'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3: Iris's damsel-in-distress role needs to evolve or risk becoming a prop
KINGSTOWN, MICHIGAN: The first two episodes of 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 have officially dropped on Paramount+, and they are packed with high-stakes drama and intense character developments.
The new season has introduced various new characters while continuing to develop the arcs of returning ones. However, the portrayal of one character as a damsel in distress has been suffocating to watch for some time now.
In 'Mayor of Kingstown', Iris (Emma Laird) has always been a character with a troubled past and a difficult journey, and Season 3 is no different.
How Iris' damsel in distress role in 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 limits her potential
Iris has been a part of 'Mayor of Kingstown' for nearly as long as Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner) has held his unofficial role as mayor, yet her character's role has struggled to evolve.
In 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 1, Iris is offered a chance to escape her dire circumstances after Mike chooses not to use her in the way Russian mobster Milo Sunter (Aidan Gillen) had planned.
However, in Season 2, Iris returned to the Russian mobster. Once back, she was handed over to Tatiana (Gratiela Brancusi), Milo's love interest, and Iris faced similar exploitation to what she had suffered under Milo throughout the first season.
She has repeatedly been pulled back into the web of exploitation and control by the powerful figures in Kingstown. Since meeting Iris in 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 1, Mike has felt a strong obligation to help her, to the extent that Milo recognized he could manipulate Mike by endangering Iris.
Despite Milo's death in 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3, Iris continues to face challenges and dangers. In 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 Episode 2, Iris finds herself in a familiar and troubling situation when she is arrested.
The incident occurs after she misses a stop sign while driving, leading to a confrontation with a police officer. He asks for her driver's license, and she says she doesn't have one. Subsequently, the police officer arrests her.
This arrest not only adds to Iris' troubles but also mirrors a pattern of conflict and adversity that has been a recurring theme in her relationship with Mike throughout 'Mayor of Kingstown'.
Now, with Iris in trouble once again, Mike is compelled to help her. It's high time for Iris to take agency and play a more active role in resolving her own problems, rather than being dependent on a man.
How can Iris shine in 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3?
Iris must break the pattern of dependency that has characterized her relationship with Mike. It's crucial for Iris to evolve beyond the damsel in distress role, not just for the sake of the story but for her own development and empowerment within the narrative.
A more empowered and independent Iris would likely be more engaging for viewers. Fans tend to be attracted towards characters who are proactive and who drive the story forward, rather than those who are passive and constantly in need of rescue.
Throughout three seasons of 'Mayor of Kingstown', Iris has remained shrouded in mystery, with very little of her backstory or personal history being revealed to viewers. The primary information known about Iris is her association with Milo's organization in Season 1.
She must break free from Mike's influence, as her proximity to him often reduces her to a character in constant need of rescue.
If Iris takes bold steps to break free from the cycle of arrests and avoids behaving rudely, her character has the potential to shine in 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3.
Iris could take control of her own life. This could involve seeking legal counsel and finding employment outside of the criminal underworld. In this way, she would not need a man to support her.
By avoiding confrontations and finding more diplomatic ways to address challenges, Iris can avoid unnecessary conflicts and show her growth and maturity.
How to stream 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3?
'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 Episodes 1 and 2 are currently available for streaming on Paramount+. New episodes of 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 are released on Paramount+ every Sunday.
Don't have a Paramount+ subscription? Worry not! We have got you covered. Paramount+ Essential plan, priced at $5.99 per month, offers subscribers access to a wide range of content but includes ads during streaming.
Paramount+ with Showtime plan, priced at $11.99 per month, provides an ad-free streaming experience and includes access to Showtime's premium content library.
'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 3 trailer