The third season of Paramount+’s Tulsa King starts strong and offers more of what made the first two seasons enjoyable. Sylvester Stallone returns in excellent form.
The first two seasons of Tulsa King were an absolute blast. The series, conceived by Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan, delivered Sylvester Stallone’s best role in years and solidified itself as a must-see gem of television. Cast as Dwight Manfredi, a former New York mob capo, Stallone made the role his own and crafted a beautifully multilayered character that was as heartless as he was lovable. Now, after a stellar second season that upped the ante with a sharper, character-driven storyline, the much-anticipated third season is about to land on Paramount+.
But can Taylor Sheridan deliver another solid season of television gold? Or has Stallone’s time in the sun-drenched state of Tulsa run out of steam?
REVIEW
Fear not, Tulsa King fans. The hit show’s third season hits the ground running and never looks back. Like the previous season, the new episodes continue directly from where we left off, making us feel as if we have never been away. It is most refreshing to slip straight into gear and pick up where we left off. No other show offers this level of comfort and continuity, and it is a testament to the showrunners for creating an instantly welcoming atmosphere.
Sylvester Stallone once again takes on the role with incredible energy, showcasing the lovable yet roguish qualities that made him a household name. Plus, the majority of the supporting characters return for the new season, maintaining the family atmosphere. Jay Will as Tyson Mitchell and Garrett Hedlund as Mitch Keller are among the familiar faces, bringing even more depth to their roles. Martin Starr gets to add new layers to Bohdi Geigerman in an arc that will remind us why he was so lovable.
Dana Delany is afforded more time to bed into the story and emerge as a strong contender for the role of the series. And finally, fresh off the back of his spell in the new DC Universe, Frank Grillo is allowed to flex his muscles and deliver a strong and heartwarming performance as former foe, Bill Bevilaqua. The result is a new season that keeps up the momentum and continues to impress, just like when it first came out in 2022.
NEW BUSINESS VENTURES
With the gripping season two cliffhanger still fresh in our minds, we meet up with Manfredi, once again enjoying the hospitality of the United States Government. However, this time, instead of trying to lock him away, its agents intend to use his unique talents for its own nefarious deeds, and soon, the Tulsa kingpin finds himself at their beck and call. But between these often irritating side ventures, Dwight is allowed to continue his quest to reign supreme over Tulsa and its surrounding territories.
Like the previous season, a new business venture presents itself, which is far too tempting for Dwight’s crime family to resist. In the earlier seasons, Dwight has cornered the weed, cars, casino, and wind farm markets. But for season three, he has set his sights on a long-established and award-winning distillery famous for its legendary Bourbon. Seeing an opportunity to add another legitimate business to his portfolio, Manfredi makes a generous offer for the property and its liquor license. However, he quickly learns that a new rival, who has ties to various crime families in the area, has already used his influence to back the owner into a corner and force a loose agreement. But when has a golden handshake ever stopped Manfredi?
BRILLIANT STALLONE!
The first two seasons were at their best when they harnessed Stallone’s acting chops and enticed the undeniable machismo he still possesses. Season three continues the trend to glorious effect. For the most part, Sly doesn’t miss a beat and slips straight into gear. With Dwight Manfredi, he has found another larger-than-life character that is easy to love and hard to ignore. Like Rocky Balboa, Dwight is a complicated, layered, and tortured anti-hero for whom we can all root. In the third season, Stallone brings his A-game and continues to impress. It seems superfluous to constantly praise the actor for this role, but his energy is infectious and his performances are undeniable.
This is his best role in years. Although he may be limited in what he can contribute to the action required by the part, his energy and professionalism more than compensate for it. This season, Dwight shows a more vulnerable side of himself. It’s great to see him confiding in Dana Delany’s Margaret, and their conversations really add some depth to his character. It’s fantastic to see Sly excel in a role that suits him so well, and his enthusiasm for the character is truly infectious.
NEW ENEMIES
After last season’s nemesis, Neal McDonough’s Cal Thresher, decided to stand down from Manfredi’s rise to prominence, season three needed a suitably lethal villain. Thankfully, the team has turned to another of Hollywood’s leading villains in Robert Patrick. The actor is enjoying a new lease on life after stints in Reacher and Peacemaker, and now he adds Tulsa King to his list of triumphs. Pitting Patrick against Stallone is a stroke of genius, and both actors serve as the perfect rivals to each other. Thankfully, the formula never allows each season’s rival to become a token villain of the week, and they are rewarded with layered and engaging storylines to add weight to their motives. Patrick is no exception, and he will easily become one of the show’s most memorable villains as the show progresses.
GREAT GRILLO
This season also continues the trait of turning previous enemies into friends, and this season, it’s Frank Grillo’s Bill Bevilaqua becoming an unlikely ally. After eliminating Chickie in the climax of last season’s finale, Bevilaqua is thriving as Manfredi’s ally, and Grillo is rewarded with more screen time and a far enjoyable role this time around. Grillo has a knack for crafting rugged but lovable characters for us to get to grips with, and here, Bevilaqua quickly becomes a character we can root for. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a bad guy ready to drop an enemy at the toss of a dime, but thanks to his newfound partnership with Dwight, Bevilaqua becomes a lovable rogue with a sense of newfound pride.
SUPPORTING CAST
Once again, the third season continues to add depth to the returning supporting characters that make the series so enjoyable. From Martin Starr’s Bodhi to McKenna Quigley Harrington’s Grace, every returning character gets to add more development to their established characters. Annabella Sciorra performs admirably this season as Dwight’s sharp-witted sister, Joanne. Her exchanges with Dwight in recent seasons have been some of the most entertaining in the series so far; however, this season, there is extra weight to the exchanges. Perhaps that is attributed to the omission of Tatiana Lia Zappardino’s Tina Manfredi, Dwight’s daughter.
Although the character was returned to New York towards the end of last season, the actor has not featured in season three so far, after five episodes. Even when Dwight is called to the Big Apple on business, he gets to spend time with his grandchildren, but Tina is nowhere to be found. Tatiana Lia Zappardino’s lack of involvement isn’t a dealbreaker, but the family element of the Manfredi storyline was one of the series’ most engaging qualities. So it feels like a major step back to omit Dwight’s struggle to reunite with his estranged daughter from this season’s events.
HIGH PRAISE FOR HEDLUND
Finally, Garrett Hedlund is back as Mitch Keller, and his storyline will afford him more substantial depth this season. Like Stallone, Hedlund’s star quality oozes through his performance and delivers some of the season’s episode’s best moments. The first few episodes work wonders to shape his storyline for the season ahead. From love and romance to the threat of returning to prison, Keller finds himself pulled in many directions this season, but Hedlund chews the fat of the role with his usual swagger. Like Stallone, Hedlund delivers, and it’s most gratifying to see an actor enjoying their work.
Unfortunately, the show is not without its flaws. Jay Will’s recurring storyline, which revolves around his ongoing disappointment of his family, continues to be a drawback as he becomes more entrenched in the Manfredi family. In the first two seasons, this storyline was intriguing and poignant. However, in the current season, it feels like the showrunners are merely trying to flog a dead horse. Until Tyson breaks free from the constraints of this repetitive narrative, the character will struggle to grow beyond his limitations. It seems as though the writers are desperately trying to prolong the story without any real conviction or necessity, and that is a real shame.
PRODUCTION
Despite this minor niggle, the series formula shows no signs of slowing down. The writing in season three is equally impressive as in the first two seasons. Taylor Sheridan, Sylvester Stallone, Dave Erickson, David C. Glasser, Ron Burkle, David Hutkin, Bob Yari, Jim McKay, Sheri Elwood, Ildy Modrovich, and Keith Cox all serve as executive producers this time around. Erickson also serves as the showrunner. Stallone’s Balboa Productions is contributing its services this season, enhancing the show’s richness. Additionally, with Samuel L. Jackson poised to introduce his character, which will be central to the upcoming spinoff, Tulsa King is once again at its best and laying the groundwork for a prosperous future.
VERDICT
The third season of Tulsa King is back with a bang, and long may it continue! From Stallone’s winning performance to the well-layered storylines, the series hits the ground running and doesn’t look back. The fantastic ensemble cast delivers where it counts and adds some much-needed heart to the series as a whole. Ultimately, the opening half of the season delivers more of what we love and adds some fun new elements. The result is a welcome slice of television gold. Come for the story, stay for a masterclass from a Hollywood A-Lister facing off against another fantastic antagonist in Robert Patrick.
If this is a sign of things to come, the future of this universe is likely to deliver another slice of television brilliance. So settle in, pour yourself a Bourbon, and head back to Tulsa for another round in the trenches. Just be sure to stay on Dwight’s good side!
Tulsa King Season 3 premieres on Paramount+ on September 21st.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
