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MGM+’s “The Westies” is an Exceptional Period Crime Drama
MGM+’s “The Westies”, brilliant in every sense of the word, is must-watch television
MGM+’s The Westies, the must-watch period crime drama of the year, delivers in every way imaginable. The eight-episode television series, set in New York during the 1980s, is brilliantly well-crafted.
Picture it. It’s New York during the 1980s. During this period, as many social historians might know, New York was home to The Westies criminal gang. Ruthless is an understatement. Very few people, except for possibly the Italian Mafia, would cross The Westies.
When it comes to the real-life organized crime figures, mirroring many other productions, loosely based is a fairly accurate phrase. The Westies is one of those television dramas where the characters feel every bit as real as the guy next door. Authentic is a good word to describe how the drama unfolds.
The Westies, significantly outnumbered by the Italian mafia, are in a curious predicament. Working with the Italians, including a fairly young John Gotti, hasn’t proven easy for the Irish. Suggesting it is an uneasy alliance between The Westies and the Italian Mafia might be a stretch. Both factions, even though they enjoy…
