Tulsa King

The return of Sylvester Stallone as Dwight 'The General' Manfredi in Tulsa King's fourth season initially promises more of the charming fish-out-of-water crime dramedy that defined its earlier outings. However, the opening three episodes reveal a series grappling with a noticeable decline in its narrative strength. The once-fresh premise now feels somewhat tired, with storylines that critics have described as thin and lacking significant momentum.

The writing, which even in previous seasons was noted for its unevenness, appears to have dipped further, leading to less engaging plots and a sense that many threads serve as filler rather than driving the central conflict. Despite these narrative shortcomings, Stallone continues to be the show's undeniable anchor. His portrayal of Dwight Manfredi, a seasoned mobster navigating the unfamiliar landscape of Oklahoma, still carries a compelling charisma that makes him watchable, even when the material around him falters.

Yet, even Stallone's enduring appeal cannot fully compensate for the perceived lack of compelling villains and the underutilisation of a capable supporting cast, which has been highlighted in reviews for this season. While the series maintains a certain level of production quality and the dialogue, often delivered with Stallone's distinctive cadence, can still provide moments of entertainment, the overall storytelling feels less sharp. For existing fans, there are intermittent pleasures to be found, largely thanks to its leading man, but the early episodes of Season 4 suggest a show struggling to recapture its initial spark.