The premiere episode of "Mayor of Kingstown" season 3, entitled "Soldier's Heart," opens with Mike McLusky (portrayed by Jeremy Renner) arriving at a cemetery for a funeral, his mind filled with memories. Through a voiceover, he reminisces about his older brother Mitch (played by Kyle Chandler), who regularly visited him in prison, unlike their younger sibling Kyle (Taylor Handley), who was kept away by their mother Miriam (Dianne Wiest), fearing the impact of prison life on his tender years.
During one of Mitch's visits, he observed Mike embroiled in a fight and imparted wisdom, declaring that only 5% of people are truly virtuous, 5% are thoroughly wicked, and the vast majority wrestles between these two extremes. Mitch predicted that Mike would ultimately veer towards one of these extremes.
As the episode progresses, it becomes apparent that the funeral is for Miriam, who tragically succumbed to the accidental gunshot fired by Kyle at the climax of season 2. As Mike steps away from the graveside, a deafening explosion shatters the silence, prompting mourners to scramble for safety.
Officers scramble to investigate the bomb, and Ian Ferguson (Hugh Dillon) reveals that it was concealed amidst the rubbish, thankfully without causing any fatalities. When queried about who to blame for the bombing, Ian insists that, following the brutal attack on Robert (Hamish Allan-Headley), identifying a culprit is immaterial; his focus is on retaliating against all perpetrators. Mike disagrees, arguing that the streets are already plagued by violence, rendering residents hesitant to venture outdoors. He emphasizes the need for a more strategic and surgical approach, requesting an hour to establish a clear target.
Mike then visits Bunny (Tobi Bamtefa), who is already aware of the bombing. Mike knows that Bunny wasn't involved, but he needs him to deflect attention. To achieve this, Bunny agrees to return all the stolen guns. Ian suspects that Bunny is merely surrendering the guns due to his surplus, but they proceed to retrieve them, with Bunny leaving them in an unopened van in a suburban neighborhood.
Over a drink, Bunny confides to Mike that his time in prison was spent in introspection, fostering new ambitions that transcend Kingstown. Mike firmly asserts that he will not permit this, determined to keep Bunny grounded in their hometown.
With the aid of brass knuckles and a gunshot to his foot, a shadowy local dealer whispers an address to Mike, leading him to a clandestine Aryan Brotherhood meth lab. After a thorough reconnaissance, Ian and Robert, who's just been brutally beaten and fresh out of the hospital, relay to Mike that the location is a fortress-like stronghold, impregnable to all but the most determined. Yet, Mike's sole desire is for the denizens within to face the long arm of the law.
Ahead of the assault, Mike confides in Kyle, urging him to stay home with his pregnant wife, Tracy (Nishi Munshi). If Kyle insists on accompanying him, Mike insists he should remain a spectator, refraining from drawing his weapon. Mike confesses to Kyle that he's been seething with anger, a volatile emotion that he struggles to contain.
As officers inch closer to the perimeter of the meth lab, Robert, Kyle, and Ian keep watch from a van, their eyes peeled for any sign of movement. When a shadowy figure emerges from the house, gunfire erupts, shattering the silence. As the team is suddenly surrounded, Robert seizes the initiative, leaving the van to lob a bomb into the lab, igniting an explosive chain reaction that shakes the ground.
Ignoring calls throughout the night, Mike arrives the next morning, fury etched across his face. The scene that greets him is a grim one - over half a dozen lifeless bodies litter the ground. The aftermath of the explosion is a ghastly reminder of the violence that plagues their town.
Mike meets with Evelyn (Necar Zadegan), whose anger is palpable. She's the linchpin of Kingstown's efforts to clean up its streets, but she's powerless without the evidence that lies among the corpses. She threatens to arrest Mike if he doesn't cooperate, but Mike is more concerned about her safety. Evelyn has dismissed her security detail, distrustful of their loyalty as she probes the depths of the police department's corruption. Mike vows to find trustworthy officers to watch over her, determined to protect her from the dangers that lurk in the shadows.
Merle Callahan (portrayed by Richard Brake), a prominent figure in the Aryan Brotherhood's Anchor Bay hierarchy, receives the shocking news of his lab's destruction while serving a life sentence. As the episode draws to a close, we witness his departure from the prison walls, a man with vengeance in his heart.
Later, Mike confides in Carney (portrayed by Lane Garrison) that he must confront Captain Kareem Moore (Michael Beach) face-to-face, especially as the prison's tense atmosphere is escalating. Meanwhile, Dedrick (Marcus Brandon) meets his fate in a brutal attack carried out by a member of the Aryan Brotherhood in the prison yard. Mike dismisses the killing as ineffectual, failing to convey the Aryans' intended message.
Kevin Jackson (Denny Love), the officer who valiantly attempted to save Dedrick, is revealed to be a mole working for Bunny. Konstantin (Yorick van Wageningen) visits Tatiana (Graciela Brancusi) at the strip club, where he presses her on her loyalty amidst rumors of Milo's (Aidan Gilles) survival. Konstantin insists that Milo's potential was untapped and that they could have made even greater profits. But his suspicions grow as he interrogates Tatiana about what she might have given to Milo, knowing that he is still alive. As Tatiana flees, Konstantin shoots her dead, then scoops up her infant son.
Elsewhere, Mike expresses gratitude to Iris (Emma Laird) for her assistance in helping Tracy pack up Miriam's house. When Iris inquiries about his well-being, Mike remains silent, his thoughts elsewhere. Later, Tracy's water breaks, signaling the imminent arrival of their child. Kyle, overcome with anxiety about becoming a father, especially without Miriam, asks Mike if Iris plans to stay with them. Mike remains undecided, while Kyle offers his opinion that Iris might not be cut out for the role of nanny.
At the house, Mike busies himself patching up the bullet holes left by the shootout. Iris offers to lend a hand, and Mike finds himself spending more time there in the past three days than he has in the last 30 years. They toast to the arrival of Tracy and Kyle's newborn, Mitch, and to the memory of Miriam. Mike tells Iris she is free to stay, go, or do whatever she desires.
