Mayor of Kingstown Recap: Can This Season Be Saved?

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I’ve always been a strong believer in letting TV creators tell the stories they envision, and trusting their choices even when they’re confusing. However, this week’s episode of Mayor of Kingstown really disappointed me. The show isn’t inherently complex, but it feels like the writers, in trying too hard to be unpredictable, have completely lost track of the central storyline this season.

The fourth season started strong, and there have been recent episodes that really worked well. However, this week’s episode, “Teeth and Tissue,” feels incredibly disappointing. It rushes through important plot lines and throws in so many over-the-top surprises that it’s hard to care – the effect is just a feeling of indifference.

Let’s clarify something from last week’s summary. I previously mentioned that Bunny’s deceptive operative, Lamar, had killed “one of the Detroiters.” However, it wasn’t just any member of the Detroit crew – it was LJ, Frank Moses’s trusted friend and second-in-command. I rewatched the scene several times before writing my recap, and I suspected the target was important because of Frank’s reaction to the body. Unfortunately, I couldn’t positively identify LJ as the victim. The shooting occurs at night, with no clear view of the person being shot, and LJ’s face is obscured throughout the attack. Before the scene, LJ is inside with Frank, and he doesn’t say anything to suggest he’s about to go outside alone.

One of the biggest surprises this season is surprisingly confusing. Even if LJ’s death was impossible to overlook, using the close relationship between Frank and LJ as a major plot point feels forced and added late in the season. While they’ve shared some touching moments recently, making LJ’s murder the thing that devastates Frank highlights how little that storyline has been developed. Despite Lennie James’ excellent performance, his character remains mysterious and undefined.

One minute, it seems like Frank is trying to take over after the Russian mob is taken down. The next, he’s showing Bunny the ropes of running a criminal organization while avoiding prison. Then, he shockingly turns on Bunny, having Lamar set him up. It looks like Frank brought his Detroit crew to Kingstown to seize Bunny’s territory, either through trickery or violence. However, we’ve never seen Frank confide in anyone about his plans. We’re left to interpret his actions and draw our own conclusions.

The show initially presents Frank as a brilliant and untouchable criminal mastermind. However, he’s repeatedly made poor decisions throughout the series. It’s hard to believe Mike consistently outsmarts him, so it’s more likely that Kingstown itself is the problem. Frank admits he’s been overwhelmed by the city’s chaotic nature, and there’s a growing sense that Kingstown has a way of corrupting even the smartest people, turning them into something less.

Frank’s downfall in this situation is actually caused by Mike’s poorly planned actions. Mike tries to make up for losing cases against Ian and Robert by promising ADA Evelyn Foley a major criminal. Instead of giving her solid evidence about Detroit’s drug trade, he uses LJ’s killer, Lamar, as bait. He sets up Frank to appear as if he’s about to murder Lamar, then has the police arrest Frank for a minor offense, allowing Evelyn to prosecute him despite his more serious wrongdoings.

Mike is determined to get Kyle released from prison, as that’s his biggest concern. He fears Kyle might hurt himself further due to Tracy’s death, or that the dangerous environment inside the prison could lead to him being seriously harmed. Mike’s worries are valid – Kyle is still taking pain pills he got from Merle to avoid feeling anything, and the prison is currently chaotic because the warden, Nina Hobbs, has lost control.

Honestly, the way the writers have been handling the Frank Moses plotline hasn’t been great, but I’m even more confused by what they’re doing with Nina. Just recently, she seemed like a real threat to Mike – she was genuinely powerful. I remember when she easily got Kyle moved to general population and was even pushing Merle to keep messing with him. She and Torres were clearly working with the Colombians to increase their influence inside, and it all felt…off. It’s just a really strange direction for her character.

Things really started to fall apart after Bunny’s team stole the Colombians’ drugs and Nina was attacked. She immediately blamed Torres for the messed-up deal, and he just didn’t come to work the next day. At first, we hear he resigned, but then Mike hinted something much darker happened – that he was intentionally taken out. Honestly, we still have no clue what really happened to him. Nina did mention the cartel got whoever screwed up the shipment, so I’m guessing we might see him again in the finale, though probably not in good shape. It’s a strange detail they throw in now, but Nina also says Torres used to be a good guy, and she was the one who led him astray. It feels a little late in the game to add that wrinkle, but it’s definitely interesting.

The episode highlights how ineffective Nina is as a villain, culminating in a shocking act of violence. It was obvious that guard Will Breen was nearing a breaking point, making Nina’s decision to punish him by reassigning him to the armory a risky move. The situation escalates when Breen is forced to clean up a cell soiled by a mentally ill inmate and is then relentlessly taunted by other prisoners. This pushes him over the edge, leading him to return to the armory, arm himself with a shotgun, and open fire on both a fellow guard and several inmates in AdSeg.

Cindy shoots Breen in the head, saving Kyle who seemed to be anticipating the attack. This violent act follows Merle’s escape and a string of brutal fights among the inmates, leading many to question Nina’s leadership as warden. Has she, like Frank before her, been overwhelmed by the chaos of Kingstown?

Just before the show ends, another violent event occurs. For a brief moment, Mike’s poorly planned attempts seem to be succeeding. Frank manages to kill Lamar and is arrested, potentially putting him in a vulnerable position where Bunny’s associates can retaliate. Kyle is then released as agreed. Suddenly, a group of armed men, seemingly connected to Frank’s Detroit crew, open fire at Don’s Diner while Mike, Kyle, Ian, and Stevie are eating. The scene abruptly cuts to black with a barrage of gunfire.

Earlier in the show, Mike compared Frank’s anger about LJ’s death to something out of the Bible. So, it makes perfect sense that Frank would now turn that anger on Mike – it’s the most realistic event of the week. There’s an old saying about how people make plans, but fate has other ideas. In this case, it feels like whenever Mike tries to control things, someone ends up getting hurt.

That part of Mayor of Kingstown still makes sense, thank god.

Solitary Confinement

This episode isn’t entirely terrible. I particularly enjoyed the calm scene with Merle sitting by himself at Burger Barry’s, slowly eating his hamburgers while telling someone on the phone he’s “getting back into normal life.” It’s important to note that Merle doesn’t deserve to be at peace, but it would certainly simplify things if he could just let go of his past and enjoy a road trip, eating burgers across the Midwest.

Robert’s body was discovered in his garage, but the reaction was surprisingly muted. This marks the third significant character on Mayor of Kingstown to die unexpectedly this season, following Tracy and Carney. While Tracy’s death appears to be driving the plot forward, Robert’s and Carney’s deaths haven’t received much attention or closure.

I guessed the diner robbers were from Detroit because their clothes reminded me of guys Frank used earlier this season. But honestly, they could be from anywhere – Colombia, or even be part of that Aryan group. It’s hard to tell with this show; things aren’t always what they seem.

Next week’s episode is the season finale, and there’s a chance it could also be the show’s final episode. I’m not expecting a satisfying conclusion either way, but I’m definitely curious to see how the writers will try to resolve the current mess.

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2025-12-21 20:58