The Finale Arrives
‘The Westies,’ the 1980s crime drama created by Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, airs its Season 1 finale tonight, Sunday, Aug. 23, at 9 p.m. ET on MGM+. The episode, titled “The Irish Goodbye,” brings the eight-episode first season to a close. The series premiered on July 12 with a two-episode launch, as reported by Indiatimes.
Set in Hell’s Kitchen during the construction of the Jacob Javits Convention Center, the show follows the real-life Irish-American gang known for its outsized violence and fragile alliances with the Italian families, according to Indiatimes. The series stars J.K. Simmons as Eamon Sweeney, the shrewd, paternal boss; Tom Brittney as Jimmy Roarke, the restless younger lieutenant; and Sarah Bolger as Bridget Walsh, a former IRA operative driven by revenge. Titus Welliver plays Glenn Keenan, a compromised NYPD detective, and Jessica Frances Dukes is FBI agent Birdie Polk, per Indiatimes. Other cast members include Stanley Morgan, Allen Leech, and Hamish Allan-Headley as a younger John Gotti.
How to Watch for Free
MGM+ does not offer its own free trial, but new subscribers can still watch the finale through streaming services that provide trial periods and support MGM+ as an add-on, as detailed by syracuse.com. Philo offers a 7-day free trial, with the MGM+ add-on costing $8 per month after the trial ends. DIRECTV provides a 5-day free trial and supports MGM+ as an add-on; new customers can currently get MGM+ for $0.99 per month for the first three months, after which the price increases to $7.99 per month. Fubo includes a free trial for eligible subscribers and allows users to add MGM+ for $7.99 per month after the trial period, syracuse.com reported.
The 7-day Philo trial offers the longest window to catch up on all eight episodes before the finale, according to syracuse.com.
What Happened in Episode 7
In the penultimate episode, Sean, one of Jimmy Roarke’s associates, was arrested following a drug bust, threatening to expose Jimmy’s secret cocaine operation with John Gotti, as recapped by syracuse.com. Sweeney agreed that Sean had become too dangerous to keep alive, and FBI investigator Glenn Keenan used the arrest to widen the divide between Jimmy and Sweeney, per syracuse.com.
The Finale’s Plot
Indiatimes provided a detailed account of the finale’s events. Bridget’s years-long hunt for Colonel Gerald Markham ends in a hotel room. She arrives disguised with a knife, and Markham reveals that Brendan sold out her parents for his freedom from Maze Prison. When Markham attempts to assault her, she cuts his throat, killing him. Later, Bridget confronts Brendan, pulls a gun on him, calls him a rat, and tells him to stay away.
Meanwhile, after Sean’s death, Jimmy and Mickey decide to act. A shootout at the bar leaves Declan killed and Connor wounded. Jimmy and Mickey capture Eddie Breen, drug him, and force a phone call to lure Sweeney to a warehouse. There, Jimmy ties Sweeney to a chair, reveals he has a deal with Paul Castellano through lawyer Ruby Stein, and pulls the trigger on an empty chamber, sparing Sweeney. Jimmy leaves Sweeney and Eddie with three kilos of cocaine and tips off the police, leading to their arrest by Keenan and the federal task force.
In the final scene, Jimmy and Mickey walk into the Javits Center office, and Jimmy sits in the chair. Gotti calls demanding an explanation, and Jimmy has Mickey say they have other plans.
Keenan’s son Danny escapes rehab, is brought into the crew by Sweeney, and is armed. Keenan disarms him, tells him he loves him, and Danny walks away. The FBI task force also loses a listening device after a bug is discovered in Gotti’s orbit.
What’s Next for the Show?
As of Aug. 21, MGM+ has not officially announced a second season, according to syracuse.com. However, creators Brancato and Panes have expressed confidence in a second season and have mapped out multi-season storylines, as reported by Indiatimes. All eight episodes of Season 1 are available to stream now on MGM+.