Phil Roberts 
The Westies is a gripping addition to the Mafia genre. Anchored by commanding performances from J.K. Simmons, Titus Welliver, and Tom Brittney, the series breathes fresh life into one of organized crime’s most fascinating yet overlooked stories.
New York City in the 1980s was a battleground where organized crime thrived, and the Mafia’s influence stretched into almost every corner of the five boroughs. The city’s underworld was divided into territories, with the powerful Gambino crime family reigning supreme. Under boss Paul Castellano and his ambitious capo, John Gotti, the organization built an empire fuelled by racketeering, gambling, loansharking, extortion, money laundering, prostitution, and fraud.
Yet while the Gambinos tightened their grip on the city, a ruthless Irish-American gang known as the Westies emerged from Hell’s Kitchen, challenging the Mafia’s dominance and forging one of the most infamous alliances in organized crime history. It’s a turbulent chapter that has fascinated audiences for decades, inspiring countless books, documentaries, and Hollywood dramas.
More often than not, however, the spotlight has remained fixed on the Gambinos and Gotti’s meteoric rise to power following Castellano’s assassination. MGM+’s The Westies finally shifts the focus, placing Hell’s Kitchen’s notorious gang center stage and exploring their complex relationship with New York’s Mafia families in unprecedented detail. Headlined by the ever-reliable J.K. Simmons, the series boasts all the ingredients of a prestige crime drama, blending brutal violence, political intrigue, and morally complex characters into a compelling portrait of a city ruled by fear.
REVIEW
But can The Westies earn its place alongside genre-defining classics like The Sopranos, The Godfather, and Boardwalk Empire? Or is it simply another crime drama that romanticizes New York’s blood-soaked underworld without bringing anything new to the table?
Fear not, crime fans, because The Westies is a gripping addition to the Mafia genre. Anchored by commanding performances from J.K. Simmons, Titus Welliver, and Tom Brittney, the series breathes fresh life into one of organized crime’s most fascinating yet overlooked stories. Chris Brancato and Michael Panes’ razor-sharp screenplay expertly balances ruthless violence with compelling character drama. At the same time, immersive cinematography transports viewers to the grimy streets of 1980s New York with remarkable authenticity. Brutal, tense, and relentlessly engaging, The Westies is an edge-of-your-seat crime saga that proves there’s still plenty of life left in the Mafia genre.
BUILDING THE JAVITS CENTER
From the very first episode, The Westies strikes an effective balance between historical authenticity and fictional storytelling. While real-life figures such as Paul Castellano, John Gotti, and Ruby Stein play pivotal roles, the series populates the ranks of the Westies with original characters, giving writers Chris Brancato and Michael Panes the creative freedom to craft a compelling narrative without being shackled by historical fact. It’s a smart decision—and one that pays dividends throughout the season.
Leading the charge is J.K. Simmons as the ruthless Eamon Sweeney, the calculating boss whose iron grip keeps the gang in line through fear as much as loyalty. Opposite him, Tom Brittney shines as James “Jimmy” Roarke, Sweeney’s ambitious protégé, whose rising influence adds an unpredictable layer of tension to the group’s fragile hierarchy. Their dynamic quickly becomes the beating heart of the series, setting the stage for one of television’s grittiest and most absorbing crime dramas.
At its core, the story revolves around Sweeney’s determination to maintain control of his organization while navigating the increasingly volatile alliance with Paul Castellano’s Gambino crime family. United by the enormous profits flowing from the construction of the Javits Center in Hell’s Kitchen, the partnership is built on mutual greed rather than mutual trust. Every deal feels like a powder keg waiting to explode, with John Gotti’s growing ambition and the Westies’ fiercely independent nature constantly threatening to tear the arrangement apart. That simmering tension fuels the series, creating an atmosphere where every conversation feels as dangerous as the inevitable bursts of violence that follow.
TRUST AND MISTRUST
At its heart, The Westies is a story about family in every sense of the word. That may seem like an obvious observation for a series centered on two of New York’s most notorious crime families, but Brancato and Panes explore the idea far beyond blood ties and criminal loyalties. The father-son dynamic between Eamon Sweeney and Jimmy Roarke forms the emotional backbone of the narrative, mirroring Paul Castellano’s mentorship of the ambitious John Gotti. Elsewhere, the theme takes on an even more personal dimension through Titus Welliver’s Detective Keenan, a corrupt cop desperately trying to repair his fractured relationship with his estranged son.
Welliver is exceptional in the role, delivering one of the series’ most nuanced performances. As a detective caught between the badge he wears and the mobsters who bankroll him, Keenan is a man consumed by regret, guilt, and the consequences of a lifetime of bad decisions. Welliver brings remarkable depth to the character, portraying him with equal measures of quiet dignity, emotional vulnerability, and paternal desperation.
Those emotions come to a head when Keenan’s estranged son unknowingly follows in his father’s footsteps, becoming entangled with the very criminal empire Keenan has spent years serving. It’s a cruel twist of fate that forces the detective to confront the damage he’s inflicted on his own family, elevating his storyline beyond a typical crooked-cop subplot. In a series overflowing with gangland politics and brutal violence, Keenan’s struggle provides The Westies with some of its most compelling and emotionally resonant moments.
SUBPLOTS
The series’ exploration of family extends well beyond its central storylines, weaving through virtually every subplot. Jimmy Roarke finds himself constantly torn between loyalty to Sweeney and his determination to protect his closest friends from becoming collateral damage in the gang’s increasingly ruthless power struggles. At the same time, he fights to preserve his relationship with Bridget Walsh, a former Irish republican freedom fighter played with quiet intensity by Sarah Bolger.
Bridget soon emerges as far more than a conventional love interest. As buried secrets from her past begin to surface, she’s forced to confront the trauma surrounding her parents’ murder and its links to the British government. The revelations spark a profound crisis of conscience, testing not only her convictions but also the relationships she’s fought so hard to build. Bolger handles the emotional complexity with remarkable restraint, giving Bridget a compelling arc that stands comfortably alongside the show’s mob politics.
It’s these intertwining personal stories that give The Westies much of its emotional weight. Every character is fighting to protect a different kind of family—whether it’s the one they were born into, the one they’ve built, or the one they’ve betrayed. From Sweeney and Roarke to Keenan and Bridget, each relationship is tested by loyalty, ambition, and betrayal, creating an emotional rollercoaster that is just as gripping as the show’s brutal gangland violence.
PERFORMANCES
A series as uncompromisingly violent as The Westies lives or dies by the strength of its cast, and Chris Brancato and Michael Panes have assembled a superb ensemble capable of matching the material’s intensity. J.K. Simmons is every bit as commanding as you’d expect, bringing quiet menace and calculated authority to Eamon Sweeney. It’s another outstanding performance from a consistently brilliant actor.
The real revelation, however, is Tom Brittney. As Jimmy Roarke, he delivers the standout performance of the season, crafting a character layered with vulnerability, ambition, loyalty, and inner conflict. Roarke could easily have been a conventional gangster-in-waiting, but Brittney imbues him with genuine emotional depth, making every difficult choice and personal sacrifice feel earned. From the opening episode to the season finale, he commands the screen with the confidence of a seasoned leading man, delivering a performance that deserves to be remembered when awards season rolls around.
Whether he’s navigating tense confrontations with the Gambinos, protecting those closest to him, or wrestling with his own conscience, Brittney brings unwavering conviction to every scene. It’s a remarkably nuanced performance that anchors the series emotionally amid its relentless violence and shifting power struggles.
The actor has recently been linked by fans to the role of Batman in DC Studios’ future films, and while nothing has been officially announced, it’s easy to understand why his name continues to surface. On the strength of The Westies alone, Brittney demonstrates the charisma, emotional range, and screen presence of a genuine leading man. Whatever role comes next, this feels very much like the performance that announces him as a star on the rise.
SUPPORTING CAST
Titus Welliver is equally impressive as Glenn Keenan. A seasoned veteran with decades of acclaimed performances behind him, Welliver slips effortlessly into the role of the compromised detective, delivering one of the series’ most compelling performances. Rather than relying on explosive outbursts, he conveys Keenan’s inner turmoil through subtle expressions, measured dialogue, and restrained emotion. It’s a masterclass in understated acting, transforming what could have been a familiar “crooked cop” archetype into one of the show’s most sympathetic and emotionally resonant characters.
Another standout comes from Hamish Allan-Headley as John Gotti. Popular culture has long portrayed Gotti as the charismatic “Dapper Don,” but Allan-Headley looks beyond the public persona to reveal the ambition, volatility, and ego simmering beneath the tailored suits. His magnetic performance captures both the swagger that made Gotti such a compelling figure and the ruthless opportunism that ultimately propelled him to the top of the Gambino crime family.
BACK TO THE 80s
It’s the strength of these performances that grounds The Westies in authenticity. Every character feels lived-in, every relationship believable, and every betrayal carries genuine emotional weight. Combined with the production’s beautifully realized recreation of 1980s New York—from its smoke-filled bars and rain-soaked streets to its meticulous period detail—the cast helps create a crime drama that feels immersive, tangible, and utterly convincing.
Recreating one of New York’s most turbulent decades is no easy feat, but The Westies rises to the challenge with remarkable confidence. Every frame is steeped in the grit and atmosphere of the 1980s, transporting viewers to a city teetering between prosperity and lawlessness. The production design is exceptional, from the neon-lit bars and run-down neighborhoods to the wardrobe, vehicles, and subtle touches that make the era feel genuinely lived-in rather than artificially recreated.
The soundtrack is equally effective in selling the illusion. Carefully selected ’80s needle drops punctuate the action without overwhelming it, while composer Mark Isham’s evocative score perfectly complements the show’s brooding tone. Blending moody synth textures with traditional orchestration, Isham’s music captures both the glamour and the menace of New York’s criminal underworld. Together, the visuals and score transform The Westies into something that feels less like a period drama and more like a genuine time capsule from one of the city’s most notorious eras.
VERDICT
Overall, The Westies is another triumph for MGM+, delivering a gripping and atmospheric crime drama that breathes fresh life into one of New York’s most fascinating chapters of organized crime. Anchored by exceptional performances from J.K. Simmons, Titus Welliver, and Tom Brittney, the series expertly balances brutal gangland politics with deeply human stories of loyalty, ambition, and family. Chris Brancato and Michael Panes have crafted a compelling first season that confidently earns its place among the year’s standout television dramas.
The only real stumble comes in the finale. While it delivers enough tension to satisfy, it feels more concerned with positioning the pieces for the future than providing a truly explosive conclusion to the story at hand. Even so, it lays the groundwork for what promises to be an even more compelling second season, one poised to explore one of the most significant power shifts in Mafia history. If the series builds on the momentum established here, its best days may still lie ahead.
Whether The Westies ultimately joins the pantheon of all-time great Mafia dramas remains to be seen, but it unquestionably deserves a place in the conversation. Richly acted, impeccably produced, and packed with suspense, violence, and emotional depth, it’s a riveting return to 1980s New York that rewards viewers at every turn. Fans of prestige crime television should consider this essential viewing.
Sláinte!
The Westies premieres on MGM+ on Sunday, July 12th.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
