Mayor of Kingstown Season 4, Episode 8 Review: The 10/10 Thriller Peaks at the Perfect Moment

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Mayor of Kingstown season 4, episode 8.

Episode 8 of Mayor of Kingstown season 4, titled “Belleville,” is the peak of an already outstanding season for this thrilling crime drama on Paramount+.

Following Merle Callahan’s escape from Anchor Bay in episode 7, Mike frantically searches Kingstown, determined to stop him. However, Merle wasn’t interested in killing Mike; he wanted to make his life even more difficult.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the conversation between Mike and Tracy in season 4, episode 5 – where Tracy pointed out that everyone Mike tries to save ultimately dies – while watching the terrifying scene with Callahan at Tracy’s house.

Despite Tracy’s desperate pleas and attempts to reason with Merle, even offering to sacrifice Mike to save herself and her son, it was clear she had no chance of escaping. Merle was simply too cold-hearted and determined to see her death as a necessary outcome, making any mercy impossible.

This episode felt very similar to The Dark Knight. Like Batman trying to do what’s right, Mike is breaking the rules to find Merle and probably kill him. But, just like the Joker outsmarted Batman while trying to save Rachel, Merle was always one step ahead.

Mike couldn’t have helped Tracy at this point, but it’s strange he didn’t call her when he found out Callahan had escaped. This will definitely devastate Kyle, and probably make him lose faith in Mike – which is exactly what Merle intended.

Merle Callahan Is Officially Mayor Of Kingstown’s Most Epic Villain

Dennis P. Mong Jr. / Paramount+

The latest episode of Mayor of Kingstown season 4 revealed what many viewers suspected: this season’s villain is the most formidable the series has ever seen. He systematically and brutally targeted Mike and Kyle, and that’s a significant statement considering all the dangerous opponents Mike has faced over the first three seasons, including Callahan.

Callahan first appeared at the start of season 3 and has been patiently waiting for a chance to get revenge on Mike. When Kyle was put in prison, Callahan saw it as the perfect opportunity to send Mike a message for abandoning the AB, feeling hurt and disrespected after having protected Mike during his own time in prison. Kyle, similarly, refused to accept Merle’s offer of peace, even after Merle had protected him as well.

Callahan’s motivations are difficult to understand, beyond his own twisted ideas of fairness and retribution. When he threatens Tracy, it demonstrates his skewed morality – it’s not about her personally. Instead, it’s a basic power play, meant to reinforce Merle’s control. Essentially, Mike crossed the wrong person, and Callahan is willing to go to extreme lengths to settle the score – things most people wouldn’t even consider.

The scene where Merle kills Tracy was stark and unsettling, much like Merle’s motivations. It was chilling to watch him calmly explain his actions as Tracy realized what was happening. What made it so powerful was its realism – there was no dramatic music or exaggerated acting. Knowing Merle’s history, particularly that he was aiming at Mike when he shot Tracy, made the scene even more disturbing.

Mike May Not Be Able To Recover From This Game-Changing Twist

The latest episode closes with Mike and Nina arriving at Anchor Bay, hinting that Mike plans to tell Kyle what he’s learned. Next week’s episode will probably start there, and it seems Mike might secure Kyle’s release by making a deal with Nina: she has to find Merle and return him to the prison, or she’ll lose her job as warden.

Mike might accept Nina’s conditions if it means getting Kyle back, but he’d definitely kill Merle if he ever found him. Tracy’s death has become the central focus of everything, no matter if Kyle is still in jail or not. This shift in focus could allow Frank Moses and the cartel to make progress on their plans while Mike is preoccupied with Callahan.

As a fan, I’m really worried about Mike heading into these final episodes of Mayor of Kingstown. He’s got so much going on, so many potential problems brewing. While getting Kyle to safety should be his main focus, losing Robert and then Tracy so quickly feels like a terrible sign. I just have this feeling that even more heartbreak is coming for Mike and everyone he cares about before the season ends, and it’s really stressing me out!

2025-12-15 06:58

Merle Callahan Is Officially Mayor Of Kingstown’s Most Epic Villain

Mike May Not Be Able To Recover From This Game-Changing Twist

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