Tulsa King's debut episode, "Go West, Old Man," throws us headfirst into the world of Dwight Manfredi, a hardened mob boss released after a 25-year prison stint. Fresh out of USP Canaan, Dwight's world has undergone a dramatic shift. The welcome he anticipates – a celebratory party for the man who took the fall for his crew – is nowhere to be found. Instead, he's met with a harsh reality: time hasn't stood still for the mob while he was away.
Dwight's loyalty is questioned, and his old stomping grounds in New York hold no place for him anymore. He's offered a chance to rebuild, but not in the way he might have expected. Off he goes to Tulsa, Oklahoma, a place seemingly devoid of the criminal underworld Dwight knows so well.
The episode thrives on the humor that arises from Dwight's utter confusion about the modern world. From his bewilderment at the lack of a celebratory welcome to his outrage at the absence of a map app in the car (despite a mounted iPhone!), Dwight's old-school mentality clashes hilariously with the present day.
His arrival in Tulsa is a series of fish-out-of-water moments. He encounters a gigantic grasshopper, gets sprayed with holy water for a suggestive comment, and bickers with a taxi driver about the semantics of being a "gangster."
Undeterred, Dwight sets his sights on establishing himself in this new territory. His first target? A marijuana dispensary. Dwight, completely oblivious to the legality of recreational cannabis, attempts to strong-arm his "protection" on the young and bewildered employees. He ultimately settles for a 20% cut of their profits, leaving everyone involved thoroughly perplexed.
Dwight's attempts to reclaim his former glory continue with his disastrous visit to a car dealership. His vision of a luxurious Lincoln Navigator is dashed when his wad of cash gets him mistaken for a drug dealer. A fistfight and some intimidation tactics later, Dwight walks away with a tricked-out SUV – a far cry from the elegance he envisioned, but a symbol of his forceful presence nonetheless.
As the episode progresses, Dwight starts to make connections in Tulsa. He befriends Mitch, a former bull rider with a troubled past, at a local bar. He even attempts to woo a woman he meets, only to be left stunned by the age gap between them (much to her amusement).
The episode ends with a looming sense of danger. Dwight's presence in Tulsa hasn't gone unnoticed. A mysterious phone call hints at his past catching up with him, while his one-night stand, blissfully unaware of his mob ties, works for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. The stage is set for a high-stakes collision as Dwight navigates his new life in a world that's both unfamiliar and potentially perilous.
"Go West, Old Man" establishes a strong foundation for Tulsa King. Sylvester Stallone shines as Dwight Manfredi, perfectly capturing his character's blend of bravado, confusion, and misplaced nostalgia. The episode is full of laugh-out-loud moments as Dwight grapples with the modern world, while also setting the stage for a potentially explosive conflict. With Dwight's past threatening to resurface and his newfound associates completely unaware of the storm brewing, Tulsa King promises to be a darkly comedic and suspenseful ride.