Back In The Saddle – As season 2 begins, Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) is being booked for his crimes. After learning that he won’t be arraigned until the following morning, he meets a brash, trash-talking inmate, Buck (Lance Tafelski). Rather than engaging with Buck, Dwight sets his sights on a timid inmate with a bloodied nose, Harlan Thibodeaux (J.D. Walsh). While dispensing crucial jailhouse knowledge about sending a message, Dwight will learn that the man is doing eight years for a multi-million-dollar wind farm scam. It isn’t long before Dwight takes his own advice and knocks Buck out.
Bodhi (Martin Starr) and several of Dwight’s other partners will very briefly discuss how to proceed without him. It doesn’t take Tina/Tatiana Manfredi (Tatiana Zappardino) to tire of the conversation and excuse herself. Just as quickly, Mitch Keller (Garrett Hedlund) volunteers to give her a ride. Being that he is the only other member who took the same oath as Dwight, Dennis ‘Goodie’ Carangi (Chris Caldovino) sees it as his responsibility to fill Dwight’s shoes. Some of the others will pose resistance but it goes no further than that at the moment.
After pleading not guilty the following morning, Judge Mark Watkins (Kenny Alfonso) sets Dwight’s bail at $ 3 million. Much to his displeasure, Tina will volunteer to cover the expenses. Dwight’s arrest has apparently already made headlines and he’ll be briefly hounded by reporters while leaving the courthouse. He virtually pays them little regard until one asks if he’s in town representing the Invernizzi crime syndicate. He will only issue the man a stern look before Tyson Mitchell (Jay Will) manages to get him in the vehicle.
Agent Stacy Baele (Andrea Savage) is stunned when she learns that Dwight has been granted bail. Her colleague shares her concern but claims selling a transfer to management at the moment will be nearly impossible. Things don’t look to be going much better for Charles ‘Chickie’ Invernizzi (Domenick Lombardozzi) and Jerry Izzo (Joseph Riccobene) when they meet to discuss the power vacuum created by Dwight’s predicament. Vince Antoancci (Vincent Piazza) along with several others believes that an immediate show of power is necessary to remind the competing families they remain in control. Jerry will ultimately convince them to hold off, at least until after his meeting with Jimmy The Creek/Jimmy Moore (Glen Gould).
On their way to a meeting, Dwight and Tyson will share a brief discussion about family themselves. This will be sidelined when they learn they are being followed. While Tyson eludes their pursuers, Goodie and Armand Truisi (Max Casella) will discuss new ways to earn. After being introduced to Mitch’s cousin, Michael/Bigfoot (Cash Fio), it becomes clear that Dwight has the same topic on his mind, thanks to his jailhouse encounter with Harlan.
Dwight makes a brief stop at the stables where he checks in with Spencer and commends her on the job she’s been doing. At the same time, he accepts Margaret Devereaux’s (Dana Delany) invitation to a fundraiser the following night. Dwight will later learn that Stacy is the reason he’s being followed. This will lead to him breaking into her home. He will openly admit to having feelings for her, but at the same time, assures her that she doesn’t have anything to fear from him.
While Dwight gets a sneak preview of his cannabis venture, ‘Higher Plane,’ he orders Tyson and several of the others to get fitted for tuxedos for the fundraiser. Dwight’s discussion with Grace (McKenna Quigley Harrington) suggests that he couldn’t be happier with the progress of the dispensary. Despite this, he apparently has plans to take the venture even further by using Harlan’s half-built wind farm to power a future hydroponics project.
Elsewhere, Tyson and the boys turn the tux fitting with Bert The Tailor (Alpha Trievette) into a big ordeal. Although they are practically three sheets to the wind before Dwight even shows up to the event, Armand arrives in even worse condition. There is a brief encounter in the parking lot when Armand bumps another vehicle while parking but by then Dwight is on the scene to hash things out. Dwight will warn the group to be on their best behavior before offering a brief bio of their host, Cal Thresher (Neal McDonough).
Dwight will later learn that Armand is having problems with his wife. Although he has Bigfoot escort him from the property before he makes a scene, Dwight bails early after his meeting with Thresher doesn’t go so well. Although with more eloquence, Thresher tells Dwight to stay away from his turf.
Things aren’t going much better for Goodie when he receives a call from Jerry that actually turns out to be Chickie. Chickie virtually issues the same warning, but makes his threats much clearer by shooting Jerry in the head while Goodie listens.
While Dwight reads the not-so-flattering headlines of the Tulsa Star, Thresher attempts to learn more about Dwight during a phone call with Bill Bevilaqua (Frank Grillo). The episode ends with Thresher goading Bill by claiming that Dwight is moving in on his territory.
Tulsa King Review
I would not say that the season 2 premiere of Tulsa King was all bad, but I was far from blown away. As far as continuing the story, introducing new plots, and throwing in some comedy and intrigue here and there, it succeeded. That said, you can’t get any more basic than this. Everything was practically straight to the point, backed by not-so-great performances.
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