Bringing New York’s Fearsome Irish Syndicate to the Small Screen
A New Chapter for Irish Gangster Television
Traveloasisspot.com – Irish criminal organizations have seldom enjoyed the spotlight in high-quality television programming worldwide. While viewers across Ireland have enthusiastically embraced gritty domestic series like Kin and Love/Hate, the Italian Mafia has consistently dominated the genre through legendary productions including The Sopranos, Goodfellas, and The Godfather trilogy.
Even Peaky Blinders managed to elevate Birmingham’s criminal underworld into mainstream cultural consciousness, inspiring everything from flat-cap trends to seasonal costume choices. Meanwhile, New York’s notoriously aggressive Irish-American syndicate, known as The Westies, has largely existed outside the public eye.
MGM+ is now attempting to shift this narrative with their fresh eight-episode series. Developed by Chris Brancato, who previously helmed Narcos, alongside Michael Panes, the production transports audiences back to Hell’s Kitchen during the early 1980s. The storyline follows the gang’s struggle to maintain control over their diminishing Manhattan territory while navigating an increasingly unstable partnership with New York’s Five Families.
The construction of the Javits Center represents a crucial turning point, with millions of dollars potentially flowing through their neighborhood. These financial opportunities raise the stakes considerably for everyone involved.
Simmons Delivers a Masterclass in Subtle Power
At the heart of the production sits Oscar recipient J.K. Simmons, offering one of his most quietly disturbing performances since his work in Whiplash. Rather than relying on explosive temperaments or dramatic displays of aggression, Simmons’ portrayal of Eamon Sweeney commands respect through understated presence alone.
Viewers quickly grasp the character’s nature within the first few minutes. Sweeney oscillates between calm, almost paternal demeanor and moments where his calculating, ruthless side emerges without warning.
“Any bad guy role that that comes my way, I’m always looking for complexity and for you know subtlety, shades of grey and glimpses of humanity, even in a vile human being,” he tells The Standard.
“Chris Brancato and Michael Panes really wrote a whole cast full of well-rounded characters and that’s the appeal.”
When pressed to describe his character, Simmons offers a wry observation: “He’s just such a sweetheart.”
Brittney Brings Restless Ambition to the Screen
While Simmons anchors the series with his commanding presence, Tom Brittney injects restless energy into the production. After spending six seasons portraying the gentle Reverend Will Davenport in Grantchester, Brittney finds himself worlds away from Cambridgeshire’s peaceful countryside.
Trading sermons for shootouts, he embodies Jimmy Roarke, one of the syndicate’s ambitious younger members whose hunger for advancement threatens to disrupt the careful balance Sweeney has cultivated over many years.
As the Javits Center development brings increased wealth to Hell’s Kitchen, Jimmy starts challenging established business practices. This internal conflict elevates The Westies beyond a simple police-and-gangster formula.
“You couldn’t ask for a better scene partner,” Brittney says of Simmons.
“It’s J.K. Simmons. We all grew up watching him in something we admired. He makes the set incredibly warm and he’s just the best person to work opposite.”
This warmth rarely transfers to their on-screen personas. Every interaction between Jimmy and Eamon carries the weight of obligation and unspoken history.
“The younger Westies are coming out of the 60s and 70s,” he explains. “There’s more rebellion in them. They’re beginning to question how business has always been done.”
This tension between tradition and evolution proves as compelling as the inevitable violence. The strong supporting ensemble, featuring Titus Welliver, Jessica Frances Dukes, Allen Leech, Sarah Bolger, and Stanley Morgan, further complicates moral boundaries, ensuring few characters fit neatly into hero or villain categories.
The Westies is currently available for streaming on MGM+ through Prime Video.
