Review: MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN Is Another Great Series From Taylor Sheridan
Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan has created a new series for Paramount+ titled Mayor of Kingstown. I think Sheridan is an incredibly talented storyteller; most the the projects that’s he’s developed as a writer and director have been great, and I’ve had high hopes for Mayor of Kingstown. It’s a series that I’ve been looking forward to watching, and I recently had the opportunity to watch the first two episodes.
I’m happy to say that Mayor of Kingstown is just as good and interesting as I hoped. I was anticipating greatness, and that’s exactly what I got! As soon as I started watching, I was instantly hooked into the story and fascinated by the characters and this dark corner of the world that they inhabited.
The story follows the McLusky family, who are power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan. The main business and thriving industry of this town is incarceration. The series addresses themes of systemic racism, corruption, and inequality. The series also provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither.
The first episode is titled “The Mayor of Kingstown,” and it follows Brothers Mitch and Mike McLusky as they navigate Kingstown, home to multiple prisons, as they act as the liaisons between prisoners and the community. When a young guard, Sam, is set up to deliver a letter for a prisoner, Mike works to get him off the hook.
The second episode is titled “The End Begins,” and it puts a focus on local gang leader, Bunny, who is upset when one of his guys gets taken off the yard. Mike brokers a deal, and is later visited by two FBI agents whom Mitch worked for. Milo has instructions for Josef on how to get closer to Mike.
I won’t reveal any more than that. That’s just the tip of the iceberg for how this story is playing out. The series includes some shocking twists and turns that are completely unexpected.
This is a hardcore show and there are aspects of the story, directions that it goes that will feel like a punch in the gut. No joke, I’m still reeling from one of those things that shocked the hell out of me! I don’t want to get into it because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but damn. Like all of Sheridan’s work, Mayor of Kingstown doesn’t pull any punches.
The series has an incredibly talented cast that includes Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Kyle Chandler, Hugh Dillon, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird, Tobi Bamtefa, Derek Webster, Hamish Allan-Headley, Pha’rez Lass and Aidan Gillen.
Renner, Wiest, and Chandler especially give the incredible performances that we expect from them. They are always good, but this series definitely takes their talents to a new level and I’m enjoying the hell out of it.
If you’re a fan of Yellowstone or any of Taylor Sheridan’s other projects, you’re definitely going to want to tune in for Mayor of Kingstown. Get ready to get hooked on another great show!