The Westies, a new eight-part MGM+ series streaming on Amazon Prime from July 12, has been touted as the next Peaky Blinders, but it carves its own bloody path. Set in early 1980s New York, the show follows the real-life Irish-American gang that ruled Hell's Kitchen through extreme violence and strategic cunning, centered on the construction of the Javits Center.
Plot and Setting
The series stars J.K. Simmons as Eamon Sweeney, the gang's kingpin, and Tom Brittney as Jimmy Roarke, a rising member. The Westies, vastly outnumbered fifty to one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, maintain a fragile peace through ruthless violence and sharp strategy. However, tensions between ambitious younger members and old-school leadership crack the truce, drawing FBI scrutiny with explosive consequences.
Performances and Tone
Simmons delivers a signature performance as a deeply sinister mob boss who uses psychological warfare to maintain control, even at the cost of his own men. Brittney, in his first major role since leaving ITV's Grantchester in 2025, shines as a charming antihero capable of extreme violence while remaining likable. The show balances brutality with surprising warmth, focusing on rich, complicated relationships rather than gratuitous gore. According to the reviewer, it is 'violent where it needs to be but commendably doesn’t chase gore for shock value.'
Comparisons to Peaky Blinders
Despite promotional comparisons, The Westies bears little resemblance to Steven Knight's British drama. The reviewer admits struggling with Peaky Blinders but found The Westies far more bingeable, finishing it over a weekend. The series offers a sense of jeopardy often missing in modern television, where main characters are rarely killed off, making it unpredictable and engaging.
Availability
The Westies is available to stream on MGM+ via Amazon Prime Video from July 12, with eight episodes running around 50 minutes each.
