Center Of The Universe – As the second episode of Tulsa King begins, Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) uses the Internet to search for information about Cristina Manfredi. Since he doesn’t have a credit card, he can’t access the report. Dwight takes the package to the shipping center to send it to New York only to learn that they don’t accept cash either. He manages to convince another customer to put it on his card in exchange for cash. After the intro, Dwight grabs a coffee and learns that they don’t use real cups anymore. Stacy Beale (Andrea Savage) learns more about Dwight from a colleague. Her friend learns that Dwight bought her a drink. Then, Stacy learns about Dwight killing two people including Richard “Ripple” McLeevy and another inmate in self-defense.
They tried to flip him six times, but he did a 25-year sentence instead of talking to police. Dwight walks around the city and stops to watch a woman with her son. A homeless woman tells him about the center of the universe in front of him. He tries it and it seems to work since the woman is unable to hear him when he speaks while standing in the circle. When Dwight tries to give her money, the woman (Susanne Marley) refuses it because she doesn’t want his scuzzy money. Stacy sits down with Dr. Evan Schanderson (Frank Wood) and tells him that she is having good days and bad days. She believes she is nailing the drinking. Stacy and Edward haven’t been talking much. While Edward is dating someone, the doctor learns that Stacy slept with someone. She confesses that he is very old and a criminal.
Dwight tells Tyson to take him to Bodhi (Martin Starr) so he can get some cash. While Dwight goes into the back with Bodhi, Tyson talks to Clint (Dashiell Connery) about his dreads and how they’re cultural appropriation. Bodhi wants to know if there is some sort of structure for Dwight taking his money. Dwight explains that it is 20% per week and he isn’t getting hosed. He wants to talk to his supplier, Jimmy, so he can cut a better deal. Dwight also has a line on a new investment that will allow them to make money hand over fist and the Feds won’t be able to touch it. Tyson and Dwight go to the bank in hopes of opening an account and getting a debit card. When the clerk checks Dwight’s ID, he mentions that he has been to New York once, but Dwight doesn’t seem remotely interested. He can’t accept the ID because it expired in 1998.
As they leave, Dwight says people break the law because everything legitimate is too complicated. Tyson thinks they can just get him a new license before asking why he went to jail. Dwight claims he tore the tongue out of a guy who kept asking a lot of stupid questions. At Fennario Ranch, Manny takes bets on baseball teams before Roxy tells him about a phone call. When he picks up the phone, Eddie laughs at the name Manny before confirming it is him. Manny or Armand is worried that Dwight is there to kill him. Dwight forces another guy to let him copy his answers for the Oklahoma driver’s examination. After passing and getting his picture taken, Dwight is informed that he’ll have to take a road test. Since the next appointment is in five weeks, Dwight bribes the woman to find an earlier appointment. He gets a learner’s permit and uses it to open a bank account.
As they leave the bank, Chickie calls to check in on Dwight. He tells Dwight that he’ll have to make amends for attacking Vince. Chickie believes 100 grand will solve it. Dwight eventually agrees to send him something but warns Chickie not to open it if he hears it ticking. Later, Stacy visits Dwight in his motel room and identifies herself as an ATF agent. She tells him that the FBI sends out a bulletin when high-level felons relocate. Stacy tries to figure out what Dwight is doing in Tulsa and what his family thinks about it. Dwight reveals he hasn’t seen his daughter Tina or other relatives in 18 years. He told her not to come back to the prison to see him because it was hard for her. There is nothing left for him in New York. Stacy warns him that she won’t be able to help if he gets jammed up here, but Dwight didn’t expect that anyway.
Tyson’s dad, Mark, finds him outside washing Dwight’s vehicle and tells him he should be in college. Tyson thinks he can learn a lot from Dwight because he is a businessman. When Armand makes it home, he complains about Larry (Brian Shoop) letting his dog crap on his yard. Bodhi tells Dwight that Jimmy is a Creek Indian as they ride to meet him. Dwight read the name on Bodhi’s grower’s license and found that it was Lawrence Geigerman. Bodhi asks if he is being anti-Semitic. Dwight wants to know why he is using a Buddhist BS nickname. He tells Bodhi how they used to call him Cinque Stelle. The group makes it to the weed farm before Dwight is introduced to Jimmy’s cousin Bad Face. They get into an argument when Bad Face asks Dwight if he has a last name while Bodhi tries to calm things down.
Jimmy (Glen Gould) runs out to stop them. After they go inside, Jimmy says there will be no negotiating because it is going to be $1,200 a unit for the buds based on a 10-unit order. After Dwight threatens to leave, Jimmy offers to throw in a case each of CBD Doggie Droppers and Rapture Patch personal lubricant. Dwight accuses him of trying to sell him bruised fruit from his bumper crop. He offers $1,200 for the first 10 units, $1,100 for the next 10 units, and $1,000 for the ten after that. Then, it’ll be $750 each for the remaining 270 units. Once Jimmy agrees to that deal, Dwight suggests smoking the peace pipe with Bad Face. Dwight learns he has been eating THC-infused dip. On the way back to the city, Dwight smokes with Bodhi and tells him he feels like Rip Van Winkle. He wants to know what is going on with this country and the pronouns.
After ranting about that, he talks to them about Arthur Miller who wrote a play about his neighborhood. Armand calls the Mayo Hotel to see if Dwight is staying there. When he learns that there is nobody there by Manfredi, he asks about Dwight Ike. The receptionist confirms that Dwight from New York is staying there. Mike watches Tyson arrive home after dark. Dwight gets his debit card in the mail so he uses it to buy the report on his daughter. He calls her number and talks to her husband Emory briefly. Tina doesn’t want to talk to him, but she agrees to let him hear her voice. After she hangs up on him, Dwight goes for a walk. He goes back to the center of the universe to say he stopped seeing her because it was too hard on her. He changes his mind and confesses that it was too hard on him.
Tulsa King Review
The second episode of Tulsa King didn’t have as much action as the first episode so it tried to make it up for it with emotions. While the main story is pretty simple, there are many branching storylines that help keep things interesting and these stories will likely take on a life of their own as the series progresses. Tyson’s father is obviously not happy with his son working for a gangster. Stacy is on the opposite side of the law and may have a say in whether Dwight returns to prison at some point.
There is really a lot going on in Tulsa King, but Dwight stays in the spotlight more often than not. In this episode, nearly everything worked out well for Dwight since he got a driver’s license, obtained a debit card, and scored a better deal with his weed supplier, Jimmy. On the other hand, his daughter isn’t willing to speak to him after everything that has happened.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Dwight can change that and convince his daughter to see him. Dwight has several issues going against him since he needs to make 100 grand to pay off Vince and an old acquaintance believes he is in town to get him. While the episode probably wasn’t as good as the first, it set up a lot of promising storylines that could make for a very entertaining season.
The episode scores a 7 out of 10. Recaps of Tulsa King are available on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support our work by clicking this link. Any donations are used for the upkeep of the site and future expansions.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
I think this is a really good show. I am enjoying it and love the whole premise. I do hope there is momentum and it doesn’t just end up going around in circles.
The time lag is exaggerated. We did have cell phones in the year 2000 when he originally went to jail. Things have not changed THAT MUCH since 2000. For him to be such a fish out of water is for humor’s sake.
The way writers often keep a show fresh is to intruduce something new midway. Like when the original drug lord on Ozark suddenly and unexpectedly gets his head blown off. This allowed them to introduce even more sinister characters. (Who also eventually get their heads blown off 😄)
I hope Tulsa does something like it. Its from the makers of Yellowstone so it’s sure to have many plot twists.
I am enjoying it too because it doesn’t take itself too seriously and it is hard to deny that Stallone is perfect for a role like this. I am eager to see more about his operation and how he ends up making money. Mayor of Kingstown was pretty good too although this is quirkier.