The Westies, a new eight-part thriller streaming on MGM+ via Amazon Prime Video from July 12, follows the real-life Irish-American gang that terrorized Hell's Kitchen, New York, through unimaginable brutality. Starring J.K. Simmons as mob kingpin Eamon Sweeney and Tom Brittney as rising member Jimmy Roarke, the series offers a gripping alternative to Peaky Blinders.
Plot and Setting
Set in the early 1980s, the series centers on the construction of New York's Javits Center in Westies territory, which promises a cash influx. Outnumbered fifty to one by the Italian Mafia's Five Families, the Westies maintain a fragile peace through ruthless violence and sharp strategy. Tensions between ambitious younger members and old-school leadership crack the truce, drawing FBI attention.
Cast and Performances
J.K. Simmons delivers a signature performance as the deeply sinister Sweeney, a manipulative mob boss willing to sacrifice his own men. Tom Brittney, in his first major role since leaving ITV's Grantchester in 2025, plays Jimmy Roarke—a charming antihero who can commit violence yet remain likeable. The cast also includes Titus Welliver, Sarah Bolger, and Stanley Morgan.
Review and Comparisons
While comparisons to Peaky Blinders are inevitable, The Westies carves its own identity. Creator Chris Brancato and Michael Panes focus on a fictional protagonist within a real gang, but the series is more bingeable, with eight 50-minute episodes. The violence is purposeful, not gratuitous, and the show balances brutality with warmth, thanks to Jimmy's character. Relationships feel rich and unpredictable, and the stakes remain high.
According to Metro columnist Adam Miller, The Westies has a sense of jeopardy often missing in modern TV, where main characters are rarely killed off. He notes, 'You hesitate to become too attached to anyone, knowing that death seems to lurk around every corner.' The series may lack sophistication but excels as straightforward, entertaining television.
Availability
The Westies is available to stream on MGM+ via Amazon Prime Video from July 12.
