Tulsa King Premiere Recap: Merely a Bump in the Road — Plus, Grade It!
You can’t keep a good man down. Or a made one, as Tulsa King‘s Season 2 premiere proves.
Though the Season 1 finale ended with Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight “The General” Manfredi getting taken away in handcuffs (more on that here), we barely have time to wonder where all the shootout corpses went before he’s walking the streets again, free(ish). But he’s barely had 24 hours out of federal custody before he’s encountering someone who feels like this season’s major antagonist — and that’s when things start getting fun.
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Read on for the highlights of “Back in the Saddle.”
JAILHOUSE KNOCK(OUT) | We pick up immediately after Dwight was arrested and tossed in a holding cell. One of his fellow temporary cellmates is in trouble for gambling away millions in government energy contracts, so Dwight calmly gives the guy advice in advance of a likely multiple-year sentence. First lesson: Assert yourself right away. Then he illustrates that point by knocking out the cell’s resident loudmouth, adding, “F—kin’ silence is golden.”
Back at the bar, Tina is resigned to her father’s fate, while Grace is worried about everyone else’s (including her own). “We blew away eight bikers. You don’t think the Feds are going to dig deeper into their whereabouts?” she wonders. Tyson reminds her that they dumped the bodies down an abandoned mine, so they don’t have to worry… much. Goodie announces that he’s going to take over as head of the ragtag “family” while Dwight is in jail — a self-appointed post that is not universally agreed-upon — and he tasks them with finding new business opportunities.
At his arraignment, Dwight is released, with Tina posting his $3 million bail. When a shocked Stacy hears the news, she immediately asks for a transfer.
GUESS WHO’S BACK? | Upon his triumphant return to the casino, Dwight a) hires Mitch’s cousin, a hulking guy who likes to be called Bigfoot, as a bouncer; b) announces that he might want to take their operation “straight-ish” in the near future. (He was inspired by the cellmate with the energy contracts.) “There’s a fine line between who’s a criminal and who’s a businessman,” Goodie agrees, raising his glass in a toast.
When Dwight swings by Margaret’s ranch, she knows exactly what’s up, thanks to the local newscasts. But she’s undaunted, and asks him to accompany her to a fundraiser the following evening. Well… she asks him to buy a table at the fundraiser, but agrees to have a drink with him there.
But first, he’s got to make a stop at Stacy’s house, where he lets himself in and helps himself to some wine before she gets home. “Are you here to kill me?” she asks shakily when she realizes he’s there. He promises that’s not his plan, but admits to being very angry when he heard what she thought he was planning. “I’m here to look you in the eyes, because that’s what serious people do,” he says calmly. He explains that she was the first person to make him feel anything after his prison stint, but hew knew they could never work as a couple “because of the lives that we lead.” He adds that he has a ton of respect for her, and he doesn’t blame her for turning him in: “You were used.” Then he leaves, saying he’ll see her in court. “It was nice while it lasted, Stacy.”
YOU FANCY NOW? | Tyson brings Dwight by Even Higher Plane’s shiny new digs; the boss is impressed. He sends Bodhi and the guys to get new suits for the fundraiser, then they — as well as Dwight and Bigfoot — all hit the party in their fancy threads. While there, Margaret introduces Dwight to Cal Thresher (played by Neal McDonough, D.C.’s Legends of Tomorrow), a businessman who’s instantly threatened by Dwight. “If I were you, I’d stay in my own lane, whichever one that is,” Thresher says, insinuating that he knows all about Dwight’s past. He angers Dwight when he claims he’s not threatened; Manfredi and his crew quickly take off afterward.
By the end of the episode, the press is gathered outside Dwight’s hotel, and a headline proclaims that the Mob has come to Tulsa. Meanwhile, Thresher calls another mobster named Bevilaqua (Kingdom‘s Frank Grillo) to let him know that Dwight is in town.
MEANWHILE, BACK EAST | In New York, Chickie is displeased when Jerry brings up the fact that his father’s death (and the rumors surrounding exactly how it happened), as well as the recent defections from his camp, have other crime families sensing a power vacuum. This angers Chickie, who calls Goodie just so he can hear him kill Jerry by shooting him in the head.
Now it’s your turn. Grade the premiere via the poll below, then hit the comments and let us know all of your thoughts about the episode!
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