Mayor of Kingstown is an American crime thriller television series created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon and starring Jeremy Renner. 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, which premiered on June 2, 2024. In December 2024, the series was renewed for a fourth season.
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 racism, corruption, mental illness, and violence, 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 Michael "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. He is later shown to have once been an inmate in the Kingstown prison and rose to the rank of "Shot-Caller" for the White inmates.
Dianne Wiest as Mariam McLusky (seasons 1–2), the matriarch of the McLusky brothers. Mariam is a college professor who volunteers to teach inmates in the female prison. Mariam is fully aware of her sons' activities and has a deep animosity toward Mike.
Hugh Dillon as Ian Ferguson, a seasoned, hard-nosed detective for the Kingstown Police Department and Kyle's partner. Dillon is also one of the show's co-creators.
Tobi Bamtefa as Deverin "Bunny" Washington, leader of the Crips in Kingstown, Bunny spends his days sitting on a lawn chair selling drugs, kept 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. 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. During the second season, Kyle begins working as a Michigan State Trooper but after a police-involved shooting that 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 (seasons 1–3), 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 who 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 in 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 (seasons 1–3), a Russian mobster who is spending life in prison after killing guards during an armored car robbery.
Kyle Chandler as Mitchell "Mitch" McLusky (season 1), the oldest of the McLusky brothers. Mitch took over the role of "Mayor" after their father died.
Nishi Munshi as Tracy McLusky (season 2–present; recurring season 1), Kyle's wife, who is pregnant with their son
Michael Beach as Captain Kareem Moore (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), leader of the Kingstown prison guards. During the second season, Kareem is promoted as interim warden of the Kingstown Prison.
Recurring
Nichole Galicia as Rebecca, who works as a secretary for Mitch and then later for Mike
James Jordan as Ed Simmons (season 1), a corrections sergeant who helps coordinate with Mike and Mitch in dealing with the inmates. Ed is later killed in the first season finale by P-Dog.
Jason E. Kelley as Tim Weaver (season 1), a corrections officer who also helps Mike and Mitch
George Tchortov as Joseph (seasons 1–2), Milo's right-hand man and leader of the Russian mafia operating in Kingstown. It is later revealed during the second season that Joseph was secretly having an affair with Tatiana behind Milo's back, resulting in them having a child together. Iris kills Joseph near the end of Season 2 after he attempted to rape her.
Ryan Rosery as Latrell (season 1)
Mandela Van Peebles as Sam (season 1), Tim's nephew, and a rookie corrections officer, whose actions cause chaos within and outside the prison
Adam Clark as Warden Mills (season 1)
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.
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". Mike later kills him in retaliation for abusing Iris.
Brandon Keel as Ruger (season 1)
Necar Zadegan as Evelyn Foley, assistant district attorney for the City of Kingstown, who is secretly having an affair with Mike
Derek Basco as Keno (seasons 1, 3; guest season 2)
Rob Stewart as Captain Richard Heard (season 1; guest season 2), the captain of detectives in the Kingstown Police Department
Natasha Marc as Cherry Maxwell (seasons 1, 3), a young 20-year-old inmate in the female prison and one of Mariam's students[2]
Rob Kirkland as Captain Walter (seasons 1; guest season 3), the captain of police in the Kingstown Police Department
Stacie Greenwell as Abby Steele (season 1) a seasoned corrections officer assigned to the female prison
Lane Garrison as Carney (season 2–present)[3] A Kingstown prison guard who takes over the role that his predecessor Ed Simmons filled after his death.
Dylan Kenin as Gunner (season 2; guest season 3)
Marcus L. Brandon as Dedrick (season 2; guest season 3)
Gratiela Brancusi as Tatiana (season 2; guest season 3)[3] Another escort that works for Milo and the Russian mafia. She is also the mother of Joseph's child.
The project was first announced in January 2020, when Paramount Network ordered the series.[7] By February 2021, the series was transferred over to the Paramount+ streaming service, with Jeremy Renner cast to star.[8] The next month, Dianne Wiest joined the cast,[9] with Emma Laird, Derek Webster and Taylor Handley added in April.[10][11] Series co-creator Hugh Dillon joined the cast alongside Pha'rez Lass and Tobi Bamtefa in May.[12]Kyle Chandler was revealed to have joined the cast in August following the release of a teaser poster for the series,[13] while Aidan Gillen and Hamish Allan-Headley were added to the main cast.[14]
On February 1, 2022, Paramount+ renewed the series for a second season.[18] In June 2022, filming for the second season took place at the Lampe Marina and Presque Isle Bay near Erie, Pennsylvania.[19]
On September 6, 2023, Paramount+ renewed the series for a third season,[20] which began filming in Pittsburgh on January 10, 2024. A section of the show was filmed on River Road in Mckeesport, PA next to ELG Metals, a stainless steel recycling company. [21]
On December 18, 2024, Paramount+ renewed the series for a fourth season.[22]
The 10-episode first season of Mayor of Kingstown premiered on November 14, 2021, on Paramount+.[24][25] 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+.[26] The third season was released on June 2, 2024 on Paramount+.[27]
Reception
For the first season, the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 33% approval by 27 critics, with an average rating of 5.6/10. 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."[28]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 54 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[29]
During its debut in the US, which was simulcast on cable as a means of promotion, the series drew 2.6million viewers linearly, making it Paramount Network's most-watched scripted premiere since 2018.[30]
Rotten Tomatoes reported a 50% approval by 8 critics for the second season, with an average rating of 5/10.[31] Metacritic assigned a score of 60 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[32]
The third season has an approval rating of 78% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 9 critic reviews, with an average rating of 6.6/10.[5]
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