The gritty, political-crime drama starring Jason Isaacs, Jason Clarke and Annabeth Gish will come to a close tonight as Showtime airs the season finale of Brotherhood.  Set in a fictional Irish neighborhood in Providence, Rhode Island, known as "The Hill," the series revolves around the Caffee brothers, who, despite being on opposite sides of the law, are determined to protect the neighborhood and what is theirs by any means necessary.

Brotherhood, which has earned critical acclaim and a 2007 Peabody Award, kicked off its third season on November 2, nearly a year after its last installment aired in which Franklin launched an investigation in the aftermath of the holiday furlough and Michael (Jason Isaacs) tied up some loose ends as his life was threatened by Freddie and Nozzoli (John Fiore).

Brotherhood is said to be one of those shows that has received a lot of critical acclaim – even winning a Peabody award – but can't seem to catch a break in reeling in a big enough audience.  And unlike 30 Rock, Brotherhood doesn't have a Tina Fey to attract attention and take a shot at being the ratings juggernaut it ought to be.  Compared with the likes of HBO's The Sopranos and The Wire, the Showtime series' viewership is at a measly 540,000.  Its limited but loyal fans are a lucky bunch after it was renewed for a third season early this year despite the disappointing numbers.

For its junior season premiere, Tommy (Jason Clarke) seriously considers changing his career, after growing frustrated at being Speaker Donatello's errand boy.  He bumps into Michael (Jason Isaacs), whom he isn't talking to, at Rose's birthday party.  Meanwhile, Tommy asks the justice-seeking Declan a favor and Eileen grows more and more invested in her job at social services while she prepares for the birth of her fourth child.  This episode called “Uneasy Lies Ahead” is the first of eight episodes set to air on Showtime.

Robert Greenblatt, Showtime's president of entertainment, announced yesterday that the network's political-crime drama Brotherhood has been renewed for a third season. The show stars Jason Isaacs and Jason Clarke, and has been a critical darling since it premiered in 2006.

"Brotherhood is one of our shining hours at Showtime -- a drama series that is among the highest quality shows offered anywhere on television, and we're proud to keep it firmly in our portfolio," Greenblatt said.

Jason Isaacs has other things that keep him preoccupied other than his work on Brotherhood where he plays a lifelong criminal, Michael Caffee.  Nowadays, he is also shooting his upcoming movie, La conjura de El Escorial, also known as The El Escorial Conspiracy, which is a European co-production helmed by Spanish director-producer Antonio Del Real.

Inspired by the events that took place in Spain during the 16th century at the court of King Philip II, The El Escorial Conspiracy explores the devious political turf wars fought by various parties.  The historical film is written by Del Real, Manuel Mir Juan Antonio Porto and Marta Rivera de la Cruz, and is produced by Tony Peck, who also has an acting role in the movie.

While some people choose to see a more traditional action-crime television drama, the residents of Providence, Rhode Island opt for Brotherhood, which is also the setting of this Showtime series.

Created by Blake Masters, Brotherhood, which stared its second season on September 30, is about the organized crime and politics in Rhode Island.  It revolves around the Irish-American Caffee family, particularly local politician Tommy Caffee (Jason Clarke) and his brother Michael (Jason Isaacs) who is deeply involved in the neighborhood's Irish mob.  Despite their differences, the brothers share a strange sense of moral cooperation.  Set on The Hill, a fictional Irish neighborhood located between Broadway and Westminister Street in Providence, Rhode Island, which has large a mix of Italian and Irish background, the series has now established itself a solid following with nearly all the residents of The Renaissance City.

The saga of polar opposite Irish brothers constantly thrust in each other's way, while struggling to survive regular doses of crime and corruption, continues Sunday, when Brotherhood returns for a second season.  The story of Tommy and Michael Caffee carries on in the Providence, Rhode Island town known as The Hill.

In Sunday's sophomore season opener, Michael, played by Liverpool-born Jason Isaacs, is back after nearly getting pummeled to death in last season's final episode.