# The Westies TV review: J.K. Simmons does capable Scorsese cosplay

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-11 00:07 UTC · Category: Entertainment

## Executive Summary
Critics and audiences are weighing in on MGM+’s new crime drama The Westies, starring J.K. Simmons.

## Intelligence Brief
According to coverage from outlets including Roger Ebert, The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, and The A.V. Club, the new crime drama series titled The Westies is currently generating significant critical and audience attention. The series focuses on an upstart Irish-American crime family taking on the Mafia, bringing Hell's Kitchen's notorious Irish mob to the platform. Coverage highlights a prominent cast led by Hollywood legend J.K. Simmons alongside Titus Welliver, Tom Brittney, and a rumored next Batman star. Reviewers and features from various publications have detailed the gritty atmosphere of the production, placing it firmly within the television landscape as a high-profile release on MGM+. Different publications have offered varied critical perspectives on the stylistic choices and narrative approach of the show. Writing for Roger Ebert, critics characterized J.K.


Simmons's performance as capable Scorsese cosplay, while The Hollywood Reporter described the program as a handsome but generic gangster drama. Meanwhile, coverage from The Guardian compared the violent New York mob drama to a combination of Peaky Blinders and The Sopranos. Other outlets such as The A.V. Club and Yahoo published articles discussing whether the program truly serves as an American equivalent to Peaky Blinders, noting that it may not fully capture that specific comparison. Additional reporting from Yahoo highlighted behind-the-scenes details, confirming that the 1980s New York scenes were created using a completely analogue process with no artificial intelligence utilized. The context surrounding the release involves extensive promotional coverage, including set visits and interviews published by outlets like Yahoo and Radio Times. These reports featured J.K. Simmons and Tom Brittney discussing the complexities of the project, while Collider and TVGuide.com singled out Titus Welliver as a clear standout performance in the grungy and compelling New York crime drama.


The Wall Street Journal review, titled Craic and Crime on MGM+, joined other assessments from TV Insider and 3DVF in positioning the series within a crowded television landscape that also features concurrent projects like Lestat and Grantchester. Time Out Worldwide noted the specific premiere window for the new series centering on New York City's notorious gang. As the series rolls out on MGM+, future coverage will likely track audience reception and viewer numbers across subsequent episodes. The available reporting does not yet specify long-term renewal plans or specific audience ratings figures for the premiere week. Observers will continue to monitor whether the comparisons to classic mob dramas and historical crime epics resonate with broader viewing audiences. Further updates from the creators and network regarding the performance of the series remain dependent on subsequent announcements from MGM+.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| A.V. Club | The Westies won't be your American Peaky Blinders | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiZEFVX3lxTE1sVmQxeDNvTWNxLVd1bGoyQmJscENLS3NhMlNXYXYtQ0ZMLXZkNG15Y0x0eENUQUJiRVhldk9SREVZWS1lOV9NTm9Ea2YxTlRFVGdLbzlDVVVwTUdoSEtlMVFQcTQ?oc=5) |
| TV Insider | Mob Drama With 'The Westies,' 'Lestat' Gets Witchy, Crisis of Faith on 'Grantchester,' Wimbledon Finals | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipwFBVV95cUxOTUh0dXd6SDk0MTYyMGJaVFNQMERRcVlabTlLMEhxYUlmalZpZjZSeEZnUmczVnpfUVljVG43dTZTUlJiWTVzMUVUTUF2S0k2N0RROVg4MGZZM2YxZnJlWVR5dW1PN0x1N3lYc3o3RVo5SzRxTm9Hd3MwN0hTS3hvQXhtV0doY1ViajFFTThGMGIyZ1BVakgxWEJJUXNFUDVhby1fNEc2TQ?oc=5) |
| Men's Journal | Exclusive: The Rumored Next Batman Stars in a Wild New Crime Epic Perfect for 'Peaky Blinders' Lovers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiggFBVV95cUxON1pVcUdndlh4R2lrUnhFMk5pcHhvNktFTXMwZEFiV2d5c0NoYjBsVXo2ZXVZNVZzNGFtQVVYT3lyOThWM1VFQ295Z2NRVnhTTWtVZGMzUWhCWVFVaFhVRnhwODlabzBTaDNjaHNDZHZnSWhReV84Qk9VbTFWeWxGTGxn?oc=5) |
| The Boston Globe | In ‘The Westies,’ an upstart Irish-American crime family takes on the Mafia | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxNTzY0b3lxTnRrN0J4cEVUU2VxNEJoRU1YZWg3bldTOXJCbVo2aDRuNGl0bUNmbjI3RzRQSHdQYVZTNGJ3TVVPRUtpMkxteTVjamU3ajkwX000bUNVMldwUVBIT2NqUy1wSTB5S19CTHJRVnh0cDU3eWUybDVuV3h0SDdWUzBLZExaRHc?oc=5) |
| Collider | 'Bosch's Titus Welliver Is the Clear Standout of MGM+'s New Crime Drama 'The Westies' - Review | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxORTlYUTY4WmVxSnNSUTdkb0otandHVFZ6VDJISGc3VmNsY0dYN2UtdmNNWnp4QWRIbXBnM1Fqd1VPejNldkM0TUttdTNVRW9ueDNyUVN0SlloQTRFVjc0ZlQ3a1V1NzRQUFY4Ni1ULWI3YW1DR09BZFV4Tkl4aThGRw?oc=5) |
| TVGuide.com | The Westies Review: J.K. Simmons Leads a Grungy, Compelling New York Crime Drama | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxOZ0l2dDJwcXRrNFlLQXFXem05QjFmb0J3bEVDekcwMWdZYi0zVmpiN3JYd2FjYjUyeVdZNUNNbFExcXYwd3JrUkFKdFFJNDRObDdWQ0dJdTF0azUtWTc1TzI5X1NGcFN2cG5UcElRcTRkUF90NGVYdDBDRGtoZUZocg?oc=5) |
| Radio Times | Hollywood legend JK Simmons and Grantchester’s Tom Brittney tease their new "complex" crime drama | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimAFBVV95cUxOckE1cGNCTWdSSF92aGFjeFZYcm95M19xVkxhRzVNc05lY0ltcmtmc1k5ejJUMWdnMzJQV1VqRGJnS2w4a1FCLVJxbll6QTl6TXJvQlE4Nzl5d1lkbmRxRHZiamM3MUdEb3hGWHE2dUxzU3BoYUd0R0tlcWxvb1Z4Vzh5WjZ1VUtxSnJJbnFxUkVkZHBfTnVJWA?oc=5) |
| 3DVF | The Westies brings Hell’s Kitchen’s Irish mob to MGM+ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifkFVX3lxTFBNMHZwM01TRUZnd1JaRnM5bkdjQUkzc3BXa0lkYmVVNi1oNEZ2RndoSlQ2WGg0ZW9KUUJWSmJNOVpVendnLXdjMFpvZzdNNmlPVzVZTFkxQTdNM0d0dlI1QjNSRFFnQWlTMUJ1Sml6d19JTzdvRUNCMHVsUkhxZw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | ‘The Westies’ set visit: J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver turn back the clock and turn up the drama | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxPZ0dsN2hYTWpmSjdwalRfa29TSG5Dc1Bta0l6M3dJcl9qNGVqZElKT2hSbU9PWXpsOVczc1hZTjRKaHEtSkhQS0wxeU9Qa3VudFF0a0JfZnUwdDhzV0xKTTFCVy1Ua0ctTFNWdktlcjBaVnhBUXFvelBtVFdsdDQyNXNYd0VhdVA1RkV5bQ?oc=5) |
| WSJ | ‘The Westies’ Review: Craic and Crime on MGM+ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimgFBVV95cUxPMk9xd0Zzcm5BWU4waXVFMFhmVjZ3NmdRbTJtWXk1RHBOUEdTWGZSazR0VjlIRTNFZmoxdTlydUlsNjRaM0ZpN1lueEM5endvODV1SS1iYlRaV2ZXYlVFTG5aTXNMbUhvMkl2SDllVFc2Z3c3SG1GcmNlVGRnV2xSbFVMdGoyckctVnZocHdrNmxpODFRYTh4UWl3?oc=5) |
| Roger Ebert | The Westies TV review: J.K. Simmons does capable Scorsese cosplay | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxNdHN2S1U3UHRuZnA5d05PNEpocGFLYW42YW5IRnpIelZEMjQ5RnUzdFA0Q2lTRi1qQnlQQ2VlWDFtanFzY2xwQzdKYXJURXlZVWllT2FNdkd2ME8wRHJnOW9uS0FNYmQxSWZ6eXBmM3V0TXZzTTNfT0c1bmQ1MnNrX09XeFFtckdp?oc=5) |
| The Guardian | The Westies review – this violent New York mob drama is like Peaky Blinders meets The Sopranos | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxQdTdwSFJfY0hHVmNSbkkzcmNCazg4cjVHZFR2NUdiSUJlSFhLMkduMGdLMS1DZmJMcXV5VXNJQ0U2X3ktWHVWeGdEWG51R01lMENVOVlMYllBRUp6U1B0Tm81N2dRa0RObzRiYjZsNHFEN2tzdUJzU0hFSmNNU2JZQjAtVk5JS05uUVFKMWlCLUlZQXJqYkh0VE9SS2xjeDljUDlrZzBNTC13QQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo | 'It was a completely analogue process': The Westies creators confirm no AI was used for 'epic' 1980s New York scenes in new MGM+ crime drama | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxORjA1N3VsYUZadjd4OF9TRDFid3pZZ29DSVFoVlZTaWxzZG9WRzRYVXgtS2g4R2RhbTNJbklqMkQyaXhzeHB4eU9KV1I5OUFIRW5XN0REdW1BWUJab1ZkTUZBTjdsclFoNGtZN0llVV9QbXFSWXhIaXR5MDQ2ZUQ0WnM5WG5NQUFldnNCNmlaYlJ2ZHZYV3RCSXBXOXc1WWlDU195NjF2eFcyaE0?oc=5) |
| The Hollywood Reporter | ‘The Westies’ Review: J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver Lead MGM+’s Handsome but Generic Gangster Drama | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxPRHJ1RDV1cXlxSzRsUG9xUVpFMVFHdFFJMUdUcHhYeTVvV2R4QU4xMTlpV0h6cmFRaHY4R0FWZW9md2VIcUQ5Uks1eVQ5QnFLU3BMZVBNQ0I1MzFCbkdRcGFwYUFqVks2b2xvdFo4R1hELWR4TFhzVGhRQWxhbkloR2d1c3NDNDFkLVV3cVprdDJIOU5UTFFmbFZmZVNHUXc?oc=5) |
| Time Out Worldwide | A new series about NYC's notorious gang, The Westies, premieres this week | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirwFBVV95cUxNT2UzZ1NiempvYmluOFNIV2tjaG1LcEZiZjctUUFGVXRBeVNadWd3UG1PYVZSd3ZlY3hMRW5IRHZadC1IYjVXcWUyWEFuSk9CdWltaklQS2hSSTIyb25nc2tlVnV3cVpLRXc5SlNXb3lLc2FFUnQ5UTFGWlY3Y1JReTlaRnZ4d1Zqb1M0ZGFScy1pUE00cG9FMmVja1FfT2hucWZtcS1mMTkxcERQcDgw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-11/the-westies-tv-review-j-k-simmons-does-capable-scorsese-cosplay*