First Thoughts | Mayor Of Kingstown Season 3 (The Opening Episodes)
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Carl Roberts 
Mike McLusky is back again to try and keep the peace between the street gangs, prisoners, guards, and cops in Mayor Of Kingstown Season 3.
Are you ready to return to Kingstown, Michigan? Ok, so the place doesn’t actually exist but what’s that to stop a good drama series? The third season of Mayor Of Kingstown is upon us. And once again, we are thrown back into the mire. Jeremy Renner returns as ‘Mayor’ Mike McKlusky in a series that goes from strength to strength with every passing season. Much has been made of Renner’s life-threatening accident which left him with serious injuries. You’d never know it from the way he acts in the opening three episodes of the new season, far from it. From the get-go, Renner is in the thick of the action, taking it easy to begin with before exploding with Mike’s bouts of violence as we make our way through. But can the season-opening trio of episodes make it a worthwhile return trip to Kingstown? Or should we have stayed away?
PREMISE
The first episode becomes available on June 3rd. There are 10 episodes in total of 60 minutes each. In season three, a series of explosions rock Kingstown and its citizens As a new face of the Russian Mob sets up shop in the city, and a drug war rages inside and outside prison walls. The pressure is on Mike McLusky to end the war. But things get complicated when a familiar face from his incarcerated past threatens to undermine the Mayor’s attempts to keep peace among all factions.
THOUGHTS
The season opens with the funeral of one character we have come to know and love. Although I won’t reveal who it is, you can probably guess who it is. One star of the previous two seasons hasn’t returned for this third one. You’d think that with an opening like this, it would be a quiet, soft emotional start. You’d be wrong. Just when we are settling in, something shakes the Kingstown foundations to the core. This sets the tone for what is to come during the three episodes I have been allowed to see so far. When I say things are going to change during this season, believe me. I’d hold onto yourselves as some of our favourite characters may not make it out of it alive this time around.
THE ACTING
We know going in that Jeremy Renner is going to turn in yet another great performance as Mike. And he does exactly that. Renner is once more superb as McLusky, trying to juggle several balls at the same time in his job to keep the peace. So far, he’s managing to do that, barely, but it is only a matter of time before he may drop one, causing himself more trouble. Renner is backed up by another winning performance from Hugh Dillon as Ian Ferguson. Dillon is another actor who we can rely on from the very start. His relationship with Mike seems to grow stronger with every episode, even when Mike goes off and gets himself into danger. The pairing plays off each other so well, that we can’t help but smile at their banter throughout.
Tobi Bamtefa as Deverin “Bunny” Washington and Taylor Handley as Kyle McLusky are both on top form again, bringing much-needed hints of humanity amongst the chaos. Only some of it caused by Bunny himself! While Bamtefa is a brilliant foil for Renner, it is Handley who brings the emotion during the opening episodes. Kyle isn’t sure if he’s right for his job which is causing him concern. Add to that he has a pregnant wife about to give birth and he is a wreck. Both actors turn in great supporting performances in what I’ve seen so far.
EMMA LAIRD, DEREK WEBSTER AND MICHAEL BEACH
Both Emma Laird and Derek Webster return as Iris and Stevie respectively. Both are welcome back on our screens in their roles. However, although we know Iris will become a big part of the ongoing story, she seems to have taken a backstep so far. That’s not to say that she isn’t in the season much as she is. But not as much as I’d expect her to be or want her to be. The same goes for Webster. He too seems to have been given little to do so far. That is criminal (pardon the pun) but we expect to see Stevie front and centre alongside Ian. While he does step up to the plate from time to time, it isn’t nearly enough. But the rest of the season will possibly rectify that. At least I hope it does, for both Emma Laird and Derek Webster’s sakes.
Michael Beach as Captain Kareem Moore has come into his own here. After the events of the finale of season one, Kareem has gone through a transformation. So far in this new season, he is becoming a real thorn in Mike’s side. He is also on the verge of becoming Mike’s enemy. And that isn’t good, for either of them. Michael Beach’s role seems to have been beefed up this time around, and it is a delight. It is going to be interesting to see how the character plays out over the remaining episodes. But it may not end pretty for him.
VERDICT
The opening episodes are an interesting start to this third season. While the first sets the tone, it is the second and third that really shift the season into high gear. The first episode brings us up to speed on what has been happening in Kingstown during the period between the previous season and now, while after a few surprises during episode one, the next pair of episodes takes the brake off and lets the series go. What we have come to expect bursts into life again, giving us some bursts of violence from those concerned. Despite the violence and nastiness, we are entertained throughout.
The plot threads, both continuing and new are once again being played out to perfection. It is going to be really interesting where the season goes from here. Not everything will be tied up in a nice neat bow by the climax. And we get the feeling we are in for some surprises along the way and not all of them are good for the characters we follow. There are a few shocks in store, we feel. It has us on the edge of our seats to see where this is all going to lead over the next few months and what the eventual climax will give us. But we must be patient. However, from what I have seen so far, I can honestly say this. That Mike McLusky, the Mayor Of Kingstown, and this third season certainly has my vote.
For the opening three episodes:
Mayor Of Kingstown Season 3 premieres the opening episode on June 3rd. The previous seasons are now available to stream completely on Paramount+.
Trailer Source: Paramount+
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
