The MGM+ crime drama The Westies has been a bloody, gripping ride through 1980s Hell's Kitchen, and its season finale left fans—and star Sarah Bolger—hungry for more. The show, which follows the brutal power struggles of an Irish American gang, ended with a twist that sets up a potentially explosive second season. Bolger, who plays the revenge-driven Bridget Walsh, recently sat down with Collider to unpack the finale's implications and her character's future.
In the finale, Bridget finally gets the closure she's been obsessing over: she kills her parents' murderer. But just as she thinks she can move on, a newly unearthed secret emerges, hinting that her story is far from over. Bolger is eager to explore what comes next. "When Episode 8 came out, as satisfying as it is, it leaves the door open and leaves so many questions unanswered," she said. "I yearn for more seasons. Please, God."
The actress, who also played Emily in Mayans M.C., sees a fascinating parallel between her two gangland characters. "I think they'd tell each other to run," she laughed. "They find comfort in discomfort. The only commonality is that they fall in love and find safety in love—and then don't need safety anywhere else." But Bridget is different: she's more at home in chaos, shaped by a past that's darker and more nuanced than Emily's.
Bolger also praised the show's creators, Chris Brancato and Michael Panes, for writing female characters who hold their own in a male-dominated world. "They each hold court in their own specific worlds," she said. "Bridget is a goddamn powerhouse. They need her; she doesn't need them." That promise—that Bridget would be leading the gang if she could—was one the creators kept, and it's a big reason Bolger feels so invested in the role.
Looking ahead, Bolger hopes a potential Season 2 will delve into Bridget's unresolved trauma. "She needs to deal with that in order to move forward," she hinted. She also teased possible developments with Cahill (Allen Leech), whose fate remains uncertain after the finale. For fans eager for more, the show's showrunners have hinted at plans that could make Season 2 even more intense.
Beyond The Westies, Bolger is currently shooting a period piece called Fog City, and she took a nostalgic trip down memory lane discussing her unreleased Locke & Key pilot from 2011. That Fox pilot never saw the light of day, but Bolger remains proud of it. "I'm so proud I got to be a part of it," she said. "It was a wonderful experience."
With the finale's twist leaving fans clamoring for answers, The Westies has proven it's a show that thrives on suspense. Whether Bridget's secret will lead to more bloodshed or a new alliance remains to be seen—but one thing's for sure: Bolger is ready to dive back in. "I really need another season," she admitted. "Eight episodes is just enough to set up worlds, but not enough to satisfy."
