SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for Tulsa King Season 3, Episode 10.

The Tulsa King Season 3 finale is the same as a lot of the episodes that came before it: fine, but could have been so much better. And that’s bad news when talking about a finale, which is usually expected to be the biggest episode of any TV season. Season 3, Episode 10, “Jesus Lizard” does provide an end to the story, but it just doesn’t have enough punch—which is strange to say for an episode that involves a whole armory in the back of a truck.

The problem with “Jesus Lizard,” co-written by Dave Erickson and Sylvester Stallone, is that it doesn’t have anything in particular to say. The good guys are good and the bad guys are bad, but what’s the point of it all? That’s a criticism that can be leveled at a few episodes in Season 3, so one can argue that the finale suffers because the season as a whole didn’t have an entirely clear direction. This episode is likewise a chapter that wanders, with too much exposition, a few loose ends and a feeling that there’s something else out there.

The sole problem on the table is that Jeremiah Dunmire has captured Joanne Manfredi. That’s massive for Dwight, but that’s it; nobody else has anything they need to resolve. Even the Cal Thresher subplot is a non-issue, because Margaret Devereaux tells Dwight very early on that Thresher is projected to win in “a landslide.” So the finale only has one lane—which isn’t great, but would be okay if Tulsa King really made that story as complicated (and therefore rewarding) as possible.

It doesn’t. Viewers are more than 20 minutes into a 36-minute episode before Team Dwight has their final showdown with Dunmire. Instead of an extended last battle, or some action/mystery setpieces leading up to that epic confrontation, those 20 minutes are spent mostly talking about strategy. Viewers get to meet Bigfoot’s cousins, and see Mitch’s friend turn up with a literal truckload of weapons. Obviously there has to be some planning and swearing revenge, but “Jesus Lizard” could’ve cut some of this in favor of more conflict or suspense someplace else.

For example, there are two scenes in which Dunmire attempts to threaten Joanne into signing the Montague Distillery over to him that could’ve been fleshed out. Robert Patrick and Annabella Sciorra are plenty capable of having their own verbal chess match, which would create some more drama while viewers wait for Dwight to turn up. But the dialogue between their characters is pretty standard hostage-situation material. And when Dunmire slams his axe into the arm of Joanne’s chair, well, audiences have already seen him lose his temper so many times that it’s kind of par for the course.

When Dwight and company do arrive, this is where Tulsa King goes for that ’80s action movie vibe, with not one but two needle drops as they tear through Dunmire’s estate. But the actual face-to-face between Dunmire and Dwight is surprisingly short-lived and one-sided. This is what the whole season has been building to, and Dwight just punches Dunmire in the face a few times. Considering the actors involved, it’s hard not to want more. Dwight setting Dunmire on fire—making Dunmire experience what he put Montague through—is exactly the right way for the villain to go out, though.

Another concern is that while “Jesus Lizard” checks the plot boxes, it has no emotional payoff. The only character who goes through any kind of emotional growth is Cole Dunmire, who completes his redemption story by telling Dwight where Joanne is. Credit is due to Beau Knapp for taking Cole on that journey; it would’ve been even more satisfying to see him help with the rescue, but at least the audience gets to see him get the endorsement of Samuel L. Jackson‘s returning Russell Lee Washington. But when the dust settles, it doesn’t feel like anyone has learned anything or that anyone’s situation has changed much.

Mitch’s season-long arc, for example, ends with actor Garrett Hedlund performing—which is awesome. He should get to do that any time he wants. But there’s no final scene for Mitch and Cleo after what they’ve been through; Bella Heathcote appears so briefly that it’s easy to miss her. The Quiet Ray problem is only mentioned once, and what happened to Bill Bevilaqua remains unexplained, even though Agent Musso turns up for a scene. Thresher’s job offer to Margaret is discussed, but she doesn’t make a decision. There isn’t an emotional beat for Dwight and Joanne after she’s rescued. Tulsa King scales everything down to the gang gathering for a celebratory drink, with Jackson’s character getting the biggest speech on his way out the door. “Jesus Lizard” leaves a lot of character material on the table.

Production is already underway on Tulsa King Season 4, as well as the spinoff, so maybe it doesn’t matter so much that the third season was no big revelation. Dwight Manfredi’s story isn’t over. But this finale, and the season as a whole, could have done a lot more. Tulsa King Season 3 often struggled from not having a clear direction, and the finale is the underwhelming result of that.

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.