This article contains spoilers for MGM+‘s The Westies Episode 5
The tentative truce between the Italian Gambino family and the Irish mafia is destined to crumble. Neither side cares for the other; they need each other only for the big construction project that, in theory, will make them all rich, provided everyone keeps their word.
In “A Right Rose Tree,” both sides dig deeper into the drug side of business, where there is power and big money to be made. Unfortunately, it’s a nasty, ugly business, and as both sides find out, one with heavy consequences.
Jimmy Roarke Makes a Surprising Move in The Westies
After the failed contract hit on Eamon Sweeney (J.K. Simmons) by John Gotti (Hamish Allan-Headley) for selling his stolen cocaine, a meeting with the big Gambino boss Paul Castellano (Ron Lea) was in order. It was quite entertaining to watch Sweeney and Gotti both swear their innocence to Castellano about what went down, even though they knew exactly what happened.
In the end, Castellano makes them shake hands and warns Gotti against any violence against Sweeney and his men. Yet another dagger in the heart of Gotti’s allegiance to the boss, creating an even bigger rift between Gotti and Sweeney.
This show is a relentless test of one’s loyalties. Sweeney and Jimmy Roarke (Tom Brittney) discuss entering the cocaine trade, following the adage, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Sweeney sets Jimmy up with his drug contact in Harlem to try to build a relationship there.
Meanwhile, Glenn Keenan (Titus Welliver) is forced by the feds to wear a wire to gather information from Sweeney and his crew, all to keep his son safe. At the same time, Bridget Walsh (Sarah Bolger) falls deeper into the IRA and into the influence of Brendan Cahill (Allen Leech). She knows they plan to use a car bomb to kill their target, who is personal to her, and that it is sure to kill civilians in the explosion.
After an initial conversation with Sweeney’s contact Leon, Jimmy meets to trade cash for cocaine, a small amount to begin with to see how things go. However, Leon’s driver, the same one who ratted out the Irish to Gotti about who was selling cocaine, shoots Leon and tries to take both the money and the drugs. He is then shot by Jimmy’s friend Mickey Flanagan (Stanley Morgan).
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While the boys prepare the drugs for sale, Jimmy returns the money to Sweeney, who financed the initial buy himself. Sweeney thanks Jimmy for his loyalty. While Jimmy is indeed loyal, Sweeney’s true intentions remain a matter of debate.
Things go from bad to worse for Keenan and Bridget. She is quickly reminded of why she distanced herself from Cahill before, as she watches him coolly execute the man who was helping to procure the explosives. Cahill is the worst kind of leader — charismatic, confident, ruthless, and single-minded in what he wants to accomplish.
Keenan, who had one of Sweeney’s top men, Eddie Breen (Vincent Walsh), arrested on orders from the feds, learns the hard way what it’s like to walk both sides of the fence. Sweeney and his men discover he is wired, beat him to a pulp, and leave him alive in a puddle of his own misery. Both characters are now at a turning point in their lives, where they have to make some hard decisions.
Meanwhile, Gotti finds out the cash and cocaine are both gone. Upon learning who did it, he picks up Jimmy and Mickey for a little chat. It seems Gotti has less interest in killing them and more in having the two work for him. He’s impressed by what he’s seen of them so far, especially Jimmy.
However, both men refuse, and Gotti lets them go, convinced they will be back. As Gotti continues to ignore his boss, he believes these guys will eventually do the same to Sweeney and come work for him.
The Westies Episode 5 Amps Up the Tension
There are some big moments this week, and the actors rise to the occasion. The mounting tension feels real, mirroring the stress both sides are under. “A Right Rose Tree” is wonderfully paced and moves between storylines simply and efficiently, giving the viewer a hard look at life in Hell’s Kitchen in the ’80s.
One thing is for sure: there is very little room for error on either side. Eventually, something is going to give, because it’s hard to imagine this temporary peace lasting much longer.
The Westies Episode 5 is now streaming on MGM+. New episodes premiere every Sunday through August 23.
