Bulger's relationship with the Southie community has two sides. On one hand, he clearly loves South Boston and its people. On the other, he causes a lot of irreparable damage to their lives. It's almost like he's two different people.

As the decades chug along, the Bulger boys only gain more power for themselves: Billy in the state senate, and Whitey in the mean streets of Southie. In fact, both men become so powerful that they become inescapably linked to South Boston itself.

The Bulger brothers become so powerful that they define South Boston. Billy protects Southie in the senate; Whitey protects Southie in the streets. Of course, this isn't entirely accurate, but it becomes a key piece of neighborhood's DNA.