Tulsa King is a crime drama series following Dwight “The General” Manfredi, a mafia capo who gets out of jail after 25 years and is sent to the relatively mundane city of Tulsa to set up their operations. All episodes are streaming on Paramount+
Story
Following his release from prison, Dwight expects a hero’s welcome and to be compensated for his sacrifice but the Invernizzi family has other plans and sends him to Tulsa, Oklahoma as a message that they do not trust him despite his actions.
He takes a little time to settle down but very soon establishes some roots and forms a crew of sorts while also building relationships with some of the locals including an ATF officer named Stacy Beale.
Dwight faces opposition from a motorcycle gang called the Black Macadams and much friction from back home where his attitude rubs some people the wrong way.
He must do everything he can to ensure his survival and safety while also trying to fix his relationship with his estranged daughter.
Performances
Sylvester Stallone is an absolute powerhouse in his first outing as a leading man in a series and he knocks it out of the park. He sticks to his strengths while also showc asing that with age, his acting abilities have also matured making Dwight a complex character.
Andrea Savage plays Stacy Beale, the ATF agent who has a compromising relationship with Dwight and Savage provides an air of authenticity to the character that is going through internal strife because of her situation.
Martin Starr and Jay Will play Bodhi and Tyson, two of the first people that Dwight interacts with in Tulsa and are by his side throughout and each of them has done a wonderful job.
Starr is great as the reluctant ally before showing a complete shift when revealing that he’s got a criminal side to him as well. Will is charming as the eager youth trying to impress this criminal and his dynamic with Stallone who is also a father figure to him is lovely to watch.
There are multiple performances in this initial season that deserve credit for enhancing the overall experience of the series in their own little ways.
Positives
The tone of the series is perfectly composed for the amalgamation of two different ideas as the gangster trope collides with a subtle western setting, producing an engrossing combination.
With Stallone’s performance, the directors and writers realise what the best direction would be and have stood by their decisions in that aspect. Every dialogue falls into place seamlessly and not one of them feels out of place from the person delivering it.
The fight sequences are delightfully chaotic and yet, they have been choreographed so flawlessly along with the accompanying score to provide thoroughly enjoyable set pieces.
Negatives
Caolan Waltrip felt like a serious villain that met a gruesome end but he deserved to be a longer inclusion in the series, especially thanks to Ritchie Coster’s performance.
The progression of the story during the final third of the series does move at a quicker pace and certain angles could have benefited from being laid out more.
Verdict
Tulsa King is a marvelous drama that asks the question “How would a mafioso do things out in the west?” and provides an entertaining answer full of violence and emotion. Sylvester Stallone is a revelation throughout and he is ably supported by the people around him.