J.K. Simmons and Tom Brittney break down The Westies episode 1’s shocking ending and its aftermath.
Premiered on Sunday, July 12, the MGM+ crime drama stars J.K. Simmons as Eamon Sweeney, the ruthless leader of the titular Irish gang in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, during the early 1980s, and Tom Brittney as Jimmy Roarke, Sweeney’s fiercely loyal and ambitious second-in-command. The first episode ends with a surprising twist that sets the stage for the rest of season 1.
In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Tatiana Hullender for The Westies, J.K. Simmons and Tom Brittney explained episode 1’s shocking ending and its aftermath, as Jimmy makes an impossible choice that stems from several emotional pressures at once. Brittney explains that Jimmy feels guilty for bringing Mickey back, regrets ignoring Bridget’s warning, and knows that killing Zaccaro could jeopardize the entire gang.
He also believes he’s failed the man he views as a father. On the other hand, Simmons says that the bond runs deep, with later episodes revealing why Sweeney values Jimmy so highly. Both stress Jimmy’s unwavering loyalty and his ability to get the job done have earned Sweeney’s trust over many years. Read their full comments below:
ScreenRant: Tom, this season’s arc is kicked off by Jimmy protecting Mickey and killing Zaccaro. What’s going through his mind when he pulls the trigger at the end of episode 1? Is it guilt for bringing Mickey back into the fold, or is he still smarting from Davey’s death at Sweeney’s hand?
Tom Brittney: I think you’ve hit it on the head, really. There was more than one thing. I think that the’re guilt about bringing Mickey in, especially after Bridget says, “Don’t do this.” And she’s proven exactly right by the fact that he’s got to make this decision. If he had just listened to his wonderful girlfriend, who’s normally always right, then this wouldn’t have happened.
But he’s also thinking about the fact that he’s let down his father figure – he’s let down his leader – and that’s a pretty no-no thing to do. And he knows more than anyone else that this is going to cause a huge amount of problems for them. They are hanging on by a thread as a group, and he may have just screwed it up for everyone,
JK Simmons: Which leads us to the brilliant line at the end of the first episode.
ScreenRant: Speaking of that father figure, it seems like many of these boys are somewhat disposable for Sweeney, but he goes through a lot of trouble to keep himself from having to dispose of Jimmy Roarke. What would you say sets Roarke apart in his eyes?
JK Simmons: Well, history is a lot of it, as we see in later episodes. We do actually get some exposition and some backstory, with Eamon explaining his attachment to Jimmy and that he has seen something special in there; a spark from when he first pulled him out of the gutter.
Call it chemistry, call it kismet, call it whatever, that has been cemented over the ensuing 14 years or whatever it may be. That level of loyalty and trust in that bond is really strong.
Tom Brittney: I like to think, because we are thrown straight into it and the backstory comes out over the [season], it was important for us to come together and be like, “Okay, what happened before the cameras started rolling?”
But I think what’s evident on screen is that Jimmy gets the job done. Sweeney values the guys who don’t mess about. “If I tell you to do something, you go and do it.” And I think Jimmy’s probably earned his way to the place that he is at in Sweeney’s eyes by being a loyal dog to him in that way, and not questioning until recently, when he’s started to speak up.
JK Simmons: Yeah, he’s a good soldier, and he’s worked his way up the ranks as a result.
Created by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, The Westies stars J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver as two childhood friends who end up on opposite sides of the law, the former joining the titular Irish gang and the latter becoming a police officer. Set in the early 1980s, season 1 unfolds as the construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center in the gang’s stronghold of Hell’s Kitchen offers the promise of a major financial boon.
The Westies marks the third collaboration between Chris Brancato and MGM+ after Hotel Cocaine (2024–) and The Godfather of Harlem (2019–).
In addition to the Oscar-winning J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Titus Welliver, and Tom Brittney, the main cast also includes Jessica Frances Dukes, Stanley Morgan, Sarah Bolger, Allen Leech, Hamish Allan-Headley as John Gotti, Vincent Walsh, and Hilary McCormack. Appearing in recurring roles are Aidan Wojtak-Hissong, Jeremy Walmsley, and Dylan Taylor.
Premiered with two episodes on July 12, The Westies has received positive reviews from critics, resulting in an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score with seven reviews from critics at the time of writing. With fewer than 50 ratings, the show does not yet have an audience score. The Westies premieres new episodes on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on MGM+.
- Release Date
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July 12, 2026
- Network
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MGM+
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J.K. Simmons
Eamon Sweeney
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Tom Brittney
James ‘Jimmy’ Roarke
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Jessica Frances Dukes
Birdie Polk