Think of the Mob and you’re probably picturing New York City or even Sicily. But there are many rungs to the ladder of organised crime, as depicted in the street-level action of Tulsa King.
Set, naturally, in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, which straddles the American Midwest and South, the show sees Mafia capo Dwight “The General” Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) assigned to this second-tier underworld following a long stint in prison. He wastes no time building a team, immediately recruiting his taxi driver (played by rapper Jay Will) as the first member.
As Dwight and his crew tangle with both the feds and rival gangsters, the story quickly proves to be anything but low-stakes. And at the close of the first season, Dwight is cornered outside a bar and placed in federal custody.
Tulsa King is now streaming exclusively on Paramount+ – here are five reasons it should be on your list of essential viewing.
Sylvester Stallone is leading a TV show…
That’s right: Tulsa King marks the first time the Oscar-nominated Hollywood legend has taken a leading role in scripted television. And it’s a classic antihero role: Dwight builds a citywide criminal empire from the ground up, and we root for him the whole time. Stallone maintains the subtle swagger and brooding gravity we’ve seen in crime sagas like 1997’s Cop Land and his turns as Rocky Balboa in the first two Creed films. In season two of Tulsa King, there are new insights into Dwight’s chequered past, including a surprise visit from a family member. And after ATF agent Stacy Beale (Andrea Savage) produced the incriminating evidence on Dwight last season, ranch owner Margaret Devereaux (Dana Delany) emerges as a more promising love interest.
… And he’s got a throne to defend
Having built a solid crew in Tulsa following a quarter-century prison stretch, Dwight now has to hold onto the power he’s accrued via a casino and a weed dispensary. His expansion draws the attention of the Kansas City Mob while he’s still grappling with the Mafia’s New York contingent. And after the season one finale saw him carted off by the police for attempting to bribe a federal agent, he begins the new season out on bail and licking fresh wounds. Neal McDonough (Yellowstone) and Frank Grillo (Captain America, The Avengers) play just a couple of the adversaries who threaten his interests in the region.
Taylor Sheridan has done it again
The writer-director-producer’s name has become shorthand for quality crime thrillers and neo-Western storytelling. After making his name in television with the blockbuster Yellowstone and spin-offs like 1923 and 1883, Sheridan created high-tension Paramount+ titles Mayor of Kingstown and Special Ops: Lioness. Tulsa King season two continues many Sheridan hallmarks, including a strong sense of place and a strong ensemble cast – including Martin Starr, Annabella Sciorra and Garrett Hedlund – whose dynamic only deepens with time. This is serialised storytelling that balances action with simmering drama while showing how even criminals can create a sense of family together.
A wry sense of humour punctuates those dark themes
You might not expect proper laughs from a layered story about organised crime, but Tulsa King sneaks in some surprising levity. Stallone especially moves through this treacherous world with a decided gleam in his eye, even as he is repeatedly betrayed and challenged. Alongside the tension and sudden violence that we expect from crime tales, there are moments of quiet and warmth that make us feel deeply for these characters. And, with plans to pivot from underworld activity to legit business, Dwight is hardly your typical gangster.
The Mafia has changed with the times
Forget what you think you know about the Mob. Key plot points in Tulsa King hinge on cyberattacks and weed dispensaries as much as smuggling and protection rackets. And the very thing that lands Dwight in police custody at the end of season one is a humble flash drive, rather than literal smoking gun. Here, organised crime is very much keeping up with the times, which makes for some exciting twists. And when dispensary owner Bodhi (Martin Starr) begins monologuing about wind turbines in the new season, it’s because he’s looking to modernise Dwight’s portfolio. That means our antihero has to focus on the future, despite his elder statesman status.
Season two of Tulsa King is now streaming, only on Paramount+.
This article is produced by Broadsheet in partnership with Paramount+.
