Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 Recap: What Happened

Whether you’re new to Mayor of Kingstown, or simply need a refresher on Season 1 before the final season arrives, we’ve got you covered! We’re taking a look at the key players, dangerous alliances, and conflicts that set the Paramount+ original drama series in motion.

After a tragedy takes place in the series premiere, Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner) takes over the family business of brokering peace between the gangs, prison inmates, and law enforcement in Kingstown, Michigan, a city where incarceration is its biggest business. His job grows increasingly dangerous over the course of the season as tensions rise, alliances shift, and a deadly prison riot brings the season to an explosive conclusion.

Created by Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, Season 1 also stars Dianne Wiest as Marian McLusky, Dillon as Lieutenant Ian Ferguson, Tobi Bamtefa as gang leader Bunny Washington, Taylor Handley as Lieutenant Kyle McLusky, Emma Laird as Iris, Hamish Allan-Headley as Sergeant Robert Sawyer, Aidan Gillen as Russian mob boss Milo Sunter, and Kyle Chandler as Mitch McLusky.

The first four seasons of Mayor of Kingstown are streaming on Paramount+. With a fifth and final season coming soon to Paramount+, roll up your sleeves and catch up on Mike’s tumultuous journey to bring order and justice to Kingstown.

SPOILER ALERT: Major plot points from Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 are revealed below. Like any Kingstown power broker, you’ll want to know what you’re walking into before making your next move. Read on to catch up on Season 1, or watch the episodes on Paramount+.

Key facts

Season 1 premiere: Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021
Season 1 finale: Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022
Total episodes: 10
Stars: Jeremy Renner, Dianne Wiest, Hugh Dillon, Kyle Chandler
Creators: Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon
Genre: Crime drama
Where to watch: Season 1 is streaming on Paramount+

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What happens in Season 1?

Dianne Weist as Mariam in Season 1 of Mayor of Kingstown — Paramount+

Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 begins with Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner) taking over as Kingstown’s unofficial mayor after his older brother Mitch (Kyle Chandler) — who has connections all over town — is killed in his office by a local criminal named Alberto (Michael Revantar). Mitch’s untimely fate comes after he helps the wife of imprisoned mobster Milo Sunter (Aidan Gillen) recover some hidden money, a typical part of his job as the town’s power broker. Held at gunpoint by Alberto, Mitch advises him that stealing the money would not be in his best interest. His warning doesn’t deter Alberto, who shoots him in the back of the head.

Mitch’s death forces Mike into a role he hoped to escape as he inherits his brother’s job of brokering deals between the town’s gangs, volatile inmates, corrupt prison guards, the local police, and politicians, while trying to maintain his personal moral code. An ex-inmate who dreamed of leaving town, Mike’s attempts to keep the peace go haywire, especially after he convinces Kenny (Billy Lush) — a meth cook who causes an explosion that kills his son — to turn himself in, assuring him he’ll be protected. Instead, Kenny is killed by inmates while the guards look on, leaving Mike the impossible task of managing the fallout as the gangs demand favors in return, setting off tensions that come to a head later.

Mike also faces pressure from Milo, who demands he recover his hidden fortune and uses Iris (Emma Laird), an escort under his control, as leverage. After Iris is trafficked and abused by gang leader Duke (Andrew Howard) and his men, Mike kills them and shelters her at his cabin with the intention of protecting her.

In the Season 1 finale, “This Piece of My Soul,” mounting tensions between the inmates and guards erupt into a full-fledged prison riot led by P-Dog (Pha’rez Lass). Angered by the guards’ mistreatment and failure to honor the favors promised after Kenny’s death, the inmates take the guards hostage and P-Dog kills corrections sergeant Ed Simmons (James Jordan) in retaliation. His revenge is short-lived as the local police, National Guard, and SWAT team storm the prison, killing P-Dog, Carlos Jiménez, and numerous other inmates. Though Mike, Kyle (Taylor Handley), and Ian (Hugh Dillon) survive the shootout, Milo makes his great escape disguised as a prison guard amid the chaos.

Season 1 episode guide

Watch all 10 episodes of Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 on Paramount+.

Where Season 1 leaves the story

Jeremy Renner in Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 — Paramount+

Mayor of Kingstown Season 1 ends with Mike fully establishing himself in the mayor role. The finale’s deadly prison riot shatters the fragile balance between the town’s prison guards, inmates, gangs, and local authorities, putting Mike’s connections to everyone in town to the test.

Meanwhile, Iris finds refuge at Mike’s cabin, still traumatized by the abuse inflicted by Milo and his associates and facing an uncertain future. Milo escapes amid the riot bloodshed pretending to be a prison guard. With Milo on the run and Kingstown’s power structure in disarray, Mike heads into Season 2 with personal and professional stakes at their highest yet.

Watch Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+

Mayor of Kingstown Seasons 1-4 are currently streaming on Paramount+. With the fifth and final season on the way, now’s the time to catch up with Mike’s dangerous dealings in Kingstown. (Fancy more? Here’s everything you need to know about Season 2, Season 3, and Season 4.)

Mayor of Kingstown

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FAQs

Who dies in Season 1?

Several major characters bite the dust in Mayor of Kingstown Season 1. Spoiler alert! The most shocking death takes place in the premiere when Mike’s older brother Mitch McLusky is shot and killed in his office, forcing Mike to take over as the unofficial mayor, and setting the tone for the series. Other characters killed off during the season include Duke and Kenny Miles, as well as P-Dog, Carlos Jiménez, and Ed Simmons in the bloody finale.

What happens to Iris in Season 1?

In Season 1, Iris is an escort sent to Kingstown by imprisoned Russian mob boss Milo to manipulate and control Mike, who rejects her advances. After suffering physical abuse and sexual assault, Mike rescues Iris and keeps her safe at his cabin. Season 1 ends with Iris fully under Mike’s protection.

What happens to Bunny in Season 1?

Bunny Washington leads the Kingstown Crips, and is a prominent drug dealer with a complicated alliance and friendship with Mike. He is a key contact in Mike’s efforts to negotiate with the gang and its imprisoned members. Bunny survives Season 1, but his cousin P-Dog’s death in the prison riot leaves the Crips without their leader inside and his trust in Mike is heavily strained.

What happens to Milo in Season 1?

Russian mobster Milo starts off Season 1 behind bars, though his network reaches far beyond prison. He pressures Mike to recover his hidden fortune and uses Iris as leverage. During the prison riot in the Season 1 finale, Milo changes into a guard’s uniform and escapes. By the end of the season, he’s on the loose — and his next move is anyone’s guess.