Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 1 Review: Blood and Bourbon

The end of Tulsa King Season 2 made it very clear that Manfredi had eyes on him. The moment he is taken out of Margaret’s bedroom, and Tulsa King Season 3 starts with him in an interrogation room, we know they have been watching him.

The big question that the season will have to answer is who is spying on Manfredi and his crew. When Special Agent Musso tells him he used to have an informant in his old crew, we know that means there is someone inside Manfredi’s crew who’s been talking.

Is this what Manfredi is thinking, too? Who could have possibly turned on him?

Making new enemies seems to be Manfredi’s goal this season. Not only does he have to deal with Musso, but he will also be dealing with Jeremiah Dunmire.

There is still a lot to learn about Dunmire, but one thing is clear: he isn’t playing around. Just like Manfredi, he goes after what he wants, and he doesn’t care about the consequences. This is clear by the end of Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 1, “Blood and Bourbon,” when he sends his men to burn the house down.

But Dunmire is a future threat that Manfredi hasn’t yet realized he must deal with. Musso, on the other hand, is a very present threat that owns his freedom. It seems no matter what he does, Manfredi is always back where he was 25 years ago.

Musso now owns him, meaning, just like before, Manfredi must do as he is told if he wants to avoid prison. However, doing that landed him exactly where he didn’t want to go. How will this situation be any different?

At the end of the day, Manfredi will do anything for his little group of misfits because he considers them his family. When Musso tells him their lives are at risk, he doesn’t hesitate to go along with the deal.

Just like he doesn’t hesitate to reject Ray’s offer. Everything Ray is offering is what Tulsa gave to him. Manfredi has the business and the family that he so admired about the mafia life.

There are three particular characters who stand out this first episode for different reasons.

First, we have Margaret. Even though Manfredi tells her she is too good to be around him, she keeps coming back. However, that’s not what catches our attention.

Ever since Margaret was introduced, there seems to be something off about her. It’s like she is always hiding a secret, and maybe this will be the season we find out what else hides behind her and her ranch.

Second, Bodhi is getting a little too tired of how Manfredi runs things and the consequences that come along with it. His attitude has always reflected this, but after losing his best friend, he is ready to move on from this business. 

His grief and frustration lead him to make mistakes and act on his feelings of losing his mind, pulling a gun on the wrong guy. However, it is clear that Manfredi understands the importance of Bodhi in his life and business because he backs him up and supports his actions. Viewers will have to wait and see if that continues to be the case throughout the season.

Last but not least, Tyson. Several times on Tulsa King, we have seen Tyson trying to pretend to be someone he isn’t. He is captivated by the life Manfredi has brought him into and wants to emulate everything about the General. Manfredi makes a comment about this when he remarks that Tyson is dressing like him.

The problem is that Tyson hasn’t yet understood why Manfredi respects this life so much. For the young man, it is all about his image and how others see him. For Manfredi, none of those things really matter.

Tulsa King Season 3 starts off on the right foot. It delivers the kind of action that viewers got used to during the first two seasons, and promises to be just as intriguing and captivating.

And in true Tulsa King nature, there are certain moments that take away from the tension and the drama to make viewers laugh. The three-way phone call between Tyson, Manfredi, and Bevilaqua is one of those moments.

Manfredi’s inability to set up the call himself, all three men cursing, and the screen changing depending on who is talking bring a lighter mood to an otherwise very dramatic and intense episode.

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Tulsa King airs Sundays on Paramount+.

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