How did Iris die in Mayor of Kingstown Season 3? Character's grim fate explored

Mayor of Kingstown Season 3 ended with its August 4, 2024 finale episode. In a heartbreaking twist for fans of the series, Iris has breathed her last in the story. One of Mike McLusky's allies, Iris was tasked with spying on the antagonist Konstantin before everything went wrong.

After a fight to the death with Konstantin, Mike asks Iris to leave Kingstown, hoping to keep her safe. However, the audience sees her take two pills on the bus that is leaving town. These pills become the reason for her death, as confirmed by the bus driver later.

Given her journey on Mayor of Kingstown Season 3, Iris' decision to take her own life makes sense for the story, in a twisted way. She was a character shown to have no fear of death, yet looking for a route to peace. Having to leave the town and not being at Mike's side might certainly have been the last straw for the character.

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How did Iris die in the finale of Mayor of Kingstown Season 3?

Emma Laird as Iris on the official poster of Mayor of Kingstown Season 3 (via @mayorofkingstown / Instagram)

The events that prompted Iris' death started when Milo surprisingly returned from the dead in Mayor of Kingstown Season 3. He blew her cover, announcing that Iris was spying on Konstantin for Mike. Enraged at the betrayal, Konstantin decided to go head-to-head with Mike.

Later, at the yacht, Iris shot Konstantin in the head and also wanted to kill Milo. Unfortunately for the character, her gun had only one bullet, leaving Milo alive. Milo then tried to convince Iris that she should leave Kingstown, even though she was deeply attached to the town and Mike.

However, the last straw was when Mike ordered Ian to take Iris to a bus station and get her out of town. Though Mike meant to safeguard her from the gunshots, Iris may have felt the distance from her closest ally. On the bus, Iris took two fatal pills that resulted in her death.

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Will Iris' death impact the story going forward?

Yes, Iris' death is sure to impact the story of the series beyond just Mayor of Kingstown Season 3. Mike's guilt and grief over losing one of his companions will surely weigh on his decisions going ahead. The character's death is an indication that even Mike sometimes loses the ability to safeguard the people closest to him.

On the other hand, the manner of Iris' death has added a layer of constant danger to the show. It is not just the show's characters that break each other; it is often their own minds that play a greater role. Since Kingstown is a prison town, it is clear that the series is set to explore many more dark themes in its characters, starting with Iris.

In an interview for Variety, showrunner Hugh Dillon spoke about the finale episode. He mentioned why they decided to frame Iris' death at her own hand and not by one of her nemeses. He said:

"I’ve had a very close relationship with suicide — like friends who have committed suicide, and opiates. And you’ve got to mine those experiences. You can’t just gloss over them, and that’s what I bring. I understand this world and these people, and it’s our job to go deep and hit hard and not gloss over it."

Dillon also confirmed that Iris wouldn't be brought back from the dead and that she was gone for good. He explained that would not be ideal to tamper with the way the character exited the storyline, and that it needed to happen for the plot to proceed.

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Mayor of Kingstown Season 3 is now streaming online on Paramount+ for all audiences to watch.