Introduction

One of the great television dramas of recent times is “Tulsa King,” which is impossible to ignore. Instead, its world has been built and strengthened with every new episode since its premiere on Paramount+.

Today, its fanbase includes those who love crime and drama along with multi-dimensional characters. The story of the television show “Tulsa King” depicts the life of the mafia capodecina of the New York mafia named Dwight “The General” Manfredi, who was banished to Oklahoma’s Tulsa City after being imprisoned for a prolonged period of time. In his attempts to adapt to an alien environment and start from scratch, the man’s story becomes an interesting topic of possessing strength, allegiance, and endurance.

Release Date

The grand premiere of ‘Tulsa King’ took place on November 14, 2021, and it was available on Paramount+. This series was developed by Taylor Sheridan, a filmmaker with a significant contribution to the critically acclaimed ‘Yellowstone’ and ‘Sicario’. Such release was met with quite a lot of excitement as fans waited for yet another interesting story from Sheridan. The show’s debut was successful; viewers and critics were impressed with the unusual idea behind the series and the storyline itself.

Location

The selection of shooting locations is of great importance in developing the theme of “Tulsa King.” The series was mostly filmed in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city with many historical sites and varying scenery. The choice of shooting in real places gives a sense of realism to the television show, making the city itself as part of the story.

• Downtown Tulsa: One of the most dramatic settings for several action sequences in the series is provided by the central and historical part of Tulsa which is able to be well utilized in the storytelling thanks to its architecture. The city’s presence as a character in Dwight’s narrative enhances the complexity of the storyline, since he comes from New York city and is adjusting to the way Tulsa looks today.
• The Osage Hills: The rural backdrop of the Osage Hills is a complete shift from the city environment of Tulsa and facilitates a more appropriate context for those parts of the series where the settings need to be more reflective. The natural landscape of the area serves as an additional detail in the visual style of the show as it symbolizes the psychic conflicts of the protagonists.
• Local establishments: The producers have chosen to shoot in local music bars, diners and other establishments and this gives the series a touch of authenticity. Such places are also very useful in situating the story in a within the reach of the audience, making the characters interactions and experience more audience friendly.

Song

• The soundtrack for the series “Tulsa King” manages to combine old and modern songs, each carefully selected for a specific sequence to elevate the viewer’s emotion. There are certain sequences wherein music becomes an integral part in depicting the ambiance of the situations as well as the clouds in the minds of the people and also the environment around the characters in the story.
• Opening Theme: The opening theme of “Tulsa King” is aptly dramatic as the Jamie N Commons composed piece evokes drama and sets the mood without even knowing what is going to happen next. Written by Brian Tyler, this theme reveals the life of Dwight and features various elements that include the genres of mystery and suspense.
• Classic Rock: Also featuring in the series are some classic rock compositions that seek to orientate the audience back in time. The pieces sung back in the days by such as The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan fit his life as they reveal his historical roots.
• Original Score: Apart from licensed songs, the original score produced by Brian Tyler who is also the composer of the series’ soundtrack featured in the series adds more appeal to the story. The music moves as the story does and is present at every emotional moment thus increasing the importance of the peaks in the story.

Director

The creator of “Tulsa King” is Taylor Sheridan, a true artist who has his mastery in making movies that focus on the less savory aspects in people. The world described in his work is carefully thought out and consistent, while its characters are multifaceted and engaging.

‘’Tulsa King’’ directed by Sheridan does not lack in action drama with a wow factor. One can see that each and every single shot is meticulously crafted as he successfully creates a believable yet epic world in “Tulsa King” making this series one of the finest in the crime drama genre.

Producer

• “Tulsa King” produces a great deal of industry art and experience as it is produced by a team of David Glasser, Ron Burkle and Bob Yari. These and others were among the first producers who assisted in implementing any of Sheridan’s plans.
• David Glasser: It made perfect sense to have Glasser involved in ‘Tulsa King’ given his previous programs were ‘Yellowstone’ and ‘The Revenant’.
• Ron Burkle: Burkle’s stature as a businessman and a philanthropist has led him to stock the series and add credibility while at the same time being assured of the series strength.
• Bob Yari: Yari’s experience from producing successful films such as ‘Crash’ and ‘The Illusionist’ adds more value to him as he specializes in story and character development elements that complement the series.

Cast

The cast of “Tulsa King” is impressive for it includes professional actors. The performance is one of the parameters enhanced in this series, each of the actors in the series did a good job in acting his or her character.

• Dwight “The General” Manfredi Played by Sylvester Stallone : There comes a time in the film when he is known and referred to as star portraying Dwight’s character. His ability to communicate such conflicting information including frailty and determination makes the character of Dwight ideal. With Stallone on the screen, there is no without a doubt the center of attention is on Dwight.
• Stacy Beale, Played by Andrea Savage : One of the important people in the life of Dwight when he comes to live in Tulsa touch is a woman who also has personal troubles and secrets of her own. Savage’s character was more sutured into the actor’s attitude toward the relations with Dwight.
• Vincent Played by Domenick Lombardozzi: A loyal and devoted associate of Dwight at the same time Vincent is an undercover character with dreams of his own and is torn in-between. It is clear that this role did inspire Domenick Lombardozzi as his acting captured the struggle and complexity of Vincent’s character.
• Max Casella as Armand Truisi: Armand is from the local business, but his dealings are rather controversial and get him involved with Dwight. One is always on the edge with the storyline since Casella’s whole sketch is assured to be full of surprises.
• Vincent Piazza as Joey: Dwight’s deputy, Joey is known for his loyalty and street instincts. That is what makes him such a useful collaborator. Piazza has put a good performance and the character seems true and has the bond with the rest of the characters.

Trailer

• A couple of months before the series aired the viewers had seen the trailer for ‘Tulsa King’ first which created a lot of expectations and anticipation around the series. Viewers of the film were introduced to the character Dwight Manfredi and some of the difficulties he has to overcome in his new life.
• Key Scenes: Other matters included in the trailer were several key scenes that contributed to the plot of the series like the move-in of Dwight to Tulsa and the people views that he was compromising and the fights that came with him wanting to take control.
• Visuals: The trailer also emphasized the visuals of the series the urban and rural feature of the geographical area in which the series is based which will also make up for interesting stories within the whole series itself.
• Music: The feeling of tension and nostalgia was conveyed perfectly and corresponded with the storyline and visual components, and the trailer’s background music, which combines classic rock with the original, deepened the impression.

Pilot

As a complex world with deeper characters, the first episode of the series ‘Tulsa King’ has this as the primary objective. Stephen Sheridan directed the first episode and this has laid the foundations for the future episodes of the serialdrama.

Perfecting the Character: Ex cop Dwight “The General” Manfredi is introduced as the main protagonist of the series and is shown to be a capable, crafty and a superior tactician. A combination of speech, activity and thought allows the audience viewing some of Dwight’s life, what made him who he is today and what obstacles he has to overcome.

Foreshadowing: This episode also allows us to bring forward secondary characters and some key settings to allow us to appreciate the world that Dwight Manfredi has to get accustomed to. The vast contrast of a metropolitan New York to the city shortcomings and Oklahoma’s beautiful scenery allows viewers to consider the problematical conflicts within the series.