Tulsa King Season 3, Episode 10 Review: A Solid Finale to a Disappointing Season

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WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Tulsa King season 3, episode 10.

The season finale of Tulsa King, episode 10 titled “Jesus Lizard,” sees Dwight Manfredi, played by Sylvester Stallone, predictably regain control. He easily rescues his sister, Joanne, and finally puts an end to Dunmire’s threats.

The season started strong, but gradually lost its direction, particularly in the middle. Compared to other shows currently on Paramount+ from Taylor Sheridan, like seasons four of Mayor of Kingstown and two of Landman, Tulsa King didn’t quite measure up this year.

The later episodes of Tulsa King season 3 improved with a more focused story, becoming enjoyable to watch. However, the show didn’t truly become captivating until Samuel L. Jackson’s character appeared in episode 9.

As many fans predicted, Dwight joined forces with Russell Lee Washington Jr., known as the NOLA King, to defeat Dunmire. Dunmire’s arrogance, sense of privilege, and twisted beliefs prevented him from recognizing his mistakes.

In the finale, after Cole confesses to Dwight about Joanne’s kidnapping, Dunmire’s house burns down. This felt symbolic, mirroring all the deception and misleading information presented throughout the season.

Tulsa King’s Season 3 Finale Leaves Many Questions Unanswered

Brian Douglas / Paramount+

With the season 3 finale of Tulsa King now available, it’s clear the season tried to do too much. Several characters were simply dropped without any real resolution. For instance, we last saw Bevilaqua being taken into custody by Agent Musso in episode 6, and it seems odd that Dwight didn’t inquire about him when obtaining his federal liquor license.

Cleo Montague, like others, vanished from the show after episode 6. Her father was tragically killed by Dunmire in the very first episode of season 3, and she only reappeared briefly to see how Mitch was doing after the bombing in episode 8. Given that Dunmire both murdered her father and attempted to take her family’s bourbon business, many viewers expected her to play a more significant part in the quest for revenge.

This season finale lacked the excitement you’d expect. The first half focused on Dwight, Mitch, and their team making fairly obvious plans to confront Dunmire, even going so far as to openly purchase illegal weapons. Meanwhile, Cole surprisingly and rather easily betrays his father, giving Dwight the tool he needs to destroy his family’s history.

The biggest surprise in the Tulsa King season 3 finale was Thresher’s election as Tulsa’s Governor, potentially turning him back into an enemy. Meanwhile, Margaret appears to be reassessing her view of Thresher after his victory, and this could create even more conflict in the already-announced season 4 of Tulsa King.

The third season of Tulsa King started to show some real potential, but the finale sadly dropped those interesting storylines. Quiet Ray, a much more engaging villain this season, was almost forgotten by the end. The budding romance between Bodhi and Grace fizzled out quickly, and instead, the show focused on the unwanted pairing of Spencer and Cole.

Setting Up NOLA King Is Tulsa King Season 3’s Biggest Win

Brian Douglas / Paramount+

The biggest achievement of Tulsa King‘s third season was bringing Samuel L. Jackson into Taylor Sheridan’s connected universe of shows and building excitement for NOLA King. The shootout at Dunmire was the most thrilling part of the finale, and Jackson’s confident line, “Let me have the teddy bear on the top row, please,” was simply fantastic.

The lengthy comparison to the Jesus Lizard didn’t quite land as strongly as hoped. It’s both satisfying and frustrating that Dwight always succeeds in the show. A more intense storyline might have finally given him a significant setback, such as losing Joanne in a difficult situation.

One of the biggest weaknesses of this show is how it develops its secondary characters. The way things wrap up for Dwight at the end of season 3 feels too convenient and doesn’t quite earn its emotional impact. If Dwight continues to succeed in season 4, the writers need to show him facing some challenges so his wins feel more deserved and less like simple good fortune.

Overall, the final episode of Tulsa King season 3 didn’t really offer anything new or improve upon what we’d already seen. It felt predictable, like a lighthearted sitcom or kids’ show where the main character always manages to fix everything without any lasting consequences.

This season felt tonally inconsistent, swinging wildly between lighthearted and very dark moments, creating an uneven and disorienting experience. Hopefully, season four of Tulsa King will be more focused, with fewer pointless storylines, more naturally built suspense, and a clearer sense of what the show is trying to be.

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2025-11-23 22:59