In Tulsa King Season 2, Episode 9, the stakes couldn’t be higher as Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) navigates a web of shifting loyalties, tense alliances, and a dangerous new adversary. As Dwight partners with Bill Bevilaqua (Michael Beach) and Cal Thresher (Jack Horner) to face down an emerging threat, old wounds resurface and the fragility of these uneasy alliances becomes painfully clear.
The episode opens with a funeral—a grim reminder of the high stakes Dwight and his crew face—and sets the stage for the unexpected collaboration that follows. Dwight, Bill, and Cal are forced into an uneasy truce, brought together by a shared goal but bound by a past filled with conflict. Into this volatile mix enters a powerful new player: Old Smoke (Graham Greene), a Native American leader with a deep connection to the land and a long history of dealing with both outsiders and his own people.
Taylor Sheridan’s signature touch for portraying complex Native American characters is evident in Old Smoke’s portrayal. His presence in Tulsa King adds a new layer of intrigue, and his casual use of the nickname “Da White” for Dwight adds a touch of humor to the otherwise tense atmosphere. Old Smoke and his tribe’s alliance with Dwight’s team is both practical and political, driven by shared financial interests, but it’s also fraught with tension.
As Dwight struggles to hold this volatile group together, the episode explores his complex relationships, especially with his estranged sister, Joanne (Nancy Davidson), who continues to ground him as he wrestles with his decisions. The sibling bond provides an emotional anchor, offering Dwight a rare glimpse of humanity amid his increasingly murky moral choices. Their conversations are a subtle highlight of the episode, as Joanne reminds Dwight of the thin line between loyalty and self-preservation.
Amid the growing chaos, we also see the return of Manny (Max Casella), who unexpectedly shows up at Dwight’s doorstep with a bag of cash. His decision to come back, after abandoning Dwight previously, is one of the episode’s more surprising moments. Manny, often portrayed as a character who lacks courage, somehow finds the strength to bring Dwight, Bill, and Cal together—offering them a slim chance at survival and a way to move forward. His return is a necessary twist, setting the stage for the volatile plan Dwight begins to piece together.
The episode also peels back layers of Cal’s relationship with Margaret’s ranch. Cal attempts to persuade Margaret to intervene with Dwight, hoping to manipulate her into changing Dwight’s course of action. But as viewers know, Dwight doesn’t respond well to coercion. This was a pivotal moment where Cal’s usual bravado was challenged by Dwight’s level-headed approach, proving that brute force isn’t always Dwight’s first choice—though, as the episode progresses, it may become his only option.
Then, the game changes when Manny reveals a key piece of information: he’s been working with Jackie (Dominic Lombardozzi) and his crew to stage a deadly ambush. While the plan seems audacious, it quickly becomes clear that Manny’s ruthlessness is more than just opportunistic—it’s calculated. His decision to use Margaret’s ranch as an ambush site is a bold and dangerous move, one that signals just how far everyone is willing to go to secure their power.
The tension finally comes to a head when Dwight’s team and their new Native American allies prepare for the ambush at Margaret’s ranch. The sequence leading up to the confrontation is marked by a quiet, almost surreal anticipation. The team moves into position, and just when it seems like Jackie and his crew might have the upper hand, Dwight’s forces—along with the Native Americans—spring into action. The ambush is flawlessly executed, a moment that feels straight out of the Yellowstone playbook, but with even higher stakes.
In the chaos that follows, Dwight orders Tyson (Jay Will) to finish off Jackie—an action that marks Tyson’s transformation from reluctant member to fully integrated part of Dwight’s crew. His initiation is marked by his first kill, an event that binds him to Dwight in a way that feels both empowering and manipulative. Tyson’s path forward is uncertain, and his brandless initiation hints at the larger, darker forces at play within Dwight’s operation.
As the episode closes, we’re left with an overwhelming sense of dread. The uneasy truce between Dwight, Bill, Cal, and the Native American forces may have secured a short-term victory, but the cracks in these alliances are widening. With Chickie (Vincent Piazza) on his way to Tulsa, the balance of power is shifting once again, and it’s unclear how Dwight will navigate the rapidly changing dynamics of his world.
Manny’s role in this chaotic turn of events cannot be understated—without him, this fragile triad may never have come together. Likewise, Joanne’s influence on Dwight was crucial in keeping him grounded as he faced difficult choices. But with the power struggle escalating, it’s hard to imagine Dwight reintegrating into the world he once knew—especially if Chickie brings even more chaos with him.
In the end, this episode lays the groundwork for a high-stakes finale, full of unresolved tensions, shifting loyalties, and the ever-present danger of betrayal. Will Dwight manage to solidify his alliances, or is this just another flashpoint in an ongoing war of attrition? With one episode left, the answers seem both tantalizing and terrifying.
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