The series was inspired by real-life Irish 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", 旧时的江湖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"的黑社会. 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. 当地的黑社会老大 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.