50
    [It] ultimately succumbs to being an inferior story on a broadcast network that can't even remotely match two far better cable series ["The Sopranos" and "Brotherhood"].
    Read full review
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