‘Bosch’ Fans Can Check Out Titus Welliver’s ‘The Westies’ Rated on Rotten Tomatoes

MGM+ is inviting audiences back to the perilous streets of 1980s New York with its latest crime drama series ‘The Westies.’ Early reviews indicate that the show could be a noteworthy addition to the crime genre. Starring ‘Bosch’ actor Titus Welliver alongside a talented ensemble, the series has now received its inaugural Rotten Tomatoes score.

As per Rotten Tomatoes, ‘The Westies’ currently boasts an 80% Tomatometer score based on five reviews. Although the number of critiques is still limited, reviewers have largely commended the show’s performances, pacing, and crime narrative, with many noting that it offers a familiar yet entertaining gangster drama.

Set in Hell’s Kitchen during the 1980s, the MGM+ series follows two childhood friends who take drastically different paths. One becomes a police officer, while the other gets entangled with the Westies, the notorious Irish-American criminal gang that dominated parts of Manhattan during that time.

Titus Welliver portrays Glenn Keenan, with a cast that includes J.K. Simmons as Eamon Sweeney, Tom Brittney as James “Jimmy” Roarke, Jessica Frances Dukes as Birdie Polk, Stanley Morgan as Mickey Flanagan, Sarah Bolger as Bridget Walsh, Allen Leech as Brendan Cahill, and Hamish Allan-Headly as John Gotti.

Critics have highlighted the performances of the cast, particularly Welliver and Simmons. Richard Roeper from RogerEbert.com offered a favorable review, calling it “a well-crafted, B-movie version of Scorsese” and praising the “electric performances from a stellar cast led by J.K. Simmons and Titus Welliver.”

TV Guide’s Keith Phipps also responded positively, stating “it’s fast-paced, cleverly plotted, well played, and never less than compelling.” The review awarded the show a 7 out of 10 rating, indicating that while it may not completely reinvent the crime genre, it offers an engaging narrative for fans.

Brittany Frederick from TVBrittanyF.com praised the series as “a well-oiled, well-executed machine of creative mayhem” and assigned it a B grade.

However, not all critics were impressed. M.N. Miller from FandomWire provided a negative review, arguing that the show lacks sufficient energy in its crime narrative. Miller remarked that “The Westies has the look of prestige television without the pulse, a saga with blood on its hands but very little under its fingernails.”

Collider’s David Caballero had a more favorable take, suggesting that viewers who appreciate traditional crime dramas will likely enjoy the series. He noted that fans of “tough men doing bad things and traditional tales of underworld crime” may find much to appreciate.

With its 1980s backdrop, gangster-centric storyline, and a cast led by Welliver and Simmons, ‘The Westies’ seems to target fans of classic crime dramas. The early Rotten Tomatoes score indicates that while the series may not break new ground, it could still provide a compelling character-driven story for viewers eager for another dive into the realm of organized crime.

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