Summary
“Peace in the Valley” provides enough action sequences to keep viewers interested, but it feels like a surprisingly lackluster penultimate episode. There doesn’t seem to be any grand scheme that the writers are working towards, and no build-up of any substance.
We recap the Paramount+ series Mayor of Kingstown Season 2 Episode 9, “Peace in the Valley,” which contains spoilers.
Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner) decided to have a rare day off in the previous installment, one devoted entirely to himself and some heavy drinking. Unsurprisingly, a lot of drama took place in Mike’s absence. In “Peace in the Valley,” Mike plays catch-up, trying to rack his brain around the many developments he missed while away. Bunny (Tobi Bamtefa) is back, fresh out of prison, and Robert’s (Hamish Allan-Headley) case has magically been dropped. While Mike plays catch-up, Milo (Aidan Gillen) returns to the crime saga, and Bunny naively initiates a war.
Mayor of Kingstown Season 2 Episode 9 Recap
What does Milo want from Mike?
Picking up where “Santa Jesus” ended, Mike and Milo finally reconnect. Milo wants to instigate a simple exchange with Mike, his lucrative bonds in return for Iris. The enemies talk about this exchange and Mike urges Milo to leave town for good. The Russian mobster does want to leave Kingstown forever and suggests that Mike does the same, with or without Iris. Before their meeting concludes, Milo threatens his nemesis, if Mike betrays him and goes back on the deal, then Milo will not just kill Mike; he’ll destroy everything he holds dear.
Mike returns to the office after his day off, where he is greeted by a relieved Kyle. His brother explains the current situation, that everyone has been searching high and low for the Mayor, and they’ve all been worried sick. Mike mentions seeing Milo, and he updates Kyle on the deal that they have both just finalized. The bonds in exchange for Iris’ freedom. Kyle tells Mike that he found Iris at the club. Mike is annoyed Kyle would go to Milo’s club alone, demanding that he doesn’t play the hero anymore. Mike wants Milo out of his life and Iris to be rescued; this proposition solves both problems. Kyle agrees to help his brother with this dangerous task. Next, Kyle mentions Bunny being out of jail, which Mike was unaware of. Clearly, it wasn’t Mike’s doing after all.
Bunny is making the most of his freedom and goes gun shopping that morning. He sees one specific gun that he likes and pretends to call his ‘wife’ to discuss payment details. This phone call is just a ruse though, as Bunny’s men come crashing into the building, their van hurtling through the shop window. Bunny and his men take all the guns and ammo that they can carry, trashing the security cameras and computers before they depart.
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It isn’t long before Mike is updated on this armed robbery. On the way to the crime scene, Mike talks with his mother over the phone. Mariam is glad Mike’s alright, but she is more interested in Jacob, a teenage criminal she has grown attached to. She wants Mike to help Jacob out. Mike then speaks with Kareem and asks for him to check up on the teenager. Mike also asks Kareem about Bunny’s release. It came from the District Attorney’s office.
At the gun shop, Ian updates Mike on the current situation. A man matching Bunny’s description orchestrated the heist, cleaning out the entire store in minutes. In Ian’s eyes, this is the declaration of all-out war. Ian urges Mike to de-escalate matters immediately and to speak with Bunny in person. During this chat, Mike is also updated on Robert’s case, which has now miraculously been thrown out by the District Attorney.
Mike thanks Evelyn for solving Bunny and Robert’s dilemmas in under 24 hours. Although Evelyn is adamant that it had nothing to do with her. She is vehemently against Mike and everything he stands for now after the previous District Attorney’s death. Evelyn informs Mike that if she replaces the old District Attorney that she will stop at nothing to bring him and his colleagues down. Evelyn then mentions Ben, who was suspiciously murdered before testifying. She believes the whole system is out of control.
Who does Bunny want to kill?
After blatant threats from Evelyn, Mike pays Bunny a visit for further abuse. Mike comments on Bunny’s busy return; in one day he has bought himself a drone and raided an entire gun shop, gathering an army’s worth of weapons in the process. Bunny says that the guns are for protection, but Mike worries that it looks like they are starting a war instead. Bunny tells Mike that they are now square; he kept his word, even though things got out of hand somewhat. The Crips leader now wants revenge though. He wants Robert Sawyer dead. Mike tries to downplay the riots, but Bunny is past listening. There is no reasoning with him anymore. He wants justice for all the bloodshed.
Kyle misses a restaurant date with his wife, blaming his busy work schedule. Tracy tells Kyle at the office that things are getting crazy in Kingstown, so she is moving back with her father for the time being. Kyle can join her too if he wants, but he refuses to ditch Mike and be with his wife instead. The brother then updates Mike on further bad news. Jacob committed suicide after his prison transfer. Mike then tells Mariam about the teen’s passing. She hides her emotions, solemnly telling Mike that Jacob was a father.
Mayor of Kingstown Season 2 Episode 9 Ending Explained
Later in the episode, Iris calls Mike seemingly out of the blue. She wants to meet with him the very next day. Of course, Milo is behind this meeting, watching it all play out. Mike agrees to the midnight rendezvous, and the phone call ends abruptly. Does he suspect Milo’s involvement, is this a planned ambush? I’m sure Mike has a master plan in mind whatever the case. Poor Iris is caught up in all this chaos again, but she hasn’t given up the fight yet. Joseph beats her in a hotel suite, and she responds by stabbing Milo’s right-hand man to death. Mike then continues his rounds the next day, with mounting pressure from Ian and Stevie. Mike accuses Robert of killing Ben, and his old friend starts to purposely avoid his calls insulted by the accusations.
READ: Mayor of Kingstown Season 2 Review
Mike tries to reason with Bunny for a second time, but it is useless. Bunny wants justice, and Robert is the one to pay. Mike repeatedly calls Robert to warn him of this ensuing attack, but the old friend ignores his calls. Eventually, Robert answers, although it is far too late by now. Robert is attacked and badly beaten by Bunny’s foot soldiers. Mike arrives on the scene just as Bunny’s men are leaving. He holds Robert in his arms. This may be an attack that Robert cannot come back from.
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