MGM+ has added its latest eight‑part drama, The Westies, to the Prime Video catalogue in Canada. Viewers can watch the series now through the platform’s MGM+ add‑on channel.
The show marks a rare foray into the world of Irish‑American organised crime for prestige television. While Irish‑origin series such as Love/Hate and Kin have found strong follow‑up at home, the genre has traditionally been dominated by portrayals of the Italian Mafia and, more recently, Britain’s own Birmingham gang in Peaky Blinders. The Westies seeks to bring the story of New York’s notoriously violent Irish‑American outfit into the global spotlight.
Created by Chris Brancato – known for his work on Narcos – and Michael Panes, the series transports viewers to Hell’s Kitchen in the early 1980s. The narrative follows the gang’s struggle to retain a dwindling slice of Manhattan while navigating a fragile partnership with the city’s Five Families. The construction of the Javits Centre, promising a flood of capital into the neighbourhood, raises the stakes for the characters.
Oscar‑winner J.K. Simmons leads the cast as Eamon Sweeney, the gang’s seasoned boss. Simmons, familiar to Canadian audiences from a long career in film and television, delivers a restrained yet intimidating performance. He describes his approach to the role, saying, "He's just such a sweetheart." The character’s calm authority masks a capacity for ruthless calculation, a duality that unfolds from the series’ opening minutes.
Opposite Simmons, Tom Brittney portrays Jimmy Roarke, a younger lieutenant whose ambition threatens the established order. Brittney, best known for six seasons as Reverend Will Davenport in Grantchester, steps away from the quiet Cambridgeshire setting to a world of shoot‑outs and power plays. He praises his co‑star, noting, "You couldn't ask for a better scene partner." Their on‑screen dynamic forms the emotional core of the drama, reflecting a generational clash between old‑school discipline and a more volatile, rebellious mindset.
The supporting ensemble includes Titus Welliver, Jessica Frances Dukes, Allen Leech, Sarah Bolger and Stanley Morgan, each adding layers of moral ambiguity that blur the line between hero and villain. As the Javits Centre development pours money into Hell’s Kitchen, the series explores how the influx of wealth forces the gang to reconsider long‑standing business practices.
Overall, The Westies offers more than a conventional cops‑and‑gangsters story; it examines the tension between tradition and change within a criminal organisation. The series is now available to stream in Canada via the MGM+ add‑on on Prime Video.