Tulsa King Season 2 Review – Growing Pains in the Heartland

🎬 Introduction

Coming off a surprisingly strong debut, Tulsa King Season 2 had a lot to live up to. The first season was a tight, character-driven story about a man finding his footing in a strange new world. Season 2, as is often the case with hit shows, decides that "more" is the answer. More villains, more subplots, more threats. And while it’s undeniably fun to see the world expand, the result is a season that feels a bit more scattered and uneven than its predecessor.

The premise picks up right where we left off, with Dwight facing legal troubles and trying to solidify his hold on Tulsa. But he’s no longer just flying under the radar; he’s a known quantity. This attracts the attention of bigger predators, specifically Cal Thresher (Neal McDonough), a powerful local businessman with his own criminal ties, and Bill Bevilaqua (Frank Grillo), a Kansas City mobster who claims Tulsa as his territory.

For a dad looking for entertainment, Season 2 still delivers the goods. Stallone is as watchable as ever, and the dialogue remains sharp. But you might find yourself checking your phone during the scenes about wind energy contracts or legal maneuverings. It’s a season of growing pains—entertaining enough to keep you on the hook, but clearly the bridge between the introduction and the main event.

For our full series hub, see Tulsa King Series.

Tulsa King: Season 2 [Blu-ray]

Watch the turf war escalate. The Season 2 Blu-ray includes deleted scenes and featurettes on the new villains.

🧠 Story & Themes

If Season 1 was about arrival, Season 2 is about expansion and defense. Dwight is trying to go legit (or as legit as a mobster can get), investing in a wind farm project and trying to navigate the legal system. This shift from "street level" crime to "white collar" crime is where the season stumbles a bit. Watching Dwight shake down a car dealership is fun; watching him sit in meetings about zoning laws is less so.

The introduction of Cal Thresher provides a great foil for Dwight. Thresher is the "legitimate" face of corruption—a man who uses the law and his wealth to crush opponents, whereas Dwight uses a baseball bat. The contrast is interesting, highlighting the theme of old school vs. new school power. However, the plot often gets bogged down in the mechanics of their rivalry rather than the emotional stakes.

Another major theme is consequences. Dwight’s actions in Season 1 have ripple effects. His relationship with his daughter Tina (Tatiana Zappardino) is tested as she gets drawn deeper into his world. The show asks a difficult question: Can a man like Dwight ever truly keep his family safe, or does his very presence invite danger? It’s a classic mob trope, but it lands well here because of the work done in the first season.

The "Kansas City" subplot involving Bill Bevilaqua feels a bit tacked on at times, like the writers needed another threat to keep the tension high. It leads to some great action sequences, but it also dilutes the focus. The show is at its best when it’s about Dwight and his misfit crew in Tulsa, not when it’s trying to be a sprawling crime epic across multiple cities.

🎭 Characters & Performances

Despite the narrative wobbles, the cast remains the show’s greatest asset.

• Sylvester Stallone: He is the anchor. Even when the script wanders, Stallone is fully committed. He finds new layers in Dwight—moments of doubt, of genuine fear for his family, and of course, his trademark dry wit. There’s a scene where he navigates a "woke" corporate training seminar that is laugh-out-loud funny because of how perfectly Stallone plays Dwight’s bewilderment.
• Neal McDonough as Cal Thresher: McDonough is one of those actors who was born to play a villain. He brings a icy, corporate menace to Thresher that contrasts perfectly with Stallone’s warmth. He’s a worthy adversary, even if his motivations feel a bit cartoonish at times.
• Frank Grillo as Bill Bevilaqua: Grillo is always great, bringing a physical intensity to the role. He looks and acts like a guy who could actually go toe-to-toe with Dwight. However, his character feels a bit underused, often relegated to angry phone calls until the finale.
• The Crew: The supporting cast—Tyson, Bodhi, Mitch—get a bit less screen time this season as the world expands, which is a shame. Bodhi (Martin Starr) still steals every scene he’s in with his deadpan delivery, but you miss the tight-knit "us against the world" vibe of the first season.
• Tina (Tatiana Zappardino): Dwight’s daughter gets a much bigger role this season. Zappardino does a good job showing the conflict of a woman who loves her father but hates his life. Her arc is the emotional spine of the season, grounding the mob war in personal stakes.

🎨 Visual Style, Animation & Audio

The visual style remains consistent—lots of wide shots of the Oklahoma landscape, contrasted with the dark interiors of bars and boardrooms. The show continues to look great, with a cinematic sheen that elevates it above standard network TV procedurals.

However, there’s a noticeable shift in the action. It feels a bit more "TV" this season. A few of the shootouts lack the visceral punch of the pilot, and the CGI fire/explosions in one key sequence look a bit budget-constrained. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s noticeable.

The soundtrack continues to be a highlight. The music supervisors have a knack for picking tracks that perfectly underscore the mood—gritty blues for a beatdown, soaring country for a driving montage. It gives the show a distinct sonic identity that separates it from other crime dramas like Power or Ozark.

👨‍👧 The Dad Perspective

Season 2 is still solid "Dad TV," but it requires a bit more patience.

Pacing Issues: Unlike the breezy Season 1, this season drags in the middle. There are episodes where it feels like pieces are just being moved around the board without much happening. If you’re watching one episode a night, you might feel a bit frustrated by the lack of resolution in episodes 4 through 6.

Complexity vs. Fun: The wind farm plot is... dry. It’s hard to get excited about renewable energy credits, even if mobsters are fighting over them. For a dad who just wants to see Stallone be a badass, these scenes can feel like homework.

Violence & Tone: The violence remains high, perhaps even nastier than Season 1. There are some executions and beatings that are hard to watch. The tone also feels a bit darker, with less of the fish-out-of-water comedy that made the first season so charming. Dwight is no longer confused by Tulsa; he’s annoyed by it.

The "Cool Factor": Despite the flaws, Dwight remains the coolest guy on TV. His suits, his car, his attitude—it’s all pure dad fantasy. Watching him dress down a disrespectful punk or outsmart a corporate lawyer is still incredibly satisfying.

✅ Pros & Cons

🗣️ Conclusion

🛒 Must-Own Options

📌 FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions