The second season of Tulsa King has given fans plenty of twists and turns, and just when it seemed like Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) was on the brink of a peaceful life with his family, the season finale threw in a major shocker.
Dwight’s fight for control in Tulsa, his clashes with old enemies, and his eventual move toward legitimacy were all leading up to what seemed like a happy ending.
However, the last scene of the season suggests that Dwight’s troubles are far from over. Instead of a definitive end, we’re left with more questions, setting the stage for a possible third season that promises more action, danger, and intrigue.
Dwight’s Victory Over Cal Thresher
The finale begins with a tense moment between Dwight and Cal Thresher (Neal McDonough). After a series of confrontations, Dwight has clearly gained the upper hand. Thresher, who was once a powerful figure in the underworld, tries to negotiate a new deal with Dwight.
He hopes to replace Ming (Rich Ting) with Dwight as his partner, offering a more stable future for their respective businesses. But Dwight, ever the seasoned gangster, is not about to let Thresher off easy.
He offers Thresher an ultimatum: leave the business to the gangsters, or face deadly consequences. Dwight makes it clear that if Thresher doesn’t step down, Bigfoot (Cash Flo) will take care of him.
Thresher, surprisingly, agrees to leave the business without much resistance. In an almost casual fashion, he explains that he’s grown tired of the business anyway, and he walks away.
It seems like a clean win for Dwight, but the ease with which Thresher exits raises some questions.
Thresher is shown to have powerful political connections, and his relationship with the Attorney General earlier in the season hints that he may not be as powerless as he appears.
This leaves room for doubt: could Thresher have been behind Dwight’s later kidnapping? While this isn’t clear, his connections to powerful figures may come into play in future seasons.
The Threats From New York Fade, for Now
For a while, it seemed like Dwight would soon be embroiled in another war, especially after rejecting Bill Bevilaqua’s (Frank Grillo) offer to split the Tulsa business 50/50.
To make matters worse, Chickie (Domenick Lombardozzi) arrives in Tulsa, sent by New York to either bring Dwight back into the fold or eliminate him.
Dwight’s refusal of both offers leaves New York’s representatives angry and determined to bring him down.
Chickie, however, seems to have changed. He’s calmer and more calculating than before. He and Bevilaqua present Dwight with a new opportunity: franchise the Tulsa model to rural areas like Idaho and Nebraska.
Chickie tries to assert his power during the negotiation, even speaking for Bevilaqua at one point.
This push for control doesn’t sit well with Bevilaqua, who previously warned that Chickie’s power was limited. In an unexpected move, Bevilaqua shoots Chickie in the head, leaving the room in a tense silence.
The situation between Dwight and Bevilaqua ends with a deal: a 50/50 split. Dwight even tells Bevilaqua, “You earned it.” This interaction leaves us wondering whether Dwight knew that Bevilaqua would kill Chickie.
The ambiguity of this moment keeps the audience on edge, as it’s unclear whether Dwight is in full control or just another pawn in the game.
It also maintains the murky nature of the underworld, where trust is scarce, and alliances can shift quickly.
The Family Goes Legit—But Not for Long
As the season finale progresses, things seem to settle down. Dwight’s family—Mitch (Garrett Hedlund), Bodhi (Martin Starr), and others—are all looking at brighter futures.
Mitch has successfully taken over the car dealership, and Bodhi’s weed business is thriving with almost perfect profits.
Dwight proudly declares that they’ve “gone legitimate,” with everyone in the family receiving a “cut of all the businesses.” It’s the type of happy, peaceful ending that fans had hoped for, but it’s too good to last.
In the final moments of the episode, everything is turned upside down. Dwight and his wife, Margaret (Dana Delany), are soundly asleep in bed when the door bursts open. A group of black ops soldiers storms in and kidnaps Dwight.
At first, it seems like Dwight is simply being arrested, especially after a scene earlier in the episode where law enforcement is shown gathering information on him at the request of Washington, D.C. However, as Dwight is marched away, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary arrest.
A bag is placed over his head, and zip ties are used instead of handcuffs, which is a strong indication that Dwight’s abduction is more sinister than just law enforcement.
Dwight is taken to a warehouse-like location and placed in an interrogation room. Bright lights shine in his face as he is seated at a table. When Dwight demands to know who is behind this operation, the mysterious voice responds cryptically, “You work for us now.”
This chilling response leaves us with many questions. Who has taken Dwight, and what do they want from him? The final line hints that Dwight may be forced back into the dangerous world he was trying to escape.
What’s Next for Dwight?
At the time of the season’s release, Tulsa King has not yet confirmed a third season. However, the events of the season finale suggest that Dwight’s journey is far from over.
In a recent interview, Tatiana Zappardino, who plays Dwight’s daughter Tina, hinted that “all the sets are held,” implying that a third season is likely in the works.
Dwight’s kidnapping is a major turning point, suggesting that his path to legitimacy is not only interrupted but might have been a façade all along.
The world of crime and corruption he’s trying to leave behind has a way of pulling him back, whether he likes it or not.
The mysterious forces behind his abduction seem to have a bigger agenda, one that will likely drag Dwight—and his family—back into the underworld.
The questions raised in the finale—who kidnapped Dwight, why, and what will happen next—are likely to be key plot points in the next season.
Fans can expect the stakes to rise even higher as Dwight faces new enemies and more complex challenges. Whether he will be able to stay out of the criminal world or be forced back into it remains to be seen.
Tulsa King is available to stream on Paramount+, and the cliffhanger at the end of Season 2 has set up a tense and exciting future for Dwight and his family.
If you’re a fan of crime dramas filled with intrigue and unexpected twists, this show has delivered yet another shocking moment that will keep you hooked until the next season.
