Tulsa King Season 4 Review: Stallone's Empire Keeps

If earlier seasons were about Dwight Manfredi planting roots in Oklahoma after being exiled from his New York mob family, Season 4 is about what happens when those roots start to get crowded. Dwight has assembled a crew, built relationships, and carved out a place for himself far from the people who sent him away. Now he has to manage it all - and the people around him have their own ideas about where things should go.

The new season continues the show's core tension: Dwight's old-world mob instincts rubbing up against the very different rhythms of Tulsa. It's a setup that has fueled the series since it began, but Season 4 keeps finding ways to make the friction feel fresh, especially as the people in Dwight's orbit grow more assertive about their own ambitions. The tone still walks that line between crime drama and comedy, never taking itself too seriously but never treating the stakes as a joke either.

Let's start with the obvious: Stallone is having a blast, and that enthusiasm is contagious. As Dwight "The General" Manfredi, he's found a character who lets him play the weary-but-scheming patriarch - the guy who's seen it all, been burned by everyone, and still can't resist the urge to build one more thing. It's a role that fits him like a tailored suit, and Season 4 gives him plenty to chew on as Dwight navigates the shifting loyalties around him.

The ensemble remains one of the show's genuine pleasures. Martin Starr's Bodhi is the perfect comic counterweight to Dwight's gravitas, all deadpan absurdity and misplaced enthusiasm. Jay Will's Tyson brings a youthful energy that keeps the show from getting too stuck in its old-school rhythms. Vincent Piazza's Vince Antonacci and Chris Caldovino's Goodie Carangi add texture to the mob side of the equation, reminding us where Dwight came from and why that world still pulls at him. Frank Grillo's Bill Bevilaqua is the kind of presence that perks up any scene he's in, and Annabella Sciorra's Joanne gives the show an emotional grounding that keeps it from becoming purely a caper.

What works best this season is the show's willingness to let its characters make choices that feel earned. There's a lived-in quality to the relationships, a sense that these people have history together and that the cracks in those bonds matter. The writing trusts the audience to keep up with the shifting alliances, and it rewards that trust with payoffs that land.

What doesn't work is the occasional sense that the show is circling familiar territory. The "old mob guy vs. new surroundings" tension is the show's bread and butter, and while Season 4 handles it competently, there are moments where you can feel the formula showing through. Pacing can sag in the middle stretch, and a few subplots feel like they're treading water rather than pushing the story forward. It's not enough to derail the season, but it does keep it from hitting the heights of the show's most electric moments.

Still, when Tulsa King clicks - a sharp exchange between Dwight and Bodhi, a tense negotiation, a quietly devastating look at what loyalty costs - it's genuinely satisfying TV. The crime-comedy blend remains distinctive, and the show's affection for its characters shines through even in the darker turns.

Pros

• Stallone remains magnetic, delivering a performance that balances weariness, wit, and menace
• The ensemble cast clicks, with Starr and Will providing excellent comic and dramatic support
• The crime-comedy tonal mix still feels fresh and distinctive
• Character relationships carry real weight, with choices that feel earned

Cons

• Some mid-season pacing drag keeps momentum from building consistently
• The show's central premise occasionally feels like it's treading familiar ground
• A few subplots don't pull their weight

Tulsa King Season 4 isn't the show's flashiest hour, but it's a confident, entertaining continuation that knows exactly what its audience wants. Stallone and company remain a pleasure to watch, and the show's blend of mob drama and Oklahoma charm still delivers. If you've been along for the ride, this season gives you plenty of reasons to stay in the car. And if you're new? There's no time like the present to see what all the fuss is about.