The first season of MGM+'s The Westies has come to a close, leaving fans buzzing about the explosive finale and what lies ahead. The show follows Eamon Sweeney (J.K. Simmons), the iron-fisted leader of a violent Irish gang, and Jimmy Roarke (Tom Brittney), a rising star in his crew. What began as a mentor-protégé dynamic quickly soured into a power struggle, with Jimmy's ambition clashing against Sweeney's old-school methods. By the season's end, the two are at a crossroads, and the fallout promises to reshape everything.
In a recent interview, Simmons and Brittney opened up about the season's pivotal moments, the inevitable confrontation, and what they hope to see in a potential second season. They also tackled a fun hypothetical: which of Simmons' past characters could actually rattle the unflappable Sweeney?
Fletcher from Whiplash: The One Who Could Unnerve Sweeney
When asked which of his previous roles might give Sweeney a run for his money, Simmons didn't hesitate: "Probably Fletcher from Whiplash." He explained that Fletcher's unpredictable, intense energy would throw Sweeney off. "Sweeney is all about maintaining that cool, calm, macho exterior," Simmons said. "But Fletcher's brand of chaos is something he wouldn't know how to handle." It's a fun thought experiment that highlights the layers beneath Sweeney's tough facade.
The Inevitable Clash: Could It Have Been Avoided?
Brittney believes the conflict was baked into their characters from the start. "There's a decision Sweeney makes very early on that could have changed everything," he said. "But in this world, rules are shifting, and everyone is just trying to adapt. It feels inevitable that if you don't pull the trigger on one person, it'll happen with someone else." Simmons added with a wry smile, "Triggers being pulled is definitely inevitable."
Sweeney vs. Keenan: A Pissing Contest for the Ages
One of the season's standout scenes was the bar confrontation between Sweeney and Officer Glenn Keenan (Titus Welliver). Sweeney delivers a brutal takedown, calling Keenan a failure as a cop, a father, and a man. Simmons loved the writing, noting that the line "jumped off the page." He praised Welliver's portrayal, which evolved from the pilot into a character with real backbone. "Those scenes are all about the pissing contest," Simmons said. "Sweeney is the boss, and he's thinking, 'Why aren't you backing down?'"
The Truth Always Comes Out
Another key moment came in Episode 2, when Sweeney tells Jimmy, "The truth always comes out." Simmons reflected on how that line becomes painfully ironic by the finale. "He's had 70 years of experience, and that wisdom is real in the moment," Simmons said. "But by the end, it's his own secrets that come back to bite him."
The finale's warehouse showdown between Sweeney and Jimmy was a long time coming. Brittney noted that Jimmy had earned that confrontation, having grown from a loyal soldier into someone who questions the old guard. "I love that scene," he said. "It's the culmination of everything they've built and broken."
As for Season 2, both actors have ideas. Simmons hinted at exploring Sweeney's vulnerabilities, while Brittney is curious about Jimmy's evolution as a leader. Fans of the show can also check out what the showrunners have teased about the future. With the stage set for a power shift, The Westies is poised to deliver even more gripping drama.
