Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Tulsa King season 2, episode 8.The main attraction of Tulsa King is seeing Sylvester Stallone play a gangster, but the most recent episode proved that his character, Dwight Manfredi, isn't really a mobster. Functionally, of course, Dwight is a gangster. He runs several criminal enterprises, he either commands or fights most of the cast of Tulsa King season 2, and he rules Tulsa with an iron fist. Though he certainly acts like a gangster, Dwight isn't the same as an ordinary mob boss, and one moment he shared with Tyson (Jay Will) after the ending of Tulsa King season 2, episode 7 proves how different he is.
Tyson made a massive mistake by attacking Bill Bevilaqua (Frank Grillo). He didn't wait for Dwight to find hard evidence, and he ended up attacking the wrong person. It also directly led to the gang war, even though Tyson wasn't the only one to blame for Tulsa King season 2's war. Tyson's actions have had some far-reaching unintended consequences, and by the ending of Tulsa King season 2, episode 8, the first victim had already been shot: Jimmy the Creek (Glen Gould). In spite of all those consequences, however, Tyson got off with barely a stern talking to.
Dwight’s Decision To Forgive Tyson For Attacking Bill Bevilaqua Shows He’s No Ordinary Gangster
A Regular Gangster Would Have Killed Tyson, But Dwight Is Building A Found Family
Even though Tyson massively messed up by attacking Bill Bevilaqua, Dwight forgave him extremely easily. He told Tyson that he's "part of a family" and that they would protect him "even when you're wrong." Dwight's decision to forgive Tyson proves he's not really a gangster: a regular mob boss would have had Tyson whacked for disobeying a direct order and starting a gang war. A regular gang would only call themselves a family, but Dwight actually loves his group like they're his family.
A lot happened in Tulsa King season 1, but there are 10 things that will be especially important to remember before Tulsa King season 2 comes out.
A great example of how a mob is a family in name only even within Tulsa King is the Invernizzi family. In Tulsa King season 1, there was a surprising revelation that while Dwight was serving 25 years for murder, Pete Invernizzi (A.C. Peterson) put a hit out on him to keep him quiet. The way the Invernizzis treated Dwight is a far cry from how Dwight treats his own gang. The Invernizzi family wanted Dwight dead the second they thought he may have ratted, whereas Dwight forgave Tyson even though he knew Tyson had royally screwed up and started a massive gang war.
Dwight Not Being A Gangster Is Paradoxically One Of The Best Parts Of Tulsa King
Tulsa King Has Shown Sylvester Stallone's Emotional Range & Acting Skills
Even though Sylvester Stallone plays a great gangster in Tulsa King, the fact that Dwight isn't a true mob boss is one of the best things about the show. Since Dwight is building an actual family, instead of a simple criminal organization that calls itself a family, both Tulsa King and Stallone are capable of incredibly moving emotional moments. Stallone has shown off some of his best and most vulnerable acting in decades by playing Dwight, and Tulsa King has had a chance to tell a great story about a man trying to make up for his dark past and form a new family after a massive betrayal.
Sylvester Stallone's time as an Oklahoma gangster is set to continue in Tulsa King season 2, and the new season is set to begin in September.
Dwight's emotional connection to his family is also one of the many reasons Tulsa King has only gotten better with time. Many viewers likely tuned in to see Stallone order hits, make offers that can't be refused and more. While the gangster scenes are why you start watching Tulsa King, the emotions are why you get invested in Dwight and his families, both his relationship with Tina (Tatiana Zappardino) and his relationship with his gang. If Dwight was just an ordinary mobster, Tulsa King wouldn't be nearly as special as it is.
Dwight Not Being A Real Mobster Sets Tulsa King Apart From Other Gangster Shows
Other Gangster Shows Present Family As A Problem For Mob Bosses
Dwight's status as more of a family man than a gangster doesn't just give Tulsa King a lot of heart, it also sets it apart from other recent gangster shows. There have been plenty of gangster shows since the start of the 21st century, from The Sopranos all the way to The Penguin, yet they all treat family like something that causes problems rather than as a source of strength. For instance, one of Tony Soprano's victims was his cousin, Chris, after the young gangster had been causing problems for the gang and thinking of taking revenge against the boss.
Recent Gangster Shows By Rotten Tomatoes Score
Title
Score
The Sopranos
92%
Boardwalk Empire
92%
Peaky Blinders
93%
Tulsa King
89%
The Penguin
94%
While Dwight does face his own issues with family, they aren't played the same way other gangster shows would approach those moments. Tina isn't a source of stress for Dwight, she's the light of his life, and unlike any other modern TV mob boss, he would do anything to keep her around. Likewise, he would even forgive Tyson for causing massive problems rather than kill him, something the likes of Oswald Cobblepot or Nucky Thompson would never even consider. The only gangster who comes close is Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders, and even that show doesn't have a fraction of the emotional warmth Tulsa King does.
What Will Dwight Forgiving Tyson Mean For Tulsa King Season 2's Remaining Episodes?
Dwight Is Going To Protect - Or Avenge - His Family At All Costs
Custom image by Sean Morrison
After the ending of Tulsa King season 2, episode 8, there are only two episodes remaining. Dwight's war with Bill Bevilaqua and his revenge against Jackie Ming (Rich Ting) will likely take priority, but Dwight forgiving Tyson could still reveal some of what's in store for the crime drama. As both of his fights escalate even further, Dwight is going to be at a real risk of losing even more members of his gang, and his relationship with Tyson shows he won't take that well. Dwight's gang is as much his family as Tina is, and he'll fight anyone to either protect or avenge them.
Tulsa King Season 2 Release Schedule
Episode #
Date
Title
1
September 15
"Back in the Saddle"
2
September 22
"Kansas City Blues"
3
September 29
"Oklahoma v. Manfredi"
4
October 6
"Heroes and Villains"
5
October 13
"Tilting at Windmills"
6
October 20
"Navigator"
7
October 27
"Life Support"
8
November 3
"Under New Management"
9
November 10
TBA
10
November 17
TBA
Cal Thresher (Neal McDonough) did tell Bill Bevilaqua that Jackie was the main reason the gang war started, so the Kansas City boss might want to seek a truce with Dwight. Even if that happens, though, Dwight might not take it. Bevilaqua's men shot Jimmy the Creek, and since Dwight sees everyone in his gang as family, he may not be willing to deal with anyone who has done them harm. Alternatively, however, Dwight may be more willing to deal with Bevilaqua to protect the members of his gang who haven't been hit yet.
Dwight's gang is as much his family as Tina is, and he'll fight anyone to either protect or avenge them.
What Dwight decides to do with Bill Bevilaqua remains to be seen, but Jackie Ming's fate is much easier to predict. Jackie has been the cause of so much pain for Dwight's gang: his car bomb injured Mark Mitchell (Michael Beach), it indirectly caused Tyson to start the gang war, and he's likely not done. That's almost certainly going to put more of Dwight's gang at risk. Dwight is probably going to lose the calm and reasonable demeanor he's recently gained in favor of becoming something like an attack dog at the end of Tulsa King season 2.
Tulsa King is a Paramount+ original TV series starring Sylvester Stallone as Dwight "The General" Manfredi. After being released from prison for murder, The General is sent to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he quickly sets up a new criminal empire. Tulsa King marks Stallone's first leading role in a TV show.
Custom image by Sean Morrison
Custom image by Sean Morrison 
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