Tulsa King (2022)

I have to confess I stumbled across this, quite by chance. I don't watch a lot of US entertainment these days. I did however, grow up watching my share of Stallone action films, so a dash of nostalgia and curiosity, drew me in.

There's nothing terribly original by now about the plot of Tulsa King. Its Mafia style antics are noting new. I think it was a smart move, playing this as a dark comedy. It fits the well worn character, Stallone, inhabits.

That said, I guess the key question is, is it entertaining? I'd say "sort of". I like seeing Stallone back on the small screen. Regrettably, thus far and I appreciate its early days, the story is a little basic. Even for a comedy, it stretches credulity at times and lacks an intelligent wit and charm, that would have rendered it, more appealing.

In summary, Stallone's star power will probably draw people in but will viewers keep watching? Unless it ups the stakes, by crafting a more witty, clever tale of a long in tooth mobster, I for one, have my reservations.

It's not Shakespeare but it's a fun show to watch after you get home from work or school. Plus it's nice to see a show that is set somewhere other then usual: NYC or LA. I really liked it and I'm looking forward to next season.

(CASTELLANO) Tulsa King me ha encantado. No será la serie más profunda, más innovadora ni más perfecta del mundo, pero tiene algo que muchas otras no tienen: carisma, ritmo y una forma muy consciente de divertirse con su propio planteamiento. Y eso, en un panorama lleno de series que van de importantísimas sin serlo tanto, se agradece muchísimo. Aquí se nota desde el principio que la serie sabe muy bien lo que quiere ser y no pierde el tiempo fingiendo otra cosa.

Gran parte de su encanto está en ese toque socarrón que la recorre de arriba abajo. Dentro del universo de Taylor Sheridan, que tantas veces tiende a la gravedad, al gesto seco y a la dureza constante, Tulsa King entra con una energía más juguetona, más ligera y bastante más graciosa. No renuncia al crimen, a la violencia ni a los ajustes de cuentas, pero lo mezcla con un humor muy agradecido que hace que todo entre mejor y que la serie tenga una personalidad propia muy clara.

Y luego, claro, está Stallone. La serie funciona porque él la sostiene de maravilla. Tiene presencia, tiene oficio, tiene ironía y ese tipo de carisma que no se puede fabricar. Su personaje tiene algo de viejo lobo, algo de dinosaurio desplazado y algo de superviviente con más tablas que todos los demás juntos. Y Stallone sabe jugar con todo eso sin caer en la autoparodia. Está muy bien porque no solo impone, también tiene gracia, vulnerabilidad y una forma muy natural de ocupar la pantalla.

Además, la serie sabe rodearlo bastante bien. Los secundarios acompañan, el tono está bastante controlado y la mezcla de drama mafioso, comedia seca y choque cultural funciona mejor de lo que podría parecer. No todo es brillante, eso sí. Hay momentos algo caricaturescos, algunas situaciones bastante inverosímiles y cosas que dependen más del encanto general que de una escritura impecable. Pero, sinceramente, en una serie como esta eso pesa menos si el conjunto te atrapa.

Lo importante es que Tulsa King se deja ver con un gusto tremendo. Tiene ese punto de serie clásica, de personaje central fuerte, de conflictos directos y de entretenimiento bien servido. No quiere reinventar el género, pero sí darle un giro más simpático, más relajado y más disfrutable. Y eso le sienta muy bien. En cierto modo, hasta se agradece que no aspire a parecer más trascendente de lo que realmente es.

Por eso me gusta tanto. Me parece una serie con muchísimo encanto, muy entretenida y con un Stallone enorme al frente, que demuestra que todavía puede cargar con una producción entera sobre los hombros. Esa mezcla de mafia, humor, veteranía y mala leche le da una identidad muy especial. Ojalá estrenen pronto la temporada 4, porque es de esas series con las que uno está muy a gusto y siempre quiere seguir un poco más.

(ENGLISH) Tulsa King really won me over. It may not be the deepest, most innovative, or most perfect series in the world, but it has something many others do not: charisma, pace, and a very clear sense of how to have fun with its own premise. In a landscape full of shows trying very hard to seem important, that is genuinely refreshing. From the beginning, it is obvious that the series knows exactly what it wants to be and does not waste time pretending otherwise.

A big part of its charm comes from the sly, wry tone that runs through the whole thing. Within Taylor Sheridan’s world, which so often leans toward severity, dryness, and relentless heaviness, Tulsa King arrives with a more playful, lighter, and much funnier energy. It does not abandon crime, violence, or underworld tension, but it mixes them with humor in a way that makes everything go down easier and gives the show a very distinct personality of its own.

And then, of course, there is Stallone. The series works because he carries it so well. He has presence, experience, irony, and that kind of charisma you simply cannot manufacture. His character feels like part old wolf, part displaced dinosaur, and part survivor with more street knowledge than everyone else put together. And Stallone plays all of that without slipping into self-parody. What is nice is that he does not just project toughness, but also humor, vulnerability, and a very natural way of occupying the screen.

The show also knows how to support him. The secondary cast works well, the tone is mostly under control, and the mix of mob drama, dry comedy, and culture clash comes off better than it might sound on paper. It is not flawless, though. There are some cartoonish moments, a few very implausible situations, and things that depend more on overall charm than on impeccable writing. But honestly, in a series like this, that matters less when the whole thing is this watchable.

What matters most is that Tulsa King is tremendously enjoyable. It has that classical-series feeling built around a strong central character, direct conflicts, and entertainment delivered with confidence. It is not trying to reinvent the genre, but rather to give it a friendlier, more relaxed, and more enjoyable twist. And that suits it extremely well. In a way, it is even refreshing that it does not pretend to be more transcendent than it really is.

That is why I like it so much. To me, it is a very charming and highly entertaining series with a terrific Stallone at the center, proving that he can still carry an entire production on his shoulders. That blend of mafia, humor, experience, and sharpness gives it a very special identity. I really hope Season 4 arrives soon, because this is exactly the kind of show you are happy to stay with for a while longer.