If you've been craving a crime saga that feels like a perfect mashup of The Sopranos and Breaking Bad, look no further than Tulsa King. This Paramount+ original, starring Sylvester Stallone, has been making waves with its fresh take on the underworld, and it's currently riding high in the streamer's Top 10. With Season 4 set to drop on October 16, there's no better time to dive into this gritty, character-driven thriller.
What Is 'Tulsa King' About?
The series introduces us to Dwight "The General" Manfredi (Stallone), a former New York Mafia capo who's just walked out of prison after a 25-year stretch. Expecting a hero's welcome for keeping his mouth shut, Dwight instead gets a one-way ticket to Tulsa, Oklahoma, with orders to "set up business" there. It's a humbling fall from grace, but Dwight quickly realizes that Tulsa is a goldmine of opportunity—especially in the drug trade.
Without the usual mob muscle, Dwight assembles a ragtag crew of locals: Tyson (Jay Will), a wide-eyed driver; Bodhi (Martin Starr), a laid-back dispensary owner; and Mitch (Garrett Hedlund), a cool-headed outlaw. Together, they start building a criminal empire, but success comes with a price. Every new enemy wants a slice of the pie, and the body count starts to climb.
Season 4 Raises the Stakes
By the end of Season 3, Dwight has carved out a solid foothold in Tulsa's underworld. He's got a thriving drug operation, a swanky cabaret, and a casino—all a far cry from his humble beginnings. But when he gets the chance to buy a legacy distillery, he jumps at it, thinking it'll be a clean, legitimate investment. Turns out, running a legal business can be more dangerous than pushing drugs.
Between rival distillers, territorial hotheads, and federal agents who want him to do their dirty work, Dwight's plate is overflowing. And then there's Cal Thresher (Neal McDonough), a slick politician with his own agenda. If there's one thing Taylor Sheridan's shows teach us, it's that mixing politics with crime is a recipe for disaster.
Samuel L. Jackson Joins the Universe
Just when things couldn't get more intense, Samuel L. Jackson enters the fray. He plays Russell Lee Washington Jr., a former hitman and Dwight's old prison buddy, who's inspired to build his own empire in the spin-off Frisco King (formerly NOLA King). The show, which is set four hours south of Tulsa, also stars Asa Germann, Kai Caster, Lilah Pate, and Savanna Gann, with Sheridan penning all eight episodes.
Fans are already buzzing about a potential crossover between the two shows. Frank Grillo, who plays Bill Bevilaqua in Tulsa King, teased that "it would be silly if there wasn't some kind of crossover for two, three, four episodes." With two acting heavyweights like Stallone and Jackson in the same universe, the possibilities are endless.
If you're a fan of top-tier thrillers or edge-of-your-seat suspense, Tulsa King is a must-watch. It's a crime drama that knows how to balance action, humor, and heart, and with Season 4 on the horizon, there's no better time to catch up. And if you're looking for more adrenaline-pumping content, check out Pierce Brosnan's latest thriller or Guy Ritchie's wildest Statham flick.
