Taylor Handley Analyzes the Season 4 Finale of Mayor of Kingstown (Exclusive)
Taylor Handley’s character, Kyle McLusky, in Mayor of Kingstown went through a tough time during the show’s fourth season — yet he ultimately triumphed.
“Having the chance to engage in this kind of work that I was privileged to experience this season is a dream for any actor,” Handley, 41, shared exclusively with Us Weekly while reflecting on Kyle’s arc in season 4. “Being at the center of the conflict and delving into subtle, nuanced performance … the entire journey of Kyle McLusky has been captivating and a true joy to portray.”
Warning: Spoilers ahead for the season 4 finale of Mayor of Kingstown.
In season 4, Kyle was kept apart from his onscreen brother, Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner), throughout the season, as he was incarcerated in Anchor Bay Prison until the finale on Sunday, December 28. The season culminated in the episode titled “Belly of the Beast,” where a transformed Kyle exits Anchor Bay.
After Kyle’s release, he and Mike face off one last time against this season’s antagonist, Merle Callahan (Richard Brake). Earlier in the season, Callahan escaped from prison and killed Kyle’s wife, Tracy McLusky (Nishi Munshi), after she departed Kingstown. In Sunday’s finale, Kyle finally avenges Tracy by shooting Callahan, with the season concluding as Kyle breaks down in Mike’s arms, reflecting on his harrowing experiences over the last ten episodes.
This final scene raises an intriguing question for Mayor of Kingstown viewers: How much will Kyle — who often acted as the moral compass of the series — be transformed moving forward?
“Sometimes, you have to do something wrong to make things right. Sometimes good people do bad things,” Handley remarked about the finale. “That’s the brilliance of this show; it brings up these dilemmas. It has been doing so from the very beginning.”
Handley further remarked, “This show delves into the true essence of humanity rather than just broad themes of certain situations.”
He also reflected on the moments leading up to his character’s prison release — especially the instances where it seemed Kyle might not survive.
“This show excels at creating a sense of danger; it keeps viewers on the edge of their seats,” the actor stated to Us. “I always find it reassuring, because if they were to kill Kyle, then Mike would be alone.”
However, according to Hugh Dillon, cocreator of Mayor of Kingstown, eliminating Kyle was never a consideration.
“I just want everyone to experience that ending,” Dillon exclusively told Us Weekly in October, emphasizing its significance to him, cocreator Taylor Sheridan, and writer Dave Erickson. “We put a lot of effort into achieving that outcome because season 4 was crucial for us.”
He continued, “It was vital to incorporate Edie [Falco], Laura [Benanti], and all the new characters in a compelling manner, and we succeeded.”
All episodes of Mayor of Kingstown are currently available for streaming on Paramount+.
