SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Tulsa King Season 3, Episode 2.

The second episode of Tulsa King Season 3 is where the plot starts to get underway. As in Season 2, the first episode was a lot of catching up and introducing new faces. Season 3, Episode 2 lays out the blueprint for the Paramount+ show and it’s exactly what audiences will expect: Dwight Manfredi vs. Jeremiah Dunmire, with even more control of Oklahoma at stake.

The plot is straightforward: Dwight and company respond to the burning down of the Montague home and the death of Cleo Montague’s father. Jeremiah Dunmire and his ne’er do well son Cole—who happens to have a thing for Cleo—respond to Dwight’s response. Threats are made and by the end of the episode, the battle is officially on. Instead of marijuana, the stakes are about $150 million in rare bourbon.

What makes the plot interesting is Tulsa King bringing back Season 2’s villains to now serve as allies to Dwight. Bill Bevilaqua enters an agreement to help distribute the alcohol, while Cal Thresher (who’s now running for Governor) is told that Dwight expects political favors from him. This is a season with four alpha personalities in it—Dwight, Dunmire, Bill and Thresher—and one wonders if Tulsa King will have enough room to adequately service all of them. Or if at least one of them might meet an early end when the space runs out.

The supporting cast, however, continues to be more compelling emotionally than the main storyline. Cleo and Mitch Keller share a completely expected kiss after Cole Dunmire attacks Mitch at his home. Cole later turns up at the Bred 2 Buck, where he saves Spencer (Scarlett Rose Stallone) from her ex. Where is that subplot going to go and how much more complicated will it make Dwight’s life?

It’s also very bittersweet when Michael Beach returns as Tyson’s father. It’s great to see Beach back again after he almost got killed off two Taylor Sheridan shows last season. But it’s painful to watch how the relationship between Tyson and his family has decayed, when Tyson is so clearly playing a gangster role that doesn’t fit him. Being a gangster is what Tyson wants and it also makes him a bigger part of Tulsa King‘s plot, but it’s hard not to watch him and think of how much more open and genuine he used to be.

There’s the subplot of Bodhi plotting his revenge as well, which is a character-changing arc in a different way. Bodhi is fully embracing his dark side, which gives Martin Starr more to play than just being the straight man to everyone else’s quirks. At the same time, this will clearly undermine the already shaky alliance between Dwight and Bill when it happens (because it will happen). It’s a small piece now with massive implications later. Tulsa King Season 3, Episode 2 efficiently sets up its pieces on the chess board, establishing everyone’s rivalries and motives. It may not have any “aha” moments, but that’s because it’s setting up for something bigger.

Tulsa King streams Sundays on Paramount+. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Paramount+.

Article content is (c)2020-2025 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.