Mayor of Kingstown Recap: Talk, Talk, Talk

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Recently, in the show Mayor of Kingstown, the supporting characters have started to realize that Mike McLusky – the central figure in their lives – might actually be creating their problems, instead of fixing them. This becomes clear several times in the latest episode, particularly when a guard named Kevin Jackson warns Mike about an incoming drug shipment. Mike assures Kevin he’ll protect him if anyone finds out he’s been leaking information, but Kevin, who is perceptive, responds by saying he doesn’t fully trust Mike’s promises – he sees them as just empty words.

Mike relies on words to get by, and surprisingly, it often protects him. When the ADA, Evelyn Foley, accuses him of scaring off a witness in her case, he deflects easily, simply stating he’s not involved. Essentially, he claims he doesn’t do much of anything. It’s hard to see how Evelyn could even build a case against him – what crime is it to offer vague advice to the police or criminals?

While it’s refreshing to hear people in Kingstown openly discuss Mike, this week’s episode of Mayor of Kingstown isn’t very strong. Like many complex crime dramas as a storyline nears its end, “My Way” tries to do too much with too many characters and plotlines. However, it doesn’t really advance the overall story, likely because there are still three episodes remaining. It’s not a poor episode, but it doesn’t feel particularly rewarding; it mainly serves as a recap of everything that’s happened so far.

The most exciting part of the story revolves around a drug shipment. Following Mike’s instructions, Frank Moses and his team intercept the delivery, killing the driver, stealing the drugs, and destroying the truck. However, Frank is unaware that this was a setup designed to connect him and his crew to the crime. Mike’s goal is to guide Evelyn towards the major drug dealer she’s been looking for, especially since her case against Lieutenant Ferguson has fallen apart. In exchange, Mike wants Evelyn to help release Kyle.

I’m having a couple of problems with how the plot is unfolding. Specifically, it feels unbelievable that a character as clever, charming, and influential as Frank Moses would suddenly start making such obvious errors that put him in danger. It just doesn’t seem like the Frank we’ve seen all season would fall for a scheme by someone like Mike McLusky.

Okay, I need to mention again something that bothered me last week. The writers of Mayor of Kingstown are trying so hard to be mysterious, but it’s actually making it confusing what Frank Moses and the Colombian cartel are really planning. Last week, with the attack on Bunny, I started to wonder if Frank might be working with the Colombians, but this week it became pretty clear he’s genuinely furious about his train being burned and is out for revenge. Seeing him operate on his own, without Mike around, really drove that home.

The discovery of dead Colombians near the hijacked train made it seem like Cortez’s superiors were abandoning him and his men. However, when Frank intercepted a shipment meant for the prison, Cortez was the one everyone called to handle the problem. He skillfully broke into Warden Nina Hobbs’s well-protected home, tied her up, and forced her to reveal who had leaked information about Torres’s transport schedule. (I don’t believe Mike can protect Kevin from being exposed by Nina, and therefore, I don’t think he can save Kevin from Cortez.)

The storyline with Nina feels both overcomplicated and underdeveloped. Initially presented as a powerful and capable professional, we now learn, with only a few episodes remaining in what might be the show’s final season, the reasons behind her actions. It’s revealed that the Colombians are blackmailing her by threatening her adult daughter – Cortez even shows her recent photos of her child. Many of her seemingly strong decisions, like attempting to have Frank killed, stem from a need to prove herself, suggesting she isn’t as high-ranking as we thought.

This episode has even more twists. Robert suggests to Ian that life would be easier if they killed Mike. Instead, Ian gets Robert extremely drunk and stages it to look like Robert died by carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage. While I don’t particularly like Mike, I understand Ian’s decision. Mike isn’t very effective, but he’s definitely not as dangerous as Robert, who is a volatile alcoholic.

Merle manages to escape from prison after being moved from solitary confinement to the general population. He warns Kyle, before his transfer, that he’s coming after the McLusky family. He even taunts Kyle, predicting he won’t be able to enjoy his freedom, claiming things are going badly for the McLuskys. Kyle retorts that the McLuskys will be remembered fondly in Kingstown’s history, while Merle will be a minor, forgettable figure.

Even so, it’s important to remember that when Cindy visits Kyle in jail to tell him about Mike’s rescue plan, Kyle warns the guard to stay away from his brother, explaining that Mike’s attempts to help often lead to trouble – and that’s coming from family! Mike’s reputation is really taking a hit.

Solitary Confinement

I checked online to see if there was any news about a fifth season of the show, since it seems like many storylines won’t be finished after the upcoming three episodes. I only found one comment from Jeremy Renner at a fan event, where he mentioned the show’s creators have a planned ending that would need another season. However, there’s been no official announcement about a renewal yet.

Despite being a bit confusing, this episode still has the qualities that make Mayor of Kingstown one of the most enjoyable and easy-to-watch shows produced by Taylor Sheridan. The show excels at gritty, no-nonsense dialogue, like when Ian asks a grumpy Mike, “What’s that look for?” and Mike bluntly responds, “It’s my face.”

A strong scene features Frank Moses and his associate, LJ, reflecting on how discriminatory practices in Detroit – specifically, policies and planning that displaced Black communities – led them to become criminals. The show would benefit from more scenes like this, grounding it in the realities of its setting, instead of relying on typical, sensationalized plot points.

Honestly, this episode just tried to do too much, and a perfect example is the whole Officer Breen storyline. I really don’t think we needed any of those scenes with him. It’s obvious they’re setting up something awful between him and Cindy, and frankly, I’m dreading where it’s going. It feels unnecessary and just adds clutter to everything else happening.

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2025-12-07 23:55