TULSA KING
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Tulsa King follows an aging New York mob capo who gets out of prison after 25 years and is “rewarded” by being shipped off to Tulsa, Oklahoma to start a new criminal branch, basically franchising the mafia in a city that has no idea what’s coming.
He Said / She Said
“This is not usually my genre at all, and yet here we are: I’m fully invested in a 70-something mobster trying to franchise himself in Tulsa. Stallone absolutely owns this role. He’s scary, weirdly gentlemanly, and often hilarious. It’s dramatic, stylish, and more fun than it has any right to be. Consider me surprised and eagerly along for the ride.”
“Stallone as a lovable tough-guy gangster in a mid-sized American city is strangely perfect. It feels like if The Sopranos took a detour through a Taylor Sheridan show. It’s tense, a bit pulpy, and very watchable. It’s not a feel-good morality tale, but if you like crime stories with swagger, this one’s an easy ‘keep going.’”
Critical reception (so far)
Critics and viewers have largely treated Tulsa King as exactly what it looks like: a stylish, slightly pulpy crime drama powered by the novelty of “Sylvester Stallone, prestige TV lead.” It’s not trying to be the next great tragic epic, but it comfortably sits in that lane of addictive, slightly ridiculous, very watchable crime storytelling.
Stallone tends to take most of the praise. He brings surprising charm and presence to a role that could have been a cartoon. The supporting cast grows on you as the episodes go on, and the Taylor Sheridan fingerprints (rugged men, power plays, moral messiness) are very much present.
What it’s about
Dwight Manfredi (played by Sylvester Stallone) walks out of prison after doing a 25-year sentence for the New York mob — loyal, silent, and expecting a hero’s welcome. Instead, his bosses ship him to Tulsa, a place with no established mafia scene, and tell him to “figure it out.”
From there, he starts building a new empire from scratch, learning how to operate in a world that now runs on apps, crypto, and contactless payments. The show follows Dwight as he tries to rebuild power, reconnect with his estranged daughter, and prove he’s still dangerous in a world that’s moved on without him.
Overall vibe
Imagine a classic mobster drama took a wrong turn at an airport and woke up in a mid-sized American city with strip malls, honky-tonk bars, and legal weed shops. Tulsa King lives in that contrast: old-school gangster energy dropped into modern, slightly awkward, middle-of-nowhere America.
The tone is dramatic with a steady dose of humor. There’s violence, crime, and serious stakes, but also a lot of fish-out-of-water comedy as Dwight tries to understand smartphones, modern morals, and the idea that you can buy edibles with a loyalty card. It’s stylish enough to feel premium, but not so grim that it forgets to have fun watching Stallone bulldoze his way through problems.
Episode-by-episode (1–3)
Dwight steps out of prison, gets told he no longer has a place in New York, and is quietly exiled to Tulsa where he must navigate a world that has changed a great deal since he was last a part of it.
Dwight starts to figure out what he needs to actually survive here: money, allies, transportation, leverage — and maybe a way back into his daughter’s life.
Things turn more serious as Dwight starts to face actual retaliation. Someone wants him out of the way, and for the first time, he has to face the fact that this new empire might topple before it really gets going.
Content warnings
This is very much in the “crime show with a sense of humor” lane, but the content is still mature. Expect:
- Violence and threats related to organized crime
- Adult themes, including morally grey (or just plain bad) behaviour
- Drug use and the criminal side of the legal weed business
- Some coarse language and rough treatment of people who cross Dwight
If you’re not into crime stories, anti-heroes, or morally compromised leads, this won’t convert you.
Who will love it / who should skip it
Will love it if:
- You like “good bad guys” in the vein of The Sopranos or Breaking Bad
- You’re here for Stallone as a charming, dangerous older crime boss
- You enjoy crime dramas that still make room for humour and absurd situations
- You like watching someone build an empire from nothing in a new setting
- You’re a fan of Taylor Sheridan-style storytelling (rugged, tense, character-driven)
Should probably skip it:
- You don’t like gangster stories or rooting for morally grey characters
- You prefer grounded “do the right thing” heroes
- Crime, drugs, and violence are hard no’s for your viewing list
- You want something hopeful, cozy, or message-driven