Summary
Mayor of Kingstown is back for a third season, and things aren’t any less complex or dangerous than they were before.
Taylor Sheridan continues to be the creative crown jewel in Paramount+’s streaming strategy, and for proof look no further than Mayor of Kingstown. Season 3 has been eagerly anticipated after the action-packed ending of Season 2, and if Episode 1 of the new season, “Soldier’s Heart”, is anything to go by, it’s still firing on all cylinders.
If you recall, Mike McLusky’s efforts to keep the peace in Kingstown have been thwarted by many obstacles, including the death of his mother, Mariam, the hospitalization of Robert Sawyer, and the murderous aggravation of the Aryans. Season 3 picks up on all of these things straight away.
The Aryan Problem
Predictably, even Mariam’s funeral is a dramatic affair. After reminiscing about Mitch during the opening for a bit of profundity, Mike finds himself and a small crowd paying respects to his mother. And then a bomb goes off.
The subject of who planted the bomb, which was homemade and detonated from a remote location, is a big part of the Season 3 premiere. Mike’s first visit is to Bunny, who despite being a career Crip criminal isn’t the type to disrespect someone’s family in that way. In fact, Bunny and his gang are the obvious scapegoats for whoever really did the deed.
With the Crips out of the suspect pool and the Aryan Brotherhood out for revenge after the failed attempt on Gunner’s life, Mike declares war on the Aryans. About ten minutes into the episode he’s knocking dudes out with brass knuckles and putting a gun to a guy’s nuts. Right back to business.
The Raid
Interrogating the Aryan gave Mike the address of what turns out to be a so-called “white trash fortress”, and a raid is planned. After some downtime with Iris and Tracy, Kyle’s heavily pregnant wife (more on her later), Mike and Kyle head out with Robert and Ian to attack the Aryan Brotherhood.
Needless to say, the whole thing quickly descends into chaos, resulting in Robert firing grenades all over the place and multiple Aryans ending up dead. Even Mike is a bit taken aback by the carnage. But it’s a statement if nothing else.
Besides, what else are you going to do with heavily armed Aryans? Arrest them? Still, Merle doesn’t take the news well when he hears it, and Mike knows there are going to be major repercussions inside the prison that Kareem needs to be prepared for – if he ever bothers to answer his phone.
Robert blows up the Aryan fortress in Mayor of Kingstown Season 3 Episode 1
A New Villain Emerges
With Milo having presumably been blown up or faked his death in the Season 2 finale, a new villain emerges to take his place on the Russian side of things in the form of Konstantin, who isn’t a big fan of Milo’s previous endeavors.
In Milo’s absence, his loyalists have fled, and others have been taken away by the police, so Konstantin is inheriting a compromised operation and will be eager to make a mark.
He quickly makes his presence felt by killing a fleeing Tatiana, whom he accuses of still being on Milo’s side.
Mike Is An Uncle
As things worsen inside the prison, Mike tries to navigate a testy relationship with Assistant District Attorney Evelyn Foley, who insists she’ll take down anyone, including Mike, who operates outside the law, and Tracy heading to the hospital in labor. Mike’s still unsure about how to proceed, both with his relationship with Iris and with the prison issue, which he discusses with Bunny.
The Aryan Brotherhood seem reluctant to go after Bunny or Raphael, but they’re not the types to let bygones be bygones either. I think Bunny will emerge as more of a villain throughout this season, as we see he has a new connection in the jail, and his leading dialogue with Mike in this scene implies he has ambitions outside of Kingstown. Something to keep an eye on.
Towards the end of Mayor of Kingstown Season 3 Episode 1, Mike receives the news that Tracy has given birth – Mike is now an uncle. Will this newfound responsibility change the way he does things? Almost certainly not, but it does give him someone else to worry about protecting while he tangles with dangerous gangs, a love interest he can’t get the measure of, and an assistant DA who will probably try to arrest him.
It’s good to be back, isn’t it?
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