Warning: Major SPOILERS for Mayor of Kingstown season 2.

In Mayor of Kingstown, protagonists the McLuskies are seen rubbing elbows and conspiring with felons and policemen alike, but what do the Mayor of Kingstown McLusky brothers actually do? Mayor of Kingstown follows the lives of the two remaining McLusky brothers in Kingstown, Michigan, where there are seven prisons in a 10-mile radius and the brothers have several operations running. One of the show's very first scenes is of Mike (Jeremy Renner), the thuggish middle brother, paying a young boy to lob a tennis ball full of drugs over the prison wall with a tennis racket — a simple way for the brothers’ criminal involvement to be established quickly.

The schemes become more involved throughout the series with Mitch (Kyle Chandler), the oldest brother and current mayor, operating from his dingy office and cajoling the local police force while working simultaneous schemes to locate hidden money for a felon and to save a young prison guard until he is gunned down by Alberto, establishing Mike as the new mayor. Kyle McLusky (Taylor Handley of the Mayor of Kingstown cast), is the youngest brother and a police officer, minimally involved with his older brother's schemes as he has a baby on the way. Here's a breakdown of what the Mayor of Kingstown McLusky brothers are up to.

Mayor Of Kingstown's McLusky Brothers Are Power Brokers

Jeremey Renner and Kyle Chandler in Mayor of Kingstown

Ultimately, the Mayor of Kingstown McLusky brothers are responsible for keeping the peace between the city's various gangs and within the prison. To do this, Mike uses his connections with the police, the FBI, the district attorney, and the prisons themselves to maintain order. The brothers have made a business of facilitating deals and allowing crime to happen in order for both the lawful and unlawful members of the community to co-exist. In addition, they also strategize in a bigger way to keep the peace, seeing gang leaders reinstated when there's a power vacuum and finagling with things like prison release dates and keeping certain prisoners safe.

While the McLusky matriarch, Mariam (Dianne Wiest), calls the brothers “gangsters,” the Mayor of Kingstown McLusky brothers appear more akin to violent businessmen, wearing suits every day while brokering deals with the most prominent businesses in town: the prisoners and the prison-keepers. Numerous scenes illustrated Mitch's skill as a sort of politician and deal-maker while conversing with both the local police and criminals. In essence, they're power brokers, and they maintain the balance in the town by forging deals on both sides of the law. A major component of the brothers’ operation involves local drug dealer and gang leader, Bunny (played by The Witcher season 1’s Tobi Bamtefa).

Milo Threatens The McLusky Brothers' Mission

Aidan Gillen as Milo in Mayor Of Kingstown season 1 episode 9

The biggest threat to the Mayor of Kingstown McLusky brothers operation is prison escapee Milo Sunter (Aiden Gillan). Head of the Russian mob who was arrested after killing guards during an armored truck robbery, one of his first acts of chaos leads Mike to a buried bus with 26 corpses inside. He uses the young prostitute and stripper Iris to his advantage as well. Milo and P-dog plan a breakout which eventually leads to a devastating prison riot at the end of Mayor of Kingstown season 1. Not only does Milo escape prison in a guards uniform, but the riot ends the lives of major gang leaders.

The deaths of these gang leaders leave a power vacuum that the Mayor of Kingstown McLusky brothers must fill before Milo can himself. Season 2 sees them appoint new gang leaders with the help of Bunny, and have them arrested on easily-dropped charges to establish peace within the prison, which will then lead to peace in the streets. However, this turns out to be easier said than done in the Taylor Sheridan show. As Milo continues to cause chaos, and Mike rigging his boat with explosives ultimately didn't matter in the Mayor of Kingstown season 2 ending, he remains the biggest threat to the McLusky brothers' mission.