Although the conversation gets off to a rocky start, that is in fact the rosy part in hindsight as Dwight feels abandoned. He is “ordered” out to make hay in Tulsa, Oklahoma, out in the West far away from New York. The chain of command has changed and Dwight does not have a place in the new order of things. He gets violent with Chickie and is almost shot by the henchmen but reluctantly accepts his fate. Tyson (Jay Will), a cab driver, picks him up from the airport in Tulsa. They share a weird conversation as Dwight experiences the new world for the first time. His inexperience includes not knowing about smartphones and the internet and getting offended at being called “gangster”. showing his unfamiliarity with modern lingo.
Dwight is annoyed with Tyson’s supposed act and stops at a marijuana store when Dwight senses an opportunity. No gangs control the area and with the help of his family resources, Dwight can make unlimited money and make the area his own. He goes in and comes back to knock the guard, Fred, unconscious and meets with the owner of the establishment, Bohdi (Martin Starr). When he inspects the books, Dwight finds ample cash being generated from the business. But Bohdi has kept all the cash in a locker in his office and Dwight calls it an amateurish move.
Dwight arrives in Bohdi’s town and meets with him to discuss business. Bohdi offers to provide Dwight with protection from other gangs, rivals, and even the police in exchange for a commission on profits and a share of the profits immediately. Tyson is hired as Dwight’s driver and they head out to explore the town. The openness of the area seems to have a positive effect on Dwight, who is perhaps happier on the inside knowing he has come to this place. ..
Dwight orders a cab for an evening out at the Bred 2 Buck saloon nearby. Dwight has charming conversations with fellow cowboy customers and gives a pretty good account of himself to the owner, Mitch. But he does not introduce himself this time to Dwight. Tyson comes empty-handed the next day and says the dealer won’t sell him the car. Dwight does not tolerate this racist attitude and drives down to the dealer to knock some sense into him. He gets the Navigator and drives out with Tyson. They go to Jimmy’s farm, where they source weed for sale, and Bohdi informs Dwight of Jimmy’s racist attitude. ..
Dwight is offended by Bohdi’s recommendation and decides to stay at the Mayo instead. He has a bad experience at the hotel and is not interested in the company of men. His conversation with Mitch is cut short by another woman who asks him if he is famous. When Dwight rejects a photo with her, another woman walks up to him to confront him. They have a flirtatious moment and Dwight takes the part of the girls to a strip club, even knocking another sleazy man who gets too comfortable with one of the girls.
Stacy, the woman who confronted Dwight, is impressed and just drunk enough to go back to his hotel. When Dwight asks her about what she was doing when former President Kennedy was assassinated, she learns Dwight is 75. She hurriedly packs up and leaves, not wanting to make this association. Dwight is here to rebuild his life, despite the tragic setbacks he got from his wife and daughter Marie and Tina. He is here to take over the city but soon we learn of his city nemesis: the ATF squad, led by Armand Truisi. Stacy too is a part of the squad and squirms in her chair when they discuss following Dwight around the next day in a meeting.
The Episode Review
The Tulsa King show looks set to be a well-made and exciting series, with a strong star at the helm. However, it is likely that the show will have a diluted dramatic heft and less theatrics than other shows in this genre. This could make it difficult for viewers to invest in the story, as they may not feel as engaged as they would if the show were more focused on its action-packed elements.
Dwight Manfredi seems like the perfect man for Stallone to sink his teeth into and recreate the acting magic we have missed for so many years. The little doses of comedy did not go as planned, to be honest. Instead of putting us at ease, they worked against the setting, albeit with a huge scope for improvement. Besides that, it was an impressive premiere that has got us eagerly waiting for an exciting season of action, story-building, and a thrilling cat-and-mouse game. ..
