Image via MGM+ By David Caballero Published Jul 10, 2026, 3:00 AM EDT David is a Senior Editor at Collider focused primarily on Lists. His professional journey began in the mid-2010s as a Marketing specialist before embarking on his writing career in the 2020s. At Collider, David started as a Senior Writer in late 2022 and has been a Senior Editor since mid-2023. He is in charge of ideating compelling and engaging List articles by working closely with writers, both Senior and Junior, as well as other editors. Occasionally, David also reviews movies and TV shows and writes episode recaps. Currently, David is also writing his second novel, a psychological horror satire that will, hopefully, be picked up for publication sometime next year. Sign in to your Collider account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap MGM+ is the latest streamer trying to carve out a space for itself in the hyper-competitive world of 2020s television. Its newest offering is the crime drama The Westies , co-created by modern master of the genre Chris Brancato — the man behind hits like Narcos —and Michael Panes , who worked alongside Brancato on Godfather of Harlem . Led by Oscar winner J.K. Simmons and Bosch himself, Titus Welliver , and set in Hell's Kitchen in the 1980s, the show delivers a classic tale of crime, deceit, and violence centered on the Westies, a criminal gang made up of Irishmen, and their contentious relationship with the Italian mafia.
The Westies might outwardly seem like the heir apparent to Boardwalk Empire , but it plays it too safe to reach the heights of Terence Winter 's Emmy-winning triumph. It's not a bad show by any means — in fact, it's a solid eight-episode saga with strong performances, decent production value, and a killer soundtrack . Yet, one can't help but ponder what the show could've been if it had a bit more ambition and a tad more meat on its bones.
Set in 1980s Hell's Kitchen, The Westies focuses on the titular gang, led by Eamon Sweeney (Simmons), a businessman who negotiates a sizable stake in the construction of the high-profile Javits Center. One of his most loyal men is Jimmy Rourke ( Tom Brittney ), whose troubled friend, war veteran Mickey Flanagan ( Stanley Morgan ), has recently been released from a mental institution following a tour in Vietnam. The Westies have a combative relationship with the Italians, particularly mob boss John Gotti ( Hamish Allan-Headley ), and the gangs' animosity towards each other seemingly increases by the day .
One of Sweeney's police informants is Glenn Keenan (Welliver), whose estranged son is becoming involved with the Westies, much to his chagrin. Over the course of the plot, Keenan also enters into a complicated partnership with Birdie Polk ( Jessica Frances Dukes ), a detective looking to bring down Sweeney. Meanwhile, Jimmy's girlfriend, Bridget ( Sarah Bolger ), finds herself dragged back into the cause of Irish independence after a mysterious man from her past, Brendan Cahill ( Allen Leech ), reenters her life.
Image via MGM+ Image via MGM+ John Gotti meets with Eamon Sweeney in The Westies Season 1. Image via Jackie Brown/MGM+ Agent Birdie Polk talks to Officer Glenn Keenan in The Westies Season 1. Image via Brooke Palmer/MGM+ Mickey Flanagan and Jimmy Roarke meet with a contact in The Westies Season 1.…