Surprisingly, in the world of crime dramas, there haven’t been many films or TV shows specifically focused on the Westies. If you didn’t already know, this was the infamously violent Irish-American gang that ruled the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, New York, during the Ronald Reagan era. “The Westies” actually marks one of the first major scripted dramas centred around the real-life group, making it a relatively fresh subject for TV. Having seen the majority of the series already, I can confidently say it’s intense.
- Rating: 4/5 stars
- Verdict: "The Westies" is a brutal, character-driven crime drama that avoids glorifying its violent history. While its visuals may feel familiar, strong performances, gripping rivalries and a tense portrayal of New York’s criminal underworld make it a compelling addition to the genre.
- Where to watch: "The Westies" is streaming on MGM+
“The Westies” is set in the early 1980s, right as the massive multi-million-dollar construction of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center begins on the Westies’ home turf. The promise of lucrative construction kickbacks offers a huge financial windfall, but it also creates a fragile and highly volatile arrangement with New York’s Five Families, specifically the powerful Gambino crime family. With the first two episodes now streaming on MGM+, the series wastes little time establishing the brutal power struggle at the heart of Hell’s Kitchen.
Co-created by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, the series feels like a cross between “Peaky Blinders” and “The Sopranos,” combining old-school gangster drama with a tense battle for power. If you’re searching for your next crime drama obsession, here’s what I thought of “The Westies.”
‘The Westies’ is a gritty crime saga drenched in violence
If you know anything about this gang, you’ll know that the real-life history of the Westies was extremely violent, and their reputation for brutality was a major part of why they became one of New York’s most feared organized crime groups during the 1970s and 1980s. The show doesn’t shy away from this either, and from the very beginning of episode 1, we’re thrown into a hostage situation when a rogue member of the Irish crew goes completely off-script and kidnaps a connected figure within the Italian Mafia.
It’s during this opening scene that “The Westies” proves it has absolutely no intention of romanticizing its characters or pulling its punches. That’s especially clear when we’re introduced to Eamon Sweeney, played by Oscar-winner J.K. Simmons, a ruthless leader who keeps his gang’s violent tendencies carefully controlled. What I found most interesting about the early episodes, however, is the relationship between Eamon and the somewhat less brutal Jimmy (Tom Brittney), a younger member who initially looks up to him before their opposing views begin to drive them apart.
“The Westies” succeeds at introducing a wide range of characters connected by the same criminal world, and despite the story branching out to follow these different perspectives, you always understand their motivations. Eamon and Jimmy remain the driving forces of the series, but surrounding them are characters who heavily influence their decisions, including Mickey (Stanley Morgan). He’s Jimmy’s fiercely loyal best friend and a highly unstable Vietnam War veteran struggling with severe trauma. There’s also Jimmy’s girlfriend, Bridget (Sarah Bolger), who finds herself pulled back into danger when an old flame asks her to help move military weapons.
One of the strongest aspects of the series for me, though, is the unstable pairing of Officer Keenan (Titus Welliver) and Special Agent Birdie (Jessica Frances Dukes). Birdie is building a major case against the local syndicates and needs an insider to infiltrate the neighborhood, so she turns to the corrupt Keenan, blackmailing him into cooperating because of his gambling and drinking problems. With a lifelong connection to Eamon, Keenan provides crucial intelligence on the Westies’ operations, but he also sees an opportunity to protect his estranged son.
Visually, “The Westies” can feel a little too familiar, with a muted color palette that’s common across many modern streaming dramas, and it doesn’t always deliver the kind of memorable imagery that helps it stand apart. The set design does a great job of capturing the look and feel of the era, but it’s not something we haven’t seen before. Where the series really shines is in the editing, especially during its brutal fight sequences. Instead of relying on overly choreographed action, the show keeps things grounded and seriously messy.
Ultimately, what prevents “The Westies” from becoming just another run-of-the-mill mob procedural is its great soundtrack and the inclusion of compelling, real-life figures from New York’s criminal history. The narrative also gets a huge boost when rising Mafia figure John Gotti (Hamish Allan-Headley), enters the fold. There’s so much conflict that you rarely get a moment to breathe, but that might not be the end, because the end of season 1 hints at a possible and even more chaotic turf war.
Verdict: ‘The Westies’ is a welcome addition to the crime genre
While “The Westies” does feature some familiar crime drama archetypes, from the corrupt officer to the ruthless gang leader and the conflicted protégé, the real appeal comes from watching these characters evolve and seeing where their choices take them. The series is carried by its excellent ensemble, with each actor fully embracing this gritty world, enough to make this feel like a documentary of some sort.
Showrunners Brancato and Panes clearly understand the strength of their cast, giving each actor material that plays to their individual talents. Even though “The Westies” doesn’t bring anything new or memorable to the crime drama formula, it’s an incredibly immersive series that works because every element, from the performances to the storytelling, comes together effectively.
"The Westies" episodes 1-2 are streaming on MGM+, with new episodes rolling out weekly on Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET.
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