Taylor Sheridan’s Mayor of Kingstown season 4 has emerged as a landmark accomplishment in his television portfolio, earning widespread acclaim since its release. The show, streaming on Paramount+, has finally achieved a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, underscoring the success of Sheridan’s original creative vision combined with strong contributions from co-creator and co-star Hugh Dillon and showrunner Dave Erickson.
Mayors of Kingstown follows Jeremy Renner as Mike McLusky, a fixer operating within a Michigan prison town inspired by Hugh Dillon’s hometown. The series, which spans four seasons with 40 episodes, has evolved into a gripping crime thriller renowned for its immersive storytelling and intense dramatic stakes. Season 4 marks a reinvention of the show after a tense season 3 finale, raising the bar to a level never reached before in the series’ run.
Critical Reception and Audience Response to Season 4
Season 4’s flawless Rotten Tomatoes critic rating and 87% audience score reflect the elevated quality that the series has steadily built across its lifespan. While Mayor of Kingstown’s overall Rotten Tomatoes score stands at 65%, the fourth season’s critical acclaim stands out as a defining moment for the show. Each successive season has tightened its focus and tone, creating one of the most distinctive prison dramas currently available on streaming platforms.
Jeremy Renner’s portrayal of Mike McLusky remains central to the series’ success, anchoring the complex dynamics within the prison town’s tense environment. The show’s detailed depiction of moral ambiguity and power struggles has resonated with critics and viewers alike, establishing its reputation as a sophisticated and compelling thriller.
The Future of Mayor of Kingstown Beyond Season 4
Following the extraordinary success of season 4, the demand for further episodes grew evident. Despite being the least-watched among Sheridan’s prominent Fall 2025 series—namely Tulsa King season 3 and Landman season 2—Mayor of Kingstown outpaced them critically. This disparity between viewership and praise highlighted the show’s potential for continued narrative development.
Paramount subsequently renewed Mayor of Kingstown for a fifth and final season, though with a shorter run of eight episodes instead of the usual ten. The network’s decision appears influenced by production costs as well as the show’s comparatively lower audience numbers, even as critical enthusiasm remains high. Season 5 is expected to resolve the lingering tensions and storylines left open, aiming to honor the series’ quality peak reached in season 4.
It remains poignant that this reinvention of the show might conclude soon after achieving its finest form, as Mayor of Kingstown is arguably Taylor Sheridan’s strongest television project to date and could have sustained further compelling storytelling had it continued.
“After some initial uncertainty, Paramount officially renewed Mayor of Kingstown for a fifth and final season, but only ordered 8 episodes instead of the usual ten. This likely has more to do with production costs than anything else, although it is true to say that it was the least-viewed new Sheridan show of 2025’s final quarter.” – unnamed source
“Mayor of Kingstown season 4 became one of those head-scratching cases in which the show deserved more viewership than it was getting.” – unnamed source
