Tulsa King Recap: For Whom the Car Tolls

As a movie lover with a penchant for gangster flicks and a soft spot for shows that pay homage to the genre, I found myself quite entertained by this week’s episode of Tulsa King. It was like a delicious blend of The Godfather, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos, served with a side of Larry David’s inimitable wit.

In a simple and conversational manner, the text could be rephrased as: Tyson, Dwight Manfredi’s assistant and confidant, is a devoted son. Whenever he notices his plumber father, Mark, having trouble with his work van for the umpteenth time, Tyson uses Dwight’s absence to help him out by driving him from job to job throughout the day. He engages with the clients, strengthens his bond with his dad, and enjoys immensely seeing his old man enjoying rides in Dwight’s luxury Lincoln Navigator. Instead of simply receiving the car as a gift, Tyson decides to buy it off Dwight by earning it—and then presents it to his father on this special day, showing support for his family and doing something thoughtful for his dad.

Indeed, there’s something intriguing here. While Tyson is chauffeuring his father, a car with darkened windows and a white exterior seems to constantly follow them. Dwight has previously cautioned Tyson to stay alert, suggesting that some sort of trouble may be brewing. Given Tyson’s familiarity with the situation, it wouldn’t be surprising if he senses the potential danger.

Essentially, it’s comparable to an action Larry David might take in the “Fatwa” season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” where he unknowingly places someone dear to him in a precarious or awkward situation.

In a scene reminiscent of “The Godfather,” I found myself left in disbelief as I watched the incident unfold. Just like in the movie, I realized too late what was transpiring when I spotted the culprit fleeing, vainly calling out for help to someone I believed could save the day. It was so similar that for a moment, I thought I might have shouted “Apollonia” instead of my actual cry for help, which was “Dad!

But there’s a lot about this episode of Tulsa King that feels familiar, for better or worse. In addition to the Godfather homage, the script, by head writer Terence Winter, at one point all but quotes Breaking Bad verbatim. Cal Thresher’s Chinese partner, Jackie, irritated with being dragged into what amounts to a fight over the guy’s love life, warns the weed baron about taking “half-measures” against Dwight. Mike Ehrmantraut, call your lawyer.

Unintentionally or deliberately, Cal’s harsh words during his conversation with Armand, an unwilling informant within Dwight’s group, seem less convincing. When Armand tries to withdraw from their agreement, citing concern over the intel being used for violent acts against Dwight and his companions such as injured Bodhi, Cal responds sharply, “What, are you a child?” However, his later threat to skin Armand alive and send his tongue to his children appears insincere when it’s understood that the Triad gang he employs for muscle is growing tired of him. I’m not sure if this scene is meant to be ambiguous or not.

I pointed out that while some things seen in this episode weren’t necessarily unpleasant, they weren’t particularly engaging either. As Dwight’s sister Joanne, Annabella Sciorra mainly delivered generic “family is everything” Italian-American sentiments. However, in the series The Sopranos, where Winter was also involved, she delivered one of the most impactful guest performances ever, portraying Gloria Trillo, a stylish car saleswoman who finds herself in a complex and deeply troubled romantic relationship with Tony.

So far, we haven’t delved into the rich psychological dynamics between these characters (unfortunately), but the actor portraying her has shown potential. She’s attempting to enter Dwight’s legitimate business sphere by aiding Bodhi in establishing an online CBD store for nationwide shipping, and she even offers Italian pastries as snacks. However, it’s when she takes a puff from a joint that recalls why Tony was smitten with Gloria initially.

This is as good a place as any to get to the heart of the episode: the big sitdown in Atlanta between Tulsa boss Dwight, Kansas City boss Bill, and New York boss Chickie. But in a move that feels like one of the believably idiotic things a member of The Sopranos crew would do, Chickie forgets he’s wearing a gun on his ankle when he walks through the metal detector at the airport. He’s got a permit; it’s not a federal case, but when he’s detained at the airport, his underboss Vince attends in his place.

It’s likely he regrets his actions. After some discussion, Dwight and Bill reach a compromise about marijuana and a portion of Tulsa’s earnings. Kansas City purchases illegal Ozempic from New York, while Dwight offers nothing to New York in return. Vince must convey this disappointing news to Chickie, which seems to validate the bald boss’s claim that the meeting should not have taken place without him if this was the best outcome. Without a doubt, one of them won’t survive until the end of the season.

Essentially, the agreement falls apart as soon as it’s made. Bill feels he was given a raw deal, which seems odd since we were privy to every moment of negotiation and at no point did Dwight behave in a way that could be perceived as intimidating or underhanded towards Bill. When his associate queries him about his lack of resistance, the script provides only a vague response: “I don’t know.” Frankly, I’m just as puzzled.

It appears reasonable to infer that Bill might be responsible for the car bomb, given he had a white car in Tulsa as an emergency measure if things took a turn for the worse in Atlanta. When he later concludes that events indeed turned bad, the explosion follows suit. Even though his crew is small – just two experienced individuals and a group of stoners and ordinary workers – it’s likely that violence will ensue.

When the show Tulsa King shines, it often happens through casual interactions between its supporting characters. For instance, Grace acts as Armand’s budtender, giving advice like avoiding sativas because they make him feel “buzzy.” Or consider Mitch and Goodie discussing Goodie’s fear of flying, or Fred the security guard inquiring about Joanna’s focaccia ingredients only to be left spellbound by her reply: “Love.

Furthermore, the team behind this series is filled with actors who are skilled at portraying tough characters. Frank Grillo’s character, Dwight, for instance, shows an excellent example of this with his unyielding gaze as he demands the restaurant specials in a tense situation – “Yeah,” he replies coldly, seemingly about to attack Dwight with his eyes alone – is a clear demonstration. While you might question Cal Thresher’s menacing presence, there’s no question about Bill Bevilacqua’s.

What size can we expect for the conflict in Tulsa, given that Dwight, Cal, Bill, Chickie, Jackie, and Vince all have conflicting desires they appear ready to resolve through violence? Winter’s talent at crafting the intricate, violent season finales of Boardwalk Empire, a skill acknowledged even by the show’s critics, is legendary. (It’s worth mentioning that it’s one of the greatest shows ever produced.) Let’s hope shifting the action from New Jersey to Oklahoma won’t diminish the intensity of the violence.

2024-10-20 17:54

Tulsa King Recap: For Whom the Car Tolls

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