The power balance in Kingstown is shifting. With the old Russian threat gone, a new player has arrived in town, and he is changing the game for Mike McLusky and Bunny Washington. Frank Moses, portrayed by acclaimed actor Lennie James, is a Detroit gangster who arrived in Season 4 of Mayor of Kingstown to fill the criminal void. What started as a potential partnership has quickly spiraled into a dangerous conflict of betrayal and violence, putting everyone’s plans and lives at risk.
Who Is Frank Moses? The Detroit Mobster Making Moves
Frank Moses is a seasoned criminal from Detroit who sees an opportunity in Kingstown. After the death of Russian kingpin Milo, a power vacuum was left in the town’s criminal underworld. Frank arrived with a simple, brutal plan: to take over and run operations his way. He is not a typical, hot-headed thug. His defining trait is a calm, almost disarming composure, even when orchestrating extreme violence. Actor Lennie James described the approach to playing him, focusing on making Frank “as almost as disarming as is humanly possible”.
From his very first scene, Frank established the kind of man he is. The Season 4 premiere opened with Frank waiting for a train. While casually discussing the metallic composition of a copper penny, a train decapitated several hog-tied Russian gangsters on the tracks. This shocking introduction showed a man completely unfazed by brutality, treating it as just another part of doing business.
His reputation is built on a key fact: he has managed a long, successful criminal career without ever being arrested. This “clean” record is central to his operation and his pride. He operates like a businessman or a venture capitalist, aiming to partner with existing local operations—like Bunny’s—to grow them and take a large cut while keeping his own hands seemingly clean.
Frank’s Key Relationships: Bunny, Mike, and Betrayal
Frank’s strategy in Kingstown initially revolved around two key figures: street power broker Bunny Washington and the town’s fixer, Mike McLusky. He identified Bunny as his primary point of entry into the local trade. Frank offered Bunny a lucrative deal to transport contraband using his train depot, hiding goods in shipments of garbage that authorities rarely inspect. He insisted on calling Bunny by his real name, “Deverin,” which actor Lennie James says was both a sign of potential respect and a clear power move.
“It’s almost like he’s saying, ‘That’s no name for a grown man. You’re not a Bunny. You’re a Deverin. Be Deverin because that’s who you’re going to be in the future.’”
With Mike, Frank presented himself as a reasonable man who wanted to work within the system. He sought Mike’s blessing for his operations, appearing to be a more stable and predictable partner than the volatile Milo. However, this respectful facade was a calculated tactic. James explained Frank’s view of Mike: “He doesn’t give a f… What he needs to know is who Mike McLuskey is for Kingstown”*. Mike was simply an obstacle to manage, someone to “keep sweet” only for as long as it was useful.
The turning point came in Season 4, Episode 6. After a train carrying Bunny’s goods was hijacked and burned, Bunny was ambushed and shot multiple times on his way to the scene. Mike discovered that the driver of Bunny’s car, a man named Lamar, was secretly paid by Frank to steer Bunny into the ambush. This was a outright betrayal of their partnership. Frank had double-crossed Bunny to weaken him and seize full control of the operations.
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The Aftermath of Treachery and What Happens Next
Mike’s response to the betrayal was swift. Using his influence, he had Frank brought in for police questioning. However, the arrest did not go smoothly. At the police station, a Cartel-affiliated gunman attempted to assassinate Frank, suggesting his actions have made him powerful new enemies. Frank survived, but the event shattered any pretense of partnership with Mike.
The future of Frank’s storyline promises more surprises. Lennie James has teased that Frank’s famous calm will be “tested” in “unexpected” ways and that when he finally snaps, “it’s not going to be for the reason that everybody thinks”. James also hinted that the show will explore more of Frank’s past in Detroit, giving viewers a deeper look at what made him the man he is.
Frank Moses has quickly become a central force in Mayor of Kingstown. He entered as a potential partner but revealed himself to be a cunning and ruthless adversary. His actions have critically injured Bunny, declared war on Mike’s authority, and thrown the already unstable town into deeper chaos. As the season continues, all eyes are on what this calculated gangster will do next.
Also Read: Murder in a Small Town Season 3 Needed After Five Key Questions from the Season 2 Cliffhanger
