Reality raises its fictional head: Brotherhood. It’s back.

The Showtime series, shot entirely in Rhode Island, begins its third season tonight at 8. And it picks up where it left off. The Caffees, brothers Michael and Tommy, the gangster and the politician, respectively, are doing their dirty work.

However this time around, Rhode Island’s got a bigger role. The story of the Caffees, according to Blake Masters, the creator and producer of Brotherhood, more closely reflects the story of our state, at least at this particular time.

“Almost daily I tear things out of The Providence Journal. As a writer, you’re looking for ideas, and ready to steal them.”

In Brotherhood, the state budget has gone bust. Redevelopment hasn’t quite happened. And the citizenry has many points of view.

“We’ve expanded our picture of Providence. Previously we focused very tightly on our fictional Irish neighborhood. This year, you’ll see that little neighborhood is part of a larger neighborhood.

“Michael Caffee’s business exists in an Italian-dominated world. We’re representing more of an Italian culture in Providence, which is the reality. In addition, we go out of our way to bring in other ethnic groups. There is a Latino influence in Providence and that would affect Tommy’s political life.”

Michael Caffee, who’s played by Jason Issacs, finds himself competing against rival gangsters over established rackets. And he seeks a competitive advantage as a federal informant, making self-serving disclosures to U.S. Attorney Ellis Franklin, played by David Catanzaro of Cranston.

Tommy Caffee, who’s played by Jason Clarke, finds himself the political errand-boy to the speaker of the House, dealing with unhappy constituents, including a developer, played by Peter Gerety, a 23-year veteran of Trinity Rep.

You’ll see lots of locally familiar faces in Brotherhood, including Armen Garo, the East Providence police officer who once again plays a Providence police officer. In fact, in the last two seasons, the show has employed more than 525 Rhode Islanders, about 300 as crew, 225 as actors with lines. And that’s not including the 3,000 extra and walk-on roles.

Brotherhood began shooting its third season in Rhode Island on July 28. It wraps up filming for this season’s eight-episode series on Tuesday.

As in years past, the crew has used sites around the state: Providence, East Providence, North Providence, Cranston and North Kingstown, among others.

“One of the wonderful things about shooting in Providence is everything is so close. We can be in a wide variety of places in minutes. People will see plenty of things they recognize. If not, just wait a minute,” Masters says.

In the first two episodes of this season, you’ll see scenes shot at several Providence sites: a dry cleaner in the Armory District, a parking lot across from the Point Street power plant, and lots of downtown locations, most notably City Hall and the State House.

“It would cost us $20 million to build that set. That’s more than our entire budget. People in Providence could not be nicer to us. We try to stay out of their way. We understand it’s the people’s building.”

Politics and power, lawful and unlawful, is at the heart of the program. Michael Caffee and Tommy Caffee are on opposite sides of the law, and the sides come closer together this season as crime and politics compete for a cut of waterfront development.

This season, Masters says, the careers of both Caffees are on the rise.

This story happens against the backdrop of real Rhode Island.

“In the show, the State House has a massive deficit. We bring in the issue of public housing, or who gets public housing and for what cause. This year we also show what it’s like to go through the modern health care system. It’s filled with decent people, but it’s a system that will drive you insane.”

In this season’s Brotherhood, Providence has a waterfront that is largely devoted to industrial use, and some people talk of someday turning it into commercial and residential use, just like in reality.

“I can see the point of people who want to develop it. But for other people it would take away their businesses. That’s where the juiciest drama is found.”

Redevelopment is an issue in Brotherhood this season, as it already is in Providence itself, with several condo buildings under construction.

“The buildings are giving lots of people work in construction, running pipes and wires. But what happens when those jobs are done, and who can afford to live there? We’re not trying to pass judgment on these things. What’s fascinating is there is no right or wrong. It’s up to the citizens to decide. You can see either side of the issue.”

Mostly what you’ll see is drama, between the Caffees and all the characters they come into contact with. Brotherhood, after all, Masters says, is “not a documentary, but it’s entertaining.”

brourke@projo.com