Mayor of Kingstown is an American crime thriller television series created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon. The series premiered on November 14, 2021, on Paramount+. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on January 15, 2023. In September 2023, the series was renewed for a third season.
Premise
Kingstown, Michigan, is a fictional company town where the business is incarceration. The McLusky family have been keeping the peace in Kingstown for decades, acting as the mediators between the street gangs, prisoners, guards, and cops. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption, and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither.[1]
Cast
Main
Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky, who starts as the right-hand man for his older brother, Mitch, but takes over as "Mayor" after Mitch's death in the first episode. The middle McLusky brother, Mike has spent his whole childhood dreaming of getting out of Kingstown. Later in the season, it is revealed that Mike was once an inmate in the Kingstown prison and rose to the rank of "Shot-Caller" for the White inmates.
Dianne Wiest as Miriam McLusky (season 1-2), the matriarch of the McLusky brothers. Miriam is a college professor who volunteers teaching inmates in the female prison. Miriam is fully aware of the activities that her sons take part in and has a deep animosity toward Mike.
Hugh Dillon (one of the show's co-creators) as Ian Ferguson, a seasoned, hard-nosed detective for the Kingstown Police Department and Kyle's partner.
Tobi Bamtefa as Deverin "Bunny" Washington, leader of the Crips in Kingstown, Bunny spends his days sitting on a lawn chair selling drugs he has in coolers next to him out in the open. Bunny has a good relationship with Mike and is the closest thing to a friend that Mike has.
Taylor Handley as Kyle McLusky, the youngest of the McLusky brothers. Kyle is a detective for the Kingstown Police Department. Kyle often battles with the choices he is forced to make assisting his two older brothers with their business dealings, as well as the questionable tactics his fellow officers employ on suspects. As a way to distance himself from the mayhem and corruption of working in Kingstown, Kyle is close to getting a transfer to the Michigan State Police. Kyle is also married to Tracy and is expecting their first son. In Season 2 Kyle is currently working as a Michigan State Trooper but after a police involved shooting which results in the death of his partner and orphaning a young toddler, Kyle is overcome with trauma and guilt affecting his relationship with his wife.
Emma Laird as Iris, a smooth-talking escort who works for Milo and the Russian mafia to seduce and bribe government officials. Iris is originally brought into Kingstown in an attempt to control Mike.
Derek Webster as Stevie, a detective for the Kingstown Police Department and another ally to the McLusky brothers
Hamish Allan-Headley as Robert Sawyer, a police sergeant that leads an elite team of Kingstown SWAT officers. Robert is a force of nature who isn't afraid to do whatever is necessary to get the job done, which includes operating his team as more of a death squad.
Pha'rez Lass as P-Dog (season 1), A "Shot-Caller" and leader of the Crip inmates in the Kingstown Prison. P-Dog leads a prison riot for retaliation against the guards for their ill treatment. P-Dog is eventually killed in the Season 1 finale by Michigan National Guardsmen.
Aidan Gillen as Milo Sunter, a Russian mobster who is spending life in prison after killing guards during an armored car robbery.
Kyle Chandler as Mitch McLusky (season 1), the oldest of the McLusky brothers. Mitch took over the role of "Mayor" after their father, the original "Mayor", died.
Nishi Munshi as Tracy McLusky (season 2; recurring season 1), Kyle's wife, who is pregnant with their son
Recurring
James Jordan as Ed Simmons (Season 1), a corrections sergeant who helps coordinate with Mike and Mitch in dealing with the inmates. Ed is killed in the Season 1 finale by P-Dog.
Nichole Galicia as Rebecca, who works as a secretary for Mitch and then later for Mike
Andrew Howard as Duke (Season 1), leader of a local Aryan Brotherhood chapter in Kingstown, who also controls the White inmates inside the prison. Duke once served time alongside Mike in the Kingstown prison, both as acting "Shot-Callers". Toward the end of Season 1, Mike kills him in retaliation for abusing Iris.
Jose Pablo Cantillo as Carlos Jiménez (Season 1), A high-ranking leader in the Mexican Mafia. Carlos also served time with Mike in the Kingstown prison back when he was a "Shot-Caller" for the whites.
Michael Beach as Captain Kareem Moore, leader of the Kingstown prison guards. During Season 2 Kareem was promoted as interim Warden of the Kingstown Prison.
Necar Zadegan as Evelyn Foley, assistant district attorney for the City of Kingstown, who is secretly having an affair with Mike
Jason Kelley as Tim Weaver (Season 1), a corrections officer who also helps Mike and Mitch
Mandela Van Peebles as Sam (Season 1), Tim's nephew, and a rookie corrections officer, whose actions cause chaos within and outside the prison
Rob Kirkland as Captain Walter, captain of police in the Kingstown Police Department
Rob Stewart as Captain Richard Heard, captain of detectives in the Kingstown Police Department
Natasha Marc as Cherry (Season 1), a young 20-year-old inmate in the female prison and one of Miriam's students
Stacie Greenwell as Abby Steele (Season 1) a seasoned corrections officer assigned to the female prison
George Tchortov as Joseph, Milo's right-hand man and leader of the Russian Mafia operating in Kingstown. It is revealed in season 2 that Joseph was secretly having an affair with Tatiana behind Milo's back, resulting in them having a child together. Joseph is killed by Iris near the end of Season 2 after he attempted to rape her.
Gratiela Brancusi as Tatiana (Season 2)[2] Another escort that works for Milo and the Russian Mafia. She is also the mother of Joseph's child.
Lane Garrison as Carney (Season 2)[2] A Kingstown Prison Guard who takes over the role that his predecessor Ed Simmons filled after his death.
The project was first announced in January 2020, when Paramount Network ordered the series.[4] By February 2021, the series was transferred over to the Paramount+ streaming service, with Jeremy Renner cast to star.[5] The next month, Dianne Wiest joined the cast,[6] with Emma Laird, Derek Webster and Taylor Handley added in April.[7][8] Series co-creator Hugh Dillon joined the cast alongside Pha'rez Lass and Tobi Bamtefa in May.[9]Kyle Chandler was revealed to have joined the cast in August following the release of a teaser poster for the series,[10] while Aidan Gillen and Hamish Allan-Headley were added to the main cast.[11] On February 1, 2022, Paramount+ renewed the series for a second season.[12]
The 10-episode first season of Mayor of Kingstown premiered on November 14, 2021, on Paramount+.[19][20] The first two episodes had their linear premiere on November 21 and 28, 2021 on Paramount Network, where it was originally supposed to air.[citation needed] The second season premiered on January 15, 2023, on Paramount+.[21]
Reception
Season 1
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 35% approval by critics and a 90% approval by the audience. The website's critics consensus reads, "Despite campaigning with a strong pedigree, Mayor of Kingstown botches its reelection chances by giving constituents too much gloom and grit and not enough reasons to care."[22]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 54 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[23]
During its debut in the US, which was simulcast on cable as a means of promotion, the series drew 2.6 million viewers linearly, making it Paramount Network's most-watched scripted premiere since 2018.[24]
Season 2
Rotten Tomatoes[25] reports a 50% approval by critics and a 93% approval by the audience. The site Metacritic assigned a score of 60 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[26]
