Mayor of Kingstown

Taylor Sheridan did it! He made us forget his two screenplay missteps from last year (Those Who Wish Me Dead and Without Remorse). I approached Mayor of Kingstown with cautious optimism, but now I can say it’s just shy of a full-fledged rating. The series especially focuses on the attractive topic of prisons and everything surrounding them. Jeremy Renner truly showcased his potential here; he had no real competition in terms of acting. I appreciated the tense atmosphere; as a viewer, I was never sure what would happen next. The action is top-notch for television standards, and the overall audiovisual quality feels quite cinematic. From a script perspective, I have no complaints - I simply sat back in my chair and enjoyed the events on the screen. The final two episodes delivered an absolute massacre (the prison riot), with everything you could want (SWAT, extensive shootouts, National Guard involvement, etc.). We’ll see what the next seasons bring. This project seems perfectly poised to become a hit. For me, it’s an 8.5/10. UPDATE ON SEASON TWO: Yes, the second season is a bit weaker... However, it remains an above-average gritty crime drama where no one pulls any punches. Projects like this are genuinely missing in today’s landscape. Sheridan navigates this genre like a fish in water. Hopefully, Renner will fully recover health-wise. This series deserves another season :). Season two gets a 7.5/10. (09/26/2023)

After the previous year, Taylor Sheridan has some ground to make up with me. Both of his projects (Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse and Those Who Wish Me Dead) were quite disastrous. However, Mayor of Kingstown caught my attention after watching the first episode. The acting is a treat, with Jeremy Renner maturing as an actor like fine wine. The story hasn’t revealed much yet, but the audiovisual aspects are engaging. Let’s see how it develops. For now, I’d rate it a solid 8/10. (12/22/2021)