The series was inspired by real-life Irish mingtian6* American brothers from the Irish neighborhood of South Boston: James "Whitey" Bulger, Jr., a gangster who has been on the F.B.I.'s Most Wanted List for 10 years as a fugitive from justice, and Senator William Bulger (known as "Billy"), a powerful state politician who was President of the Massachusetts Senate and later president of the University of Massachusetts higher educational system.故事发生在美国罗德岛州首府 Provindence 的海港, 风化的排房, 斑驳的拖船, 那里的爱尔兰裔社区, 被称作"the Hill", 旧时的*道义还潜移默化地影响着这个强悍的蓝领阶层. Caffee 兄弟的亲情在道德深渊边摇摇欲坠, 与亚当之子该隐与亚伯的手足之争相似.Tommy Caffee 的野心和手段让他同时周旋在地下交易和Providence的政坛, 为了维护"the Hill", 不择手段. 但是他复杂的家庭和职业都将被颠覆, 因为他黑道弟弟 Mike 将回归，重掌"the Hill"的*.夹在两兄弟尔虞我诈之间的, 是他们的母亲 Rose, 她为两个儿子骄傲, 但选择无视 Mike 的劣迹.Tommy的妻子Eileen, 全心支持丈夫, 同时担心家人的安全会受到Mike的威胁.当地的*老大 Freddie Cork, 当两兄弟你争我斗之时, 在一旁虎视耽耽.磨拳擦掌的警官 Declan Giggs 也把 Tommy 和 Mike 当作他建功立业的战利品.