Bada Bing: Top Five Reasons to Watch Tulsa King
Presenting five reasons to watch ParamountPlus’ new series Tulsa King. Featuring Sylvester Stallone as an old-school Italian mobster relocating to the wild west, this show makes me seriously happy.
Apparently, I am not the only one. Tulsa King had the highest-rated cable TV premiere of 2022, gets an impressive 79% on Rotten Tomatoes and a close-to perfect viewer rating. It was no sooner released than a second season was announced. It was even “rich enough” to be featured in a Superbowl 2023 ad!
I know why I love it. Italian + western + an old person struggling to comprehend the weirdness of today’s society. Bada Bing!
The Italian Stallone meets today’s youth
Sylvester Stallone plays an Italian mafioso in Tulsa King. Recently released from prison after 25 years, he’s not up on all the latest slang. Neither am I.
Tulsa King + Me = A Perfect Match
Tulsa King
Mafia/Western mash-up “dramedy”
Released on Paramount+ in November of 2022
Created by Taylor Sheridan, who has been nailing it with recent hit shows like Yellowstone and 1883.
Season 2 already in the works
Me
A female baby boomer from the midwest
Second-generation Italian American
Favorite movie genre? Westerns
The Sopranos Go West —
Tulsa King takes the New York mobster genre and sits it down in the heart of the American west.
Top 5 Reasons to Watch Tulsa King
I have a weird habit while binge-watching TV shows. I take pictures of particularly noteworthy moments, with subtitles on. The images I end up with, after messing around in various photo-editing apps, are great for posting on social media or using in an online article like this.
Since discovering Tulsa King only a few days ago, my phone’s camera has being working overtime. I keep having to rewind it.
#5: Sylvester Stallone - Top Five Reasons to Watch Tulsa King
I have never been a Sylvester Stallone fan. He’s “ok.” Rocky was “okay.” I am more of a John Travolta woman. But I gotta tell ya, the Italian Stallion is killing it in Tulsa King. At 76 years of age, Sylvester Stallone is looking very good. Add to that the fact he puts in an excellent job of acting and you get one hell of a show.
By the way, did you know Stallone is called the Italian Stallion because “Stallone” means stallion in Italian?
Yes, please
Stick this hunk of Italian handsomeness in a show with both style and humor, and I am going to be all over it.
#4: The Theme of Aging Ass-Kickers
I haven’t actually finished the first season yet, so I can’t really speak about the overall message, or meaning, of this story. But I know enough to know that getting old, and all the nostalgia that comes with it, is central to the story. The heroes of Tulsa King are not youngsters. They are seasoned veterans of life.
Obviously, this works well for me. I’m a seasoned veteran. A boomer. Boomers are IN these days, in case you haven’t noticed. We are thoroughbreds that do not like the idea of retirement.
#3: Tulsa King is Not Always Politically Correct
Dwight Manfredi, the protagonist in Tulsa King, played by Stallone, is a little out of touch with current America. He’s been in prison for 25 years and missed a lot of stuff. The America he lands in is a lot different than what he’s used to.
Being Italian, and thus wearing his thoughts and emotions where everyone can see, Dwight says what he thinks. It’s delightful, refreshing and funny.
#2 — The Writing
In Season 1, Episode 6, Dwight Manfredi busts the balls of an Irish tough-guy rival named Waltrip who is trying to run the stallion out of town:
“You’re not exactly a Native American. This isn’t your home. This definitely ain’t my home. And to quote Woody Guthrie, who was actually from Oklahoma, “this land belongs to you and me.” ”
That’s good writing.
Then there is all the slang. I have been and always will be a sucker for slang. It can illuminate an entire culture or community. As Tulsa King’s premise centers around the clash of cultures, generations and geography, Tulsa King makes ample use of slang to tell a well-rounded story. Capisce?
Sharing a Common Language
Despite having both a generational and geographical divide between them, the characters of Tyson (left) and Dwight in Tulsa King understand each other perfectly.
#1: It’s Italian! (The Best Reason to Watch Tulsa King)
Who doesn’t like a good Italian mafia show? The Italian mafia, or Italian gangster, genre has been satisfying us since the first gangster film, Little Caesar, hit the big screen in 1931. It has never really gone out of fashion.
But it has been awhile since we’ve had a really good Italian mobster TV series to get excited about. The Sopranos was the last true classic. But, in my opinion, Tulsa King may be the next.
Yes, we do.
Tulsa King delivers a fresh take on the Italian mafia genre.
Now, technically speaking, there are not a lot of actual Italian Americans in Tulsa King. But that’s the whole point. Stallone’s character bring the Italian mafia vibe to the middle of the Bible belt and spreads the love.
I want to move to Oklahoma and join Dwight’s crew. I’d actually fit in really well because my father is full-grown Italian, and I know all the hand gestures. Can an old chick with ADHD be a CAPO?
Check It Out — How to Watch Tulsa King
Tulsa King is streaming now on ParamountPlus. Season One wrapped up January 8, 2023 with Episode 9. After only three episodes, Season Two was announced (to the sound of applause).
To keep up to date on Tulsa King, check out its Instagram.
