Since Taylor Sheridan is roughly the same age as I am, and since — like myself — he seems to like TV westerns, I’m going to assume he’s watched his fair share of Gunsmoke . I’m also going to assume this because episodes of Mayor of Kingstown often open with what I’d call a “ Gunsmoke speech.” In Gunsmoke ’s early seasons, episodes would sometimes begin with Marshal Matt Dillon walking around the Dodge City cemetery known as “Boot Hill” while musing in voice-over about justice, courage, mortality .
.. y’know, all the stuff that the Voice of Mike McLusky pontificates about in Mayor of Kingstown .
In this week’s episode, “Guts,” Mike’s Voice gives a Gunsmoke speech about how incarceration leaves an indelible stain on convicts, which can spread to their families. Being locked up — and/or having a loved one locked up — can expose the lengths that people will go to survive and how easy it is for them to keep making those awful choices after they’re released. (Also, according to Mike’s Voice, maybe this is a good thing? Honestly, his Gunsmoke speeches tend to drift from their original point.
) We hear these thoughts while watching scenes of visiting day at Kingstown Prison, where Crip inmate Big Hush (Jock McKissic) is enjoying a bag of potato chips brought to him by his girl, Sharon. Then the camera looks inside the bag, where several baggies of dope are hiding for Hush to swallow. After visiting hours are over, Big Hush is walking with his bud.
