Sylvester Stallone’s Hit Mob Series Doesn’t Waste a Single Minute in Its Best Outing Yet

Tulsa King, the Sylvester Stallone-led series about a rising found-family Tulsa mob from Taylor Sheridan, is back for a third season. While Sheridan’s growing TV empire has largely centered around Yellowstone‘s Dutton ranch, Tulsa King introduced rising mafia ambitions and conflicts to an Oklahoma landscape. Season 2 upped the ante by expanding the crew’s marijuana ambitions and introducing local magnate-aspirant Carl Thresher (Neil McDonough) and Kansas City mobster Bill Bevilaqua (Frank Grillo), both of whom turned from enemies to frenemies. Season 3, however, hits the ground running from moment one, adding a successful array of new dangers for Tulsa King‘s best outing yet.

What Is ‘Tulsa King’ Season 3 About?

Season 3 of Tulsa King sees Dwight Manfredi (Stallone) in pursuit of yet another market expansion for his burgeoning mafiosos, as they hope to expand into liquor distribution by absorbing a local bourbon distillery. Its owners, the Montagues, have spent a generation under the thumb of the ruthless, mob-connected Dunmires, led by Jeremiah (Robert Patrick) and Cole (Beau Knapp), who want it all for themselves. Jeremiah is as ruthless as he is connected, serving as a real challenge for Dwight’s small but mighty crew, including chauffeur Tyson (Jay Will), lieutenant Mitch Keller (Garrett Hedlund), muscle Bigfoot (Mike “Cash Flo” Walden), capo Goodie (Chris Caldovino), gifted pot entrepreneur Bohdi (Martin Starr), and Grace (McKenna Quigley Harrington).

‘Tulsa King’ Wastes No Time in Season 3

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Image via Paramount+

Season 2 expanded Tulsa King‘s world and its potential considerably as the story went along, building Carl Thresher and KC heavy Bill Bevilaqua, in particular, into interesting additions. That took a long time, however, since the narrative required dealing with the ATF charges before it could move on, resulting in Season 2 as a whole picking up steam but ultimately failing to offer any interesting challenges. Sheridan doesn’t make the same mistake twice, however, and wastes no time setting up the long reach and extreme danger of the Dunmires, alongside new challengers from New York’s Renzetti family, in Season 3. Dwight establishes his new empire quickly, and the Dunmires prove themselves to be threats early on in a dramatic improvement over the prior season.

The new additions to Tulsa King‘s cast shine in Season 3, with Patrick providing a believable and vicious threat to Dwight’s empire. The Terminator actor could be utilized more frequently (he’s a frequent mastermind but not the season’s physical threat, ergo, he’s often behind the scenes), but he’s nonetheless given interesting moments that establish his power and villainy. Beau Knapp also shines as Cole, who’s less the intelligent planner and more the family’s imperfect muscle with a lot to prove. Between the Dunmire family’s challenge to Dwight’s empire and the tension it creates with KC mob partner Bill Beviliqua, the growing conflict provides Grillo with plenty to chew on, further adding to the series’ intensity even before Samuel L. Jackson (who has yet to appear in the six episodes provided for review) arrives as Manfredi’s old friend-turned-threat.

Returning players are also well served. Stallone undoubtedly continues to master his old-guard-adapting-to-new-conditions mafioso, here spending most of the season fighting from the back foot as he struggles to expand legitimate businesses. Some charismatic players are also given more to do this round, and the series benefits. Hedlund’s Mitch was always a good character anchored by a strong portrayal, but he gets greater development and opportunity here. Starr lands Bohdi’s evolving character traits and directions, while he shares strong scenes with Harrington, who gives a solid performance as Grace. Tyson proves to be as much a liability as an asset, and Will’s performance is still one of the series’ most continually interesting. Finally, Grillo’s Bill Bevilaqua adds a welcome, charismatic screen presence every time he’s onscreen —which, despite the series balancing a host of new baddies, is thankfully frequent.

‘Tulsa King’ Is More Tense Than It’s Ever Been in Season 3

With a host of new characters and plot threads in Season 3, some elements do suffer in the strained effort to balance them. Certain welcome characters, like Goodie and Bigfoot, could be given more to do. Some minor plotlines (such as a strip club visit gone sour) come across as considerably convenient and contrived. The most glaring issue, however, is that a major tragedy befalls an important new character, and while it’s well-used to drive the season, one would expect it to leave a more consistent emotional impact— and it inexplicably doesn’t. These elements could certainly be resolved in the series’ back half, but they persist throughout its first six episodes. All that said, Tulsa King Season 3 boasts great new additions, lands higher-octane moments, and doesn’t waste time getting to them.

Altogether, Season 3 is shaping up to be Tulsa King‘s most exciting installment yet. It adds strong antagonists to the world who set dangerous stakes early, backed by excellent new additions to the cast (anything’s better with Robert Patrick in it). It boasts greater involvement and development of some key, formerly underutilized players, which benefits its storytelling. There’s also a promise of greater mob danger as the narrative plays out, keeping the pressure on Dwight and refusing to let go. While it’s impossible to say how well everything will ultimately come together, Tulsa King Season 3 is a thoroughly tense ride nonetheless — and the best that Sheridan’s series has been so far.

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Release Date

November 13, 2022

Network

Paramount+

Showrunner

Terence Winter

Pros & Cons

• The series hits the ground running immediately with new threats and opportunities, creating an immediately suspenseful season.
• Stallone and returning players are as good as ever, with some underutilized heroes like Garrett Hedlund receiving interesting new showcases.
• Robert Patrick and Beau Knapp are strong additions to the cast, with intimidating screen presences that elevate the sense of stakes.

• Some excellent characters are notably shortchanged as the series balances its new additions.
• A few plot threads are underdeveloped or too quickly resolved heading into the series’ back half.