Tom Blyth’s performance anchors underrated MGM+ western Billy the Kid

According to Collider, Tom Blyth’s leading turn in MGM+’s Billy the Kid is an underrated showcase and a strong follow-up watch for viewers of Netflix’s People We Meet on Vacation.

Created by Michael Hirst, the series reframes the Billy the Kid legend as a coming-of-age story about Henry McCarty, tracing his journey from New York City to the New Mexico Territory and linking his life to themes of class struggle, identity and systemic injustice. Season 1 emphasizes Billy’s upbringing, his relationship with his mother and the pressures that push him toward violence, with the Lincoln County War arriving later as consequence rather than instant legend-making.

Blyth’s performance is described as the show’s anchor: he performed most of his stunts, including riding horses and shooting, used regional accents to convey alienation, and balances charm with volatility. Early reviews were lukewarm but audience response strengthened over time, and ahead of its final season Billy the Kid climbed into MGM+’s Top 10 most-watched titles. The series lists a release range of 2022–2025 and names Michael Hirst as showrunner with William A. Graham among the directors.

Key Topics

Culture, Tom Blyth, Mgm+, Michael Hirst, Henry Mccarty, Lincoln County War