Taylor Sheridan’s “Relentless” Crime Drama Has Just Landed On Netflix — And Fans Are Already Obsessed. The Yellowstone Creator’s Mayor Of Kingstown Brings Four Seasons Of Prison Politics, Gang Violence, Corruption And Family Power Struggles To A Much Bigger Audience. Jeremy Renner Leads The Brutal Crime Saga, With Viewers Praising Its Gritty Atmosphere And Calling It One Of The Most Underrated Crime Dramas Of Recent Years. Even Stephen King Admitted He Was Hooked — And The Series Is Already Set To Return For A Fifth And Final Season. Four Seasons. One Relentless Crime World. And A Fan-Favourite That’s Finally Getting Its Netflix Moment.

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Mayor of Kingstown: The Relentless Crime Drama From Yellowstone Creator Finds A New Audience On Netflix

A gritty crime drama from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is getting a much bigger audience after arriving on Netflix — and fans who have already discovered Mayor of Kingstown are urging others to add it to their watchlists.

Originally launched in 2021 as a Paramount+ exclusive, the series now has its first four seasons available on Netflix, giving the dark prison drama a chance to reach viewers who may have missed it the first time around. The show remains available on Paramount+ as well.

The timing is especially notable because Mayor of Kingstown is heading into its final chapter. Paramount+ has renewed the series for an eight-episode fifth and final season, although its premiere date has not yet been announced.

Hugh Dillon in Mayor of Kingstown

A Town Built Around The Prison System

Set in the fictional Michigan town of Kingstown, the series follows the McLusky family, whose influence is deeply connected to the local prison system.

In Kingstown, incarceration is big business, and the McLuskys operate as intermediaries between police, criminals, inmates, prison guards and politicians. Their position places them directly in the middle of a community shaped by violence, corruption and competing interests.

The story also tackles systemic racism, inequality and the struggle to maintain order in a place where almost every institution is connected to the prison economy.

At the centre of it all is Mike McLusky, played by Jeremy Renner, who finds himself constantly trying to maintain an unstable balance between the different forces surrounding him.

Jeremy Renner in Mayor of Kingstown

Jeremy Renner Leads A Formidable Cast

Renner anchors the series as Mike, bringing a combination of toughness and vulnerability to a character forced to navigate an increasingly dangerous environment.

The cast also includes Aidan Gillen, known for Game of Thrones, while later seasons expand the ensemble with performers including Edie Falco and Lennie James. Kyle Chandler also appears as Mitch McLusky, Mike’s brother.

Behind the series are Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, who co-created the drama. Sheridan is also known for Yellowstone, Landman and Tulsa King, among other projects.

Dillon not only helped create the series but also appears in it as Ian.

Why Fans Have Become So Invested

Laura Benanti in Mayor of Kingstown

Mayor of Kingstown has not always been a critical darling. The first season currently carries a 31% Tomatometer score, while the audience score is considerably stronger at 86%. Across the series, audience reception has remained more positive than the overall critical response, with the show currently holding an 84% average Popcornmeter score.

That divide has helped fuel its reputation as an underrated crime drama.

Fans have praised the show’s relentlessly bleak atmosphere, its depiction of a city where prisons, gangs, law enforcement and politics are intertwined, and the depth of the world Sheridan and Dillon have created.

Others have highlighted the cinematography and production design, arguing that Kingstown itself feels almost like another character because of the series’ gloomy, oppressive visual style.

Renner’s performance is another frequent point of praise. Viewers have singled out the actor for giving Mike a mixture of toughness, exhaustion, intelligence and vulnerability that holds the sprawling crime story together.

The series has even attracted attention from Stephen King. In 2024, the acclaimed author said he had no idea what was happening in Mayor of Kingstown but loved the show, comparing it to The Shield and Sons of Anarchy.

The Final Season Is On The Way

'Mayor of Kingstown' to End With Season 5 at Paramount+

For new Netflix viewers, there is another reason to catch up now.

The fifth season will be the show’s final instalment, with eight episodes planned. Production began in Pittsburgh in March 2026, and the final season is set to bring Mike McLusky’s story to a close.

The upcoming season will introduce David Morse as FBI agent Russell Hardy, who arrives in Kingstown following the murder of Mike’s sister-in-law, Tracy McLusky. His investigation threatens to disrupt the fragile balance of power that Mike has spent years trying to maintain.

With Seasons 1–4 now available on Netflix and the fifth season approaching, Mayor of Kingstown offers viewers a chance to catch up with one of Taylor Sheridan’s darker crime dramas before the story reaches its final chapter.