The curtain is set to fall on the fourth season of Mayor of Kingstown, marking a temporary closure for the gripping series.

Fronted by Jeremy Renner, this intense crime drama concludes its current chapter with the release of its tenth episode this Sunday. As the storyline draws to a temporary halt, viewers are left in suspense, eager to see if Mike McLusky’s high-stakes maneuvering among prisons, police, and criminals will be renewed for a fifth season on Paramount+.

The brainchild of Taylor Sheridan and Hugh Dillon, the show centers on Renner’s character, Mike McLusky, a former convict turned influential intermediary. Operating in the troubled town of Kingstown, Michigan, Mike’s unofficial role involves maintaining a fragile peace between inmates, prison authorities, law enforcement, and criminals. Throughout the series, spanning four seasons, Mike has faced relentless violence, betrayal, and personal grief, all while trying to avert chaos.

The fourth season debuted on October 26, and its finale, intriguingly titled “Belly of the Beast,” will be available for streaming on Paramount+ this Sunday.

The episode’s synopsis teases a dramatic climax: Mike, portrayed by Renner, grapples with preventing his brother Kyle (played by Taylor Handley) from making the same life choices he did. Additionally, Hobbs, brought to life by Edie Falco, faces a pivotal decision, while Bunny, played by Tobi Bamtefa, finds a newfound advantage in this tense finale.

Strong Reviews Are on Mayor of Kingstown’s Side

Paramount+ has enjoyed a steady stream of positive buzz throughout Season 4, and Mayor of Kingstown’s critical reception has only strengthened the case for renewal.

As of publication, Season 4 holds a perfect 100% “fresh” critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on five reviews. While that sample size is small, audience reactions back up the enthusiasm. Viewers have given the season an 80% “fresh” Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on more than 100 verified user scores.

IMDb users have also responded favorably. On a 10-point scale, Episodes 1 through 3 earned scores of 8.5, 8.4, and 8.1, respectively, while Episode 4 posted a still-solid 7.9. Momentum only increased from there, with Episodes 5 through 9 scoring 8.6, 8.7, 8.3, 9.0, and a season-high 9.4.

Positive reviews don’t guarantee a renewal, but they certainly help — especially for a high-profile drama anchored by a major star.

Viewership Will Ultimately Decide Season 5

At the end of the day, a Season 5 renewal will come down to viewership and cost. Paramount+ has not released any official streaming numbers for Season 4, nor has it indicated when — or if — that data might become public.

That said, industry watchers often turn to third-party tracking sites like FlixPatrol for insight, and the numbers there are encouraging.

On December 27, FlixPatrol reported that Mayor of Kingstown ranked as the fourth most popular TV series on Paramount+ worldwide, trailing only South Park at No. 1 and fellow Taylor Sheridan titles Tulsa King and Landman at Nos. 2 and 3.

Even more promising, the series has ranked in the top 10 across every country where Paramount+ is available over the past week, frequently landing in the top five.

Don’t Expect Fast Renewal News

Historically, Paramount+ has taken its time when deciding the future of Mayor of Kingstown.

Season 1 concluded on January 8, 2022, and the show was renewed for Season 2 about three weeks later, on February 1. Season 2 ended on March 19, 2023, but viewers waited more than five months before a Season 3 renewal was announced on September 6.

The wait was similarly long for Season 4. Season 3 wrapped on August 4, 2024, and Paramount+ didn’t confirm the renewal until December 18 — roughly four and a half months later.

In other words, if Season 5 news doesn’t arrive right away, there’s no reason for fans to panic. A delay would be very much in line with how Paramount+ has handled the series in the past.

For now, all eyes are on the Season 4 finale, which begins streaming Sunday on Paramount+.