I figured this would be an entertaining show. We've grown accustomed to think that anything with Stallone in it nowadays would be a comedy, and Tulsa King does feature good amount of humor. But Taylor Sheridan isn't going to create a simple parody of a mob story and using Stallone as a joke and punchline.
The show has promising depth, despite the light-hearted premise of a former big shot mobster forced to make a new start in a new city after a long prison sentence. Some comedy ensues as a New York mobster finds his way around Tulsa to establish his turf using his "old world" ways.
Characters are genuinely likable across the board. While it's not unusual to root for a "bad" guy as the protagonist, his directness and old world commonsense values appeal to those of us looking for something refreshing amidst today's social nonsense. Irony in the message is that it takes a thug who bows down to no one to smash through and expose the shallow social hypocrisy. This is the same formula that made Yellowstone such a success, and Sheridan knows this is what so many of us want.
Stallone gives an excellent performance. Before he became a caricature from his later roles that drove Rocky and Rambo franchises into the ground, his acting and screen presence created those iconic roles. It's good to see him back on screen in a role that seems perfect for him, and leverage some of that cheeky persona to add depth to his character and the show, rather than undermine it.
Overall, highly entertaining show that I look forward to, and an excellent addition to Paramount+ portfolio.
