When I first heard about this Tulsa King show, I was a bit confused by the whole premise: 76-year old Sylvester Stallone playing a gangster in Oklahoma (on a streaming service). What?! Ultimately, it ends up being an entertaining concept, albeit one that front-loads most of the best material and doesn't quite live up to that strong start down the stretch.
For a very basic overview, Tulsa King tells the story of Dwight Manfredi (Stallone), an aged mafia gangster just exiting prison after a 25-year term. Exiled to Oklahoma by a younger mob crew that simply doesn't want him around the big city anymore, Dwight must re-introduce himself to the modern world--which of course he does with a literal and figurative bang! Instead of contentment with being put out to pasture, Manfredi picks up right where he left off a few decades ago--running schemes and making money.
The first 4-5 episodes of Tulsa King are extremely entertaining. Carried on Stallone's broad shoulders, his unique brand of charisma is a sight to behold. The scenes of him just driving around with newfound friend Tyson (Jay Will) might be the best of the whole show. There is also an interesting romantic angle--with federal officer Stacy Beale (Andrea Savage), no less--and some legitimately emotional material involving Dwight's estrangement from daughter Tina (Tatiana Zappardino). In short, the early goings here are a giant gumbo of comedy, heart, and action/adventure to the 9/10 star degree.
Unfortunately, the intrigue proves to be a bit better than the execution in the grand sum of Tulsa King. As the show transitions away from Stallone's magnetism being the prime focus and into the more mafia or gang-wars aspects of the plot, the watch-ability factor suffers. That isn't to say that the show ever reaches a "bad" point, but the "back nine" are more 6/7 stars-per-episode.
Overall, though, I enjoyed watching this first season of Tulsa King. Stallone's "fish out of time/water" growth was the highlight, to be sure, as well as some of the heart and inspirational messaging he brings to all his products. Though I have definite concerns about what a season two might hold with that particular character trait tapped out, I'll definitely be tuning into the already-confirmed sophomore effort to give it at least a chance.
