‘Mayor of Kingstown’ Returns the Favor After Stephen King’s Public Praise For the Series

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Stephen King recently complimented a popular four-season crime series, and the show just returned the favor by acknowledging him. King is one of the most successful authors of the last 50 years, and his impact on movies is similar to that of classic writers like Jane Austen and Shakespeare. Some of the best films based on his books include timeless favorites like The Shining, The Shawshank Redemption, and Stand By Me.

Even after writing for decades, Stephen King remains incredibly productive, and he’s also become active on social media. While known for sharing his political views, he also recommends shows and movies he enjoys. Recently, King revealed his favorite films coming out in 2025 and shared past reviews. Last year, on X (formerly Twitter), he enthusiastically praised Taylor Sheridan’s Mayor of Kingstown, drawing comparisons to shows like The Shield and Sons of Anarchy, saying:

I’m completely lost when it comes to the plot of The Mayor of Kingstown, but I’m really enjoying it. It gives me the same vibe as shows like The Shield and Sons of Anarchy – I often found those confusing too! Honestly, all I need is to see Mike McLusky driving around in that awesome Lincoln Continental. And Bunny is just a fantastic character.

Jeremy Renner is incredibly tough – he survived being run over by a snowplow and returned for the third season!

‘Mayor of Kingstown’ Returned the Nod to Stephen King In Its Latest Episode


Paramount+

As a big fan of crime dramas, I’ve been really into the latest season of Mayor of Kingstown on Paramount+. It hasn’t quite reached the Yellowstone level of hype, but it’s definitely found a dedicated following. I’ve noticed the critics haven’t been super kind to it, but honestly, the fans – and that includes Stephen King, which is a huge endorsement! – really seem to appreciate how different and compelling it is. It’s a really unique take on the police procedural, and when someone like Stephen King gives it a thumbs-up, you have to take notice.

In Season 4, Episode 4 of Mayor of Kingstown, titled “Sins of Omission,” inmate Kyle McLusky has a conversation with Merle Callahan, the leader of the Aryan gang. Callahan bluntly states that this prison is nothing like The Shawshank Redemption and that forming friendships is impossible. The show portrays a struggling Michigan town deeply affected by its prison system, and it presents a very pessimistic outlook on prison life. While The Shawshank Redemption shows a heartwarming friendship between prisoners Andy and Red, Mayor of Kingstown depicts prisons as consistently dangerous places filled with gang violence, riots, and murder.

In a July 2024 interview with Screen Rant, Taylor Handley discussed how excited he and Hugh Dillon, the showrunner and star, were to receive praise from Stephen King. Knowing this, it’s evident the show included a reference to King’s work, specifically acknowledging the impact of The Shawshank Redemption while also highlighting the stark contrast between that film and Mayor of Kingstown.

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2025-11-21 05:47