Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 6 Review: Bubbles

It makes perfect sense that Manfredi opens up to Joanne about the FBI on Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 6, “Bubbles.” She is the only person, so far, who has proven that he can be trusted beyond a reasonable doubt.

However, considering the FBI keeps taking people and somehow knew everything Manfredi was doing, no one or anything can be fully trusted on the show. 

But if momentum is the word of the episode, as Manfredi states, we wonder where Joanne’s momentum has gone. She started the season off strong, taking charge and proving she can stand on the same level as his brother. All of that seems to be gone, and it would be great to see her with that attitude again.

With Cleo stepping into the scene this season, the question of whether Manfredi is to be trusted or not has been at the forefront of the show. Cleo isn’t a hundred percent sold on who Manfredi is and hesitates to believe that Mitch does.

When she tells Mitch that illegally crossing the booze across state lines and he says that is what it takes, it is the perfect representation of what it is like to be in Manfredi’s crew. If you want to stay afloat and survive, you must do the unimaginable.

However, Cleo has now become hesitant about whether she wants to stay in Tulsa. She mentions that every time she comes back, bad things happen. Could this be her letting us know she will be taking a step back?

In the same line of thinking about something bad happening, Grace has begun to feel like something bad is coming for them. With the distillery shutdown and Manfredi coming and going, she has started to doubt everything they built.

Funny enough, it is Bodhi who reassures her. The entire season, we have seen Bodhi frustrated and annoyed by what’s been happening. The only one who seems to stay in his good graces (no pun intended) is Grace.

But it is because he admires Manfredi’s courage and boldness that he sticks around and tries to keep Grace in a positive mood. Even though he mentions it’s sad they’ve gotten used to the dangers that come with the job, the reward (money) is much bigger.

Unlike Cleo and Grace, Mitch and Tyson have blind faith in Manfredi. While this isn’t entirely the smartest decision, it is the decision that has gotten them to this point.

It is heartwarming to hear Mitch’s story of how Manfredi showed up and got them all together because it symbolizes the beginning of this found family of misfits. Without Manfredi, Mitch would have been stuck in a life that he didn’t completely enjoy. That is what encourages him to be on Manfredi’s side, no matter what happens.

For Tyson, it is all based on admiration. He admires the life Manfredi has or the life he wishes he could have. But beyond that, he is the only one (besides Joanne) who worries about Manfredi and how he feels. We see he is the only one who asks him how he is doing and what he is thinking.

The truth is that they are all part of a big puzzle that shouldn’t fit. Manfredi shouldn’t fit in their lives, but he does because, in a weird, controversial way, he sees the potential they all have.

And the one piece of the puzzle that continuously proves to be worthy of his spot is Bigfoot. His role in the operation is described perfectly by him when he says, “I see them, but they don’t see me.” That is his entire persona encompassed in one sentence.

Every single one of Manfredi’s enemies takes him for granted and forgets he is there, and that is precisely why he always saves the day. He fights Cole’s men outside the gas station and yells when he sees the guns. He sees everything beyond what those around Manfredi see.

Dunmire continues to be the biggest threat Manfredi’s empire has faced. The issue is that no matter how far ahead Manfredi thinks he is, Dunmire keeps the cops in his pocket. This will make it much harder to beat him.

However, one might believe Cole is the weak link that will bring Dumire’s empire down. His father’s hate and disappointment, using his pride against him, might be what pushes Cole to the other side.

As much as he tries to prove himself to Dunmire, Cole continues to fail. The shooting at the hotel is just the latest example of his misfortunes.

While the shooting might be a misfortune in Cole’s behavior, it is the last drop Quiet Ray needed to go against Manfredi. Now, he believes the shooting was supposed to take him out. By not answering Manfredi’s call, we know that the line of communication is closed.

With Bevilaqua being taken by the FBI, Manfredi is completely alone in the middle of a fire that’s coming from the East and the West. Is he smarter than all of them? Will he be able to get away with his team safe?

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Tulsa King airs Sundays on Paramount+.

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