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Jeremy Renner explains the pivotal season 4 finale death in 'Mayor of Kingstown': 'That's one way...'

In the last few minutes of the finale episode, Callahan is seen taunting Mike, insisting that killing him won't ease his guilt and warning

Jeremy Renner opened up about the shocking death in the 'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 4 finale. The last episode, which aired on Sunday, December 28, ended with an unexpected moment when Merle Callahan (Richard Brake) was killed by Kyle McLusky (Taylor Handley), a turn of events that sets a new and complicated path for Mike McLusky (Jeremy Renner). Speaking about the powerful finale, Renner explained why Mike was not the one to kill Callahan.

Renner told Entertainment Weekly that it had to belong to Kyle and not Mike because it served as retribution for his wife, Tracy McLusky's (Nishi Munshi) death. Explaining the choice, Renner said, "That's one way to sort of… not really protect, but help forge a path for healing because of what [Merle] did. There was no other pathway." Despite the violence, Renner pointed out the emotional core of the ending, adding, "The beautiful end of it all is at least they [Mike and Kyle] have each other," noting how important it was to give the audience "something good." He further shared that "the release of that toxic character and then the two brothers falling into each other… is some kind of hope, right?"

In the last few minutes of the finale episode, Callahan is seen taunting Mike, insisting that killing him won't ease his guilt and warning, "You'll find new cause for nightmares, no doubt." Mike makes it clear he won't be the one to do it, telling Callahan, "You don't deserve my wrath," before revealing that Kyle has been summoned instead, as per Entertainment Weekly. As Callahan continues to mock Kyle with cruel remarks like, "You're gonna wonder, wonder, wonder what I did to her," Kyle finally confronts him, shooting Callahan and ultimately killing him after seeing fear in his eyes for the first time. When it's over, Mike reassures his brother, saying, "It's over. You got him."

The moment ends quietly and emotionally as the brothers walk away together, with Kyle breaking down in Mike's arms, sobbing in relief and grief. Talking about 'Mayor of Kingston' Season 5, the show has never followed a fixed timeline for renewals on Paramount+. Season 1 ended in January 2022 and was renewed about three weeks later, while season 2 concluded in March 2023 and didn't receive a renewal until more than five months later, showing the platform's inconsistent renewal schedule for the series, as per Forbes.

'Mayor of Kingstown' Season 4 was also renewed after a long delay, with season 3 ending in August 2024 and the renewal not announced until mid-December. Based on these past delays, fans shouldn't be alarmed if news about the show's future doesn't arrive for several months.