Mayor of Kingstown Recap: Wars Going Down in the Middle West

As a long-time resident of Kingstown, I’ve seen my fair share of chaos and corruption. But this latest wave of gang wars has really taken a toll on us all. I can’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Iris, who’s been dealt a rough hand by the Russians over the years. When Konstantin offered her a way out, I could understand why she was hesitant. After all, we all know that there are always strings attached. And besides, what kind of life would she have elsewhere? This is our home, no matter how messed up it may be.


Did I make an error regarding Mayor Mike McLusky? Previously, I expressed my belief that he lacked viable strategies to tackle Kingstown’s violent crime and daily crises, only offering temporary solutions. Yet, in the latest episode, Mike appears more capable and in command of situations. Could it be possible that I have been following the wrong program?

“Captain of Misfortune’s Crew”

In a disturbing turn of events, three inmates and one correctional officer lost their lives. One of the inmates, identified as an Aryan, suffered a gruesome fate with his face being blown off. Merle Callahan was among the survivors, left hospitalized and filled with fury.

As someone who has navigated through various challenging situations in my life, I can relate to the complexity of the situation described here. The attack, as mentioned, brings forth two intriguing questions: “Who’s responsible?” and “Can Mike make this work to his advantage?”

As I stepped into Merle’s trailer, I made a point of greeting him with a friendly smile and a reassuring tone. “I wanted to be the first person you encountered today, Merle,” I explained.

At first glance, Mike’s reaction seems similar to his past reassurances of “keeping calm” and trusting him. He assures Merle that he will protect Bunny. however, there is more to it than meets the eye. Mike subtly hints to Merle that the real danger might not be from the Crips, but rather the Russians who may possess deadly weapons such as grenades and powerful rifles. Although Mike is aware that Bunny has these arms, he convinces Merle, who harbors racial prejudices, that the white group is better prepared and armed.

After the prison raid disrupted the Aryans’ illicit drug business, undercover agents from Merle’s team unexpectedly dropped by to restock their supplies at Konstantin’s hideout. Coincidentally, this happened just as Konstantin was pondering the recent murders of some Eastern European immigrants and considering the Crips as possible suspects due to their involvement in drugs. However, since the Crips don’t deal with women, they seemed like an unlikely option. But what about these rude Aryans, who had barged onto his yacht demanding more drugs?

I’ve spent years working as a criminal psychologist, studying the minds of some of the most dangerous individuals in society. So when I read about Konstantin’s brutal act of violence towards one of his visitors, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by his motivations.

Was it Mike who meticulously orchestrated these events, or was it mere chance that favored him? There are indications that he deliberately instigated the conflict between the Russians and the Aryans, supposedly to safeguard Bunny, though she remains unaware. He provides Ferguson and the KPD with information about the Crips’ hidden weapons, but requests a warning before they attack. Unfortunately for Ferguson, the Crips successfully evade the police, leading to a SWAT team raid on an empty warehouse instead. Though frustrated by the outcome, Mike maintains that the crucial point is that the gang receives the message that law enforcement has the power to inflict harm upon them.

And then Mike smiles mysteriously and — to Ferguson — infuriatingly. Roll credits.

In recent episodes of “Mayor of Kingstown,” including this one, there’s been a lackluster amount of action that I found disappointing, especially after an exciting start. Instead of continued action sequences, we’re served with more dialogue-heavy scenes focused on planning and manipulation. However, the plotting appears to have more direction and payoff in this episode compared to previous ones.

Additionally, as tensions rise among the gangs, an intriguing thought arises: Might some of these individuals consider departing from Kingstown instead?

Iris is presented with a proposal by Konstantin, aiming to make amends for her past mistreatment by the Russians. His intent is to provide her with a new identity and a fresh start in a new location, funded entirely by himself. However, Iris refuses, expressing her suspicion that there are hidden conditions. Mike urges her to accept the offer but she insists “there’s always a catch” and “this isn’t over yet.” Bunny manages to persuade Raphael’s son and his mother to consider relocating for their safety, but they seem hesitant as well.

Why don’t the Kingstown residents leave with a large sum of money if they ever came across it, such as Ferguson almost did when he thought he was going to win the lottery? Is there an unwritten rule among these criminals that they shouldn’t run away with their ill-gotten gains?

Solitary Confinement

Last week’s assessment raised a suspicion about Roman (Mark Ivanir), Konstantin’s right-hand man, possibly being linked to the Russians’ bus destruction involving human trafficking. This week, his eagerness to handle business with the Aryans independently of his boss adds fuel to my theory that he might be up to something shady behind the scenes.

Kareem Moore, the warden of Kingstown Prison, is preoccupied having coffee conversations with his wife about their daughter’s costly upcoming psychotherapy sessions, causing him to overlook potential trouble within the prison. In his absence, Kareem trusts Kevin, who appears loyal but secretly works for Bunny. However, recent events, such as being involved in planning the prison attack, may make Kevin reconsider his allegiance and consider becoming a responsible prison employee instead.

• Another example of Mike being on his game this week: When Tracy comes to him to tell him about William Breen (Matthew Del Negro), who, in the previous episode, got physical with her and warned her to drop her investigation into prisoners getting raped by guards, Mike confronts Breen outside of a bar and beats the crap out of him until he agrees to transfer out of the women’s prison. Perhaps there are still consequences for crossing the McLuskys!

After the failed attempt to search Bunny’s armory, Sawyer becomes infuriated, leading Kyle to address his boss’s erratic behavior for the first time. Kyle, who is growing into a courageous, truthful, and reliable person, as demonstrated by his kind act of helping the owner of their favorite diner finish her work early so she could visit her mother.

• The other funniest line of dialogue this week also comes courtesy of Ferguson, who gets annoyed when Mike calls him away from the Kingstown Prison crime scene. “Mikey, I’m doing fuckin’ police work up here,” he grumbles. One of the subtle themes this season — seen with Ferguson, Kevin, Tracy, and even Kyle — is the growing number of people in Kingstown who would just like to do their damn jobs without having to answer to one of the city’s many criminal representatives.

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2024-07-22 19:36