Posts Tagged ‘Episode Notes’

Episode Notes: “The Black Donnellys” Episode 2

Posted: August 21, 2020 in 2000's, Episode Notes, NBC, On Repeat, Rewind, RIP, Sleepers, The Black Donnellys, TV, Watch
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***Spoiler Alert***

The Black DonnellysEpisode 2: “A Stone of the Heart”

“Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart” – W.B. Yeats, Easter 1916

Also known in my mind as the “RIP Tommy’s Jacket” episode.

Something I love about the structure of the show is the quotes within the first few minutes of each episode, starting with episode 2. Each quote relates to the episode title.  Kind of feels like you’re watching a play, with each quote setting up the next act.

Episode 2 finds Tommy and Kevin trying to cover up their involvement the murders of Louie, Sal, and Huey. RIP Tommy’s jacket from the epic Minetta Tavern hallway scene in Episode 1, which burns along with the rest of their clothes to get rid evidence. Kevin didn’t burn his jacket though, ’cause it’s his favorite, and I think we can all relate to Kevin in that moment. (more…)

Episode Notes: “The Black Donnellys” Episode 1

Posted: August 18, 2020 in 2000's, Episode Notes, NBC, On Repeat, Rewind, RIP, The Black Donnellys, TV, Watch
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4

***Spoiler Alert***

118849186Episode 1: Pilot 

What I loved about this show when it first aired is we jump right in from the start of the pilot. No build up or introductory first episode. 2007 was heavy in the midst of the 20+ episode season era, and this was unusual.

The condensed formatting of The Black Donnellys, which fit well as a mid-season hiatus candidate (and then bumped back a month early to replace a failing show, another NBC nail in the coffin) required a quick jump into the deep end. But, given that it was supposed to air the previous fall, its hard to say if 13 episodes would’ve completed the first season, or if there was a chance to do another 10-12 episodes had NBC not fucked up and it was more successful.

Detective 1: “So where are the bodies?” 

Prisoner: “Oh man, these guys are my friends.”

Detective 1: “Here’s the deal, Joey.  You tell us where the bodies are, how they got there, you’ll stay in solitary, nice and safe.  You lie, you go to general population, where more people than I can count want to see you dead.”

Detective 2: “Where are the bodies?”

Joey: “There’s two things that happened to Jimmy Donnelly that made him turn out the way he did …”

30 seconds into the pilot, haven’t even hit the opening credits, and we’re in. It’s brilliant. Who’s Joey? What bodies? Jimmy Donnelly? (more…)

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