Every Feather – The show begins with prison guards on the roof. Guard Sam (Mandela Van Peebles) spots something going on in the yard. He becomes suspicious and gets a closer look through the prison telescope. A fight breaks out between the inmates, prompting Sam to push the emergency alarm. The guards retrieve their guns and position themselves along the roof. The fight continues while several inmates are hit by gunfire. The inmates start laying on the ground. Sam fires a shot and misses. He spots two inmates attacking a black inmate with a shank. He aims at the perpetrators, fires, and accidentally hits the black inmate. He realizes his mistake.

Warden Mills (Adam Clark) and guards, Ed Simmons (James Jordan) and Tim Weaver (Jason E. Kelley) are discussing the shooting. Tim defends Sam. The shot was difficult, especially for a rookie sniper. Warden Mills angrily demands to know why Sam was in the tower and where to send him next. Ed suggests the receiving or discharge department or driving the perimeter. Tim continues to defend Sam and can’t understand why he needs to be moved. Warden Mills orders Sam to be relocated to the women’s prison, with interjections from Ed and Tim. He orders a lockdown.

Prisoners are locked in their cells when the lights go out. They scream and litter the prison with toilet paper, clothes, burning Styrofoam cups, and other debris.

Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner) ignores an incoming phone call. He looks at his cellphone and tells Rebecca (Nichole Galicia) he will return in an hour. She isn’t happy. He receives a call from irate Deverin “Bunny” Washington (Tobi Bamtefa). Bunny demands a visit to resolve an emergency. He gets another incoming call from Duke “Pete” (Andrew Howard) who also demands a visit. Ed calls to alert Mike of the lockdown and war between the Latinos and Aryans. Mike says they are stirring a hornet’s nest and agrees to call him back later today. When his phone rings again, “No Caller ID” pops up on the screen. He disconnects the call immediately when Iris identifies herself.

Mike arrives at Bunny’s place. He arms himself before getting out of the car. Bunny is irate about Sam shooting a Crips gang member. He says they need to check themselves or sh** will go to the streets. Mike isn’t aware of the prison fight or shooting. Bunny explains what went down in the prison yard that left his “boy” with 15 stab and three gunshot wounds. He refers to Sam as “Uncle Tom’s nephew.” Crips leaders are being held in Ad-Seg while the white and Mexican gang leaders are running through the yard. Bunny threatens to kill the “cherry”. Mike suggests he think about it. Bunny says he doesn’t make such calls and they will get him on the street. Mike asks if he wants to start a war. He responds, “I’m a drug dealer, we already at war, baby. Mike reminds him, cameras are installed everywhere. They leave him alone because he doesn’t do anything but sell drugs. Bunny agrees to try to talk them down and demands to get the yard back after lockdown.

Mike arrives at Peterford Trucking to meet with Duke. They discuss the prison situation. Duke believes they should at least try to take the yard while the three Crips leaders are being held in Ad-Seg. He says it is just prison, suggesting the lockdown be canceled. Mike says they will not lift the lockdown until New Year. Duke becomes irate, hits a wall, and gets in Mike’s face. He reminds Mike of a deal that will probably be broken. It will leave prison and go to the street. When the guards get shanked in their homes, they will be reminded of who runs the prison. Mike threatens him with National Guard. He tells him to ask and pay for it. Mike gets up to leave. Duke says, “Please, tell em to lift the lockdown.” He agrees to ask.

Mike meets Ed at the dock. He tells him about the threats against Sam. Ed says Sam was transferred to the women’s prison, so the inmates cannot harm him. Mike says they are going to get him on the outside. The guards want to push the inmates until they break. If they quit now, they will look weak and they run the yard. Mike tells him he sounds like a “convict.” He suggests letting some air out before it pops.

Iris is performing on stage as Joseph the Russian (George Tchortov) and Craig (Tony Nappo) watch. Iris doesn’t dance, she “mesmerizes,” and they throw money at her. She made $4K yesterday. Joseph orders Craig to send Iris to the Jungle Room. He is not concerned about her job, but about her cover. Craig reminds him of the money Iris is making them. In the Jungle Room, Iris tells Joseph that Mike refuses to see her and take her calls. He says Milo thinks Mike is gay and likes to fix things that are broken. He punches her in the stomach multiple times. She drops to the floor. He forcibly places her hand on a table, orders her to not scream, and hits each finger with a metal object. He wants Mike to find him.

Mike arrives at his office, where he finds Rebecca. She greets him, “It must’ve been quite an hour.” Injured Iris walks around the building while Rebecca and Mike are talking. Mike says her hand is broken and tells her to go to the hospital. She pulls up her dress to expose bruises on her ride side. She says, “Bad, ain’t it.” He responds, “It ain’t great.” He refuses to take her to the hospital because they may believe he is the perpetrator. He orders Rebecca to take her before leaving the office. Milo set Iris up with judges and congressmen for sexual encounters, so she has plenty to tell. Mike promises Milo will not beat her again. He runs down a scenario for her to tell the police.

Mike calls Kyle McLusky (Taylor Handley) and Ian Ferguson (Hugh Dillon) to request a meeting at Gaelic. He orders Ian and Kyle to get their badges and maybe, guns. Mike walks directly over to Joseph who sitting at the bar.  He smirks and asks Mike he is going to arrest him. Mike kicks the chair out under Joseph who falls to the floor. He hits Joseph multiple times and asks him, “Do you know what the definition of insanity is, repeating the same thing.” He continues to hit him with the handle of his pistol. Ian says, “Mike, Jesus Christ.” He is returning Milo’s message. He tells Joseph he will get tired of being the messenger. He wipes blood on Joseph’s pants before leaving. Ian scolds Mike when they are outside. Mike responds, “Everyone in that bar is a felon.” Kyle describes the beatdown as “awful.”

Mike calls Rebecca to check on Iris. The doctor at the Minute Clinic put a case on her broken arm. They believed her story about the attack Mike concocted before the hospital visit. Rebecca says Iris is afraid to go home. She is at Mike’s office. She refuses to permit her to take Iris to her home. He warns, “She’ll spin you like a top too.”

Mike arrives at his office, where Iris is lying on the sofa. She denies being roughed up before. Her father began sexually abusing her at 11. He committed suicide and her mother kicked her out. She reminds him that he gave her a year, she didn’t make it a month. He suggests somewhere safe where Milo cannot find her. She doesn’t have friends or a family. Mike tells Rebecca they need to get in touch with someone at Witness Protection. Rebecca says they will have to give them something. Iris does not know her Johns’ names, just their faces. He orders Rebecca to print out photos of New York senators, congressmen, and the police chief. He refuses to let Rebecca go home with Iris staying at the office. He doesn’t trust Iris.

 

Kyle arrives home to be greeted by Mariam McLusky (Dianne Wiest). She stops him as he starts up the stairs. They discuss the pizzeria police-involved shooting. Kyle was placed on administrative leave for 30 days following the shooting. She curses and asks why he is wearing his badge and gun. He is taking shifts to help the understaffed police department fight the war on the street. He teaches the people who lost the war. He threatens to move. She accuses him of being with Mike. She describes Mike as a “criminal.”  He needs to think of his unborn baby.

Prison guards are changing shifts. The inmates are still in lockdown.

Mike is with agents, Perry (Zoe Doyle), Hastings (Paul Popowich), and Aldrich (Scott Gibson). They show Iris photos of various men. Her job is to point out the men she had sexual encounters with. She admits to having sexual encounters with 26 important men that never contacted her directly. Hastings says, “Busy girl.” He continues to make snide remarks about Iris’ sex life. She would meet the men at hotel bars. The men never gave her money, they gave her gifts. Hastings asks what type of gifts. She says watches, jewelry, and a Porsche. Mile scolds Hastings for laughing, “What about this is so fu**in’ funny to you.” He tells Mike to stay in his lane. Mike asks if this is how they treat victims who are victimized. He is ordered to wait outside. Iris shows the agents her injuries. An aggravated assault charge does not warrant witness protection.

She removes her dress for photos of her injuries. With no evidence, a conviction is impossible. Agent Perry suggests returning to New York and wearing a wire. Milo wants Iris to stay in Kingstown. Perry asks if she is currently prostituting. She responds, “I don’t think Kingstown can afford me.” Perry shows her the FBI New York Field Office website when an image of the Special Agent in Charge appears on the screen. Iris admits having sex with the man. The agents look at each other and ask her to clarify her comment. Mike receives a call from inmate Milo Sunter (Aidan Gillen). Iris is upset. Mike agrees to meet Milo at the park in an hour. Milo threatens Iris if Mike brings someone to the meeting that he will not like. He threatens, “pluck every feather from your little angel, Mike.”

Mike arrives at the park across from the prison. Within a few minutes, Candace (Carmen Johnson) arrives. She takes a seat and pulls out her phone. Mike scolds him for having a cellphone. He says capitalism is alive and well behind walls. Milo offers Iris in exchange for a favor. Mike refuses his offer, “I don’t want her.” He threatens to skin Iris alive. Mike responds, “If you can find her.” He orders Candance to show Mike their secret, an implanted tracking device. He has already located Iris.

Mike jumps in his car and immediately calls Rebecca. The feds are still at Mike’s office. He tells her to walk outside. She acknowledges their cars are still in the parking lot. He orders her to turn left and run as fast as she can. She takes off running. Police and SWAT have Mike’s office surrounded. Kyle alerts Mike, the bomb squad is doing an ultrasound of his office. The agents are not answering their cellphones. He describes the scene as “reckless.” Robert (Hamish Allan-Headley) gives the okay to enter the building. Iris is gone and agents, Perry and Aldridge are dead. Mike reads a message, “Every Feather” written in blood as the episode comes to an end.

Mayor of Kingstown Review

Another riveting episode, with Jeremy Renner in the lead. The show moves along quite nicely, with occasional scenes drawn out. At times, it seems they overpacked the episode, causing some confusion. It would be nice to see the unlikeable character, Mariam as a support person, not a faultfinder. The racist terms would not be missed if they were eliminated. The special effects makeup could utilize some improvement. Iris’s bruises and Sam’s stitches were a poor replication of the real thing. Emma Laird should be insulted by the constant request to remove her clothing. The episode deserves a 7.5.

Get more Mayor of Kingstown recaps here.