Stephen King expressed his admiration for Taylor Sheridan’s four-year-old thriller, which is not surprising for more reasons than one. Although Stephen King is best known for his long line of horror stories and books, many also trust the author’s keen eye for gripping storytelling across genres.
Owing to this, every time Stephen King drops a review for a TV show or movie on his official social media accounts, the endorsement often sparks a new wave of interest in the project in question. There are times when Stephen King’s takes on shows and movies are not exactly in tandem with the consensus.
However, other times, Stephen King’s reviews perfectly align with those of the masses, which adds immense credibility to the work’s acclaim and potentially boosts its popularity. The King of Horror’s review of a four-year-old thriller is one such instance, where his praise echoed audience sentiments.
Mayor of Kingstown Is an Underrated Gem
The Four-Season Show Left Viewers & Critics Divided
In terms of critical ratings, Mayor of Kingstown remains a divisive series, given how it holds a Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score of 53%. However, since it has an audience score of 81% on the same platform, it seems like viewers enjoyed the series way more than the critics.
Most positive reviews of the series have appreciated the brilliant performances delivered by its main cast, including Jeremy Renner, Emma Laird, and Natasha Mark, among others. Others have praised the series for its ability to stay elusive with its mysteries, allowing tension to build naturally through slow-burn storytelling that rewards patient viewers.
There are moments when Mayor of Kingstown becomes a little redundant in its four-season runtime. However, even during these moments, the show rarely loses narrative steam as its performances and gritty portrayal of systemic corruption in America’s prison system are enough to keep viewers hooked.
Stephen King’s Praise Goes a Long Way For New Shows & Movies
The Author’s Stamp Of Approval Often Brings Immense Credibility
Emphasizing how much he enjoys Mayor of Kingstown‘s complex storytelling, Stephen King wrote in his review (via Clutch Points), “I have no f—ing clue what’s going on in THE MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN, but I love this show.”
In 2023, Stephen King had also praised Jeremy Renner’s grit and mental strength by saying that he is “bada–” for coming back for the show’s season 3 despite being “run over by a snowplow.“
Stephen King‘s stamp of approval is not always enough for a show to return for another season. Case in point: Apple TV+’s Constellation did not get renewed after season 1 despite earning a positive review from the author. However, the author’s praise still prompts many viewers to check out shows they likely would have overlooked otherwise.
