(Warning: This post contains spoilers for the series premiere of “Mayor of Kingstown.”)
A major character was killed off on the Sunday series premiere of the new Jeremy Renner-led Paramount+ drama “Mayor of Kingstown.” Don’t worry, it wasn’t Renner’s character, Mike McLusky, but it was a pivotal role played by “Friday Night Lights” star Kyle Chandler, who played Mike’s older brother, Mitch McLusky.
Mitch’s death in the very first episode is what sets Mike on the path to becoming the titular Mayor of Kingstown, an important position previously held by his brother.
From “Yellowstone” co-creator Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, “Mayor of Kingstown” follows the McLusky family – power brokers in Kingstown, Mich., where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither.
In the middle of the series premiere of “Mayor of Kingstown,” Chandler’s Mitch is gunned down in the McLusky brothers’ offices by a man who wants the money they’ve got stored there. When Mike finds his brother, he decides to leave all this behind — until someone arrives needing help from the mayor, and Mike has to take on the job Mitch has left for him.
Along with Renner and the now-killed off Chandler, “Mayor of Kingstown” stars Dianne Wiest, Dillon, Taylor Handley, Emma Laird and Tobi Bamtefa.
“Mayor of Kingstown” is executive produced by Sheridan, Dillon, Renner, Antoine Fuqua, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, Bob Yari and Michael Friedman. The series hails from MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios, and is part of Sheridan’s overall deal with MTV Entertainment and ViacomCBS.
New episodes of “Mayor of Kingstown,” which received a 10-episode Season 1 order at Paramount+, roll out on Sundays.