Mayor of Kingstown Season 2 Episode 9 Review: Peace in the Valley

Mayor of Kingstown Season 2 Episode 9, “Peace in the Valley,” finds Mike striking a deal with the devil while Evelyn draws the line and Mariam receives startling news. It’s a solid continuation of last week’s outing that steadily moves the narrative forward while allowing intriguing character interactions to blossom.

Trigger warning: Suicide, rape

“Peace in the Valley,” the season’s penultimate episode, probably boasts some of the heaviest violence in the season thus far. Mayor of Kingstown‘s inaugural season is, hands down, one of the most bleakly ultraviolent installments on TV (although it’ll never beat Gangs of London). Not only physical violence but violence in multiple forms. 

EVELYN: You think after what you did, after Lockett … You think I would — that I could — do anything to help you and the monsters that you’re in bed with? 

Season 2 has taken a softer approach on that front, but “Peace in the Valley” slowly veers toward the show’s roots. From Robert’s brutal beating to Iris’s assault and killing of Joseph (even poor Jacob Reed’s suicide), Mayor of Kingstown incorporates more of the grim nihilism and bloody ferocity that’s especially prevalent in the first season’s last two episodes. 

The episode brings Mike back to Iris in a full-circle moment. They’ll ostensibly reunite in person in the season finale, but who knows after Iris killed Joseph? Speaking of that, the Mayor of Kingstown writers secretly enjoy watching the women on the show suffer. It’s a sort of sadism that seeps into the characters’ DNA as they’re trapped in a perpetual loop of torture. 

MIKE: Pickin’ at scabs, it’s only gonna prevent the wound from healing. 

The sexual violence against them, for example, is never easy to watch, no matter how many times we see it unfold onscreen. Thankfully, the episode injects a plot twist by way of Iris overpowering Joseph before he can inflict more harm (or perhaps rape). It’s a moment of triumph for Iris, a character who’s relied too heavily on Mike the Savior, thanks to the writing. 

There are a few other examples where the writers fail our women. Tracy, who, in a perplexing move, the writers placed in the opening credits, finally gets enough screen time to tell Kyle she’s leaving. It’s a lazy out for what could become a nuanced, complex character with enough nurturing. 

On that same note, Mariam’s arc screeches to an abrupt halt when the young man she’s trying to help commits suicide in prison. Of course, having a main character’s arc, especially one with already limited screen time, hinge on a recurring character feels, again, lazy. Must we remind the writers they have two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest as one of their leads? 

Additionally, Mariam’s reaction to Jacob’s death feels off-kilter, as if even she hopes to brush it under the rug. Now, the show will undoubtedly relegate Mariam to the occasional two-minute phone call with Mike or Kyle. The women on this show deserve better, as do the people of color. 

BUNNY: I’m lookin’ for that big game on my mantle. I want that wrecking ball, Mike. 

As for Robert’s beating, while it’s bolstered by suspense and tense action, it isn’t easy to care when we spend so little time with that character. The little time trained on him showcases his bigotry, trigger-happy nature, and how he slaughters with impunity. Why should we care? The emotional impact is lacking. 

It seems everyone except Mike is perpetually teetering on a tightrope, which seems unbelievable, given how steeped in danger Mike is at any given moment. He probably has countless enemies, yet he always manages to avoid brushes with death. He’s sporting hefty plot armor. 

It’s not all bad. “Peace in the Valley,” as mentioned above, does a fine job of propelling the plot while digging deep into specific character dynamics, including Mike/Bunny and Mike/Iris. Mike finally clarifies what Iris means to him, and it’s one of the only times we see some tenderness from the incessantly irritated Mayor. Bunny’s move to beat Robert, regardless of whether the man’s deserving, will undoubtedly affect his relationship with Mike moving forward. 

Emma Laird shines as Iris, transforming what little screen time she has into the highlight of the episode. It’s a learning moment for her as she taps into the inherent strength inside of her. 

Tobi Bamtefa is as charming as ever. He persuades us to root for Bunny even when the latter’s engaging in criminal activity. In a place like Kingstown, morality goes out of the window, so why not throw your support behind someone who’s merely trying to survive? 

Regardless of its many flaws, “Peace in the Valley” at least presents a few twists and engaging moments while never lagging on the narrative pacing front. We can only hope next week’s season finale will unleash a torrent of surprises, exciting character beats, a clear direction for its overarching storyline, and justice for the women (I’m slightly less confident re: that last point). 

Stray Observations: 

• Well, it appears Mike and Evelyn’s relationship, or, rather, their friends-with-benefits-ship, is over and out. 
• New drinking game: Take a shot every time Ian insists Mike will “want to see this.” Nine times out of 10, he doesn’t. 
• Aidan Gillen is an outstanding actor, but if I didn’t know Milo was Russian, I certainly wouldn’t have detected it from his accent. 
• Bye, bye, Joseph. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. 
• Is it strange that I’m rooting for Evelyn to become the new DA so she can put Kingstown to rights? Evelyn is all of us with morally sound backbones watching this series. 
• No woman will ever find happiness in this series. It’s statistically improbable. 

What did you think of this episode of Mayor of Kingstown? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Mayor of Kingstown streams new episodes every Sunday on Paramount+. Try Paramount+ for free, right here

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