If the premiere poured us a shot of bourbon and comedy, this week uncorked a full bottle — and it burned going down.
Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 2, “The Fifty,” expanded the chessboard in ways that prove this season won’t just be about Dwight’s survival.
It’s about legacy, both in bourbon and in bloodlines.
A Distillery Full of Ghosts
The reveal that Theodore Montague’s distillery was sitting on a hidden stash of 50-year bourbon worth $150 million is one of those classic Tulsa King moves — ridiculous, over-the-top, and yet exactly the kind of storytelling this show thrives on.
Chloe leading Mitch, Dwight, and company into the mausoleum felt like a treasure hunt gone mobster, and the stakes immediately skyrocketed.
Dwight may not be a distiller, but he knows opportunity when he sees it.
Mitch, ever the optimist, wants to believe bourbon is a cleaner hustle than cars. Tyson just sees another scheme, and Bodhi, in perfect Bodhi fashion, is more concerned with educating Dwight on bungholes than bottling.
The exchange of “show some respect for the ladies” versus “no, really, that’s what they’re called” was priceless.
Still, Chloe is clear: this isn’t just about selling whiskey. It’s about protecting what’s left of her father’s legacy. And she’s not backing down.
Enter Jeremiah, Again
Robert Patrick’s Jeremiah is settling into full villain mode, and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a character equal parts scary and sanctimonious.
He cloaks everything in scripture and ritual — grace before meals, fire crackling at his side — but when it’s time to act, he lets his goons do the dirty work.
Watching Walden get beaten within an inch of his life just for being in Dwight’s orbit said it all. Jeremiah doesn’t get blood on his hands; he leaves that to others.
And yet, his hold over Cole is the real horror. After Chloe rejected him outright, Cole walked back to daddy with a wound from Mitch’s porch fight, apologizing like a whipped dog.
Jeremiah’s answer wasn’t comforting. He didn’t even think a hospital was in order. Instead, he offered a branding iron to cauterize the wound while his son screamed.
If that’s how he treats his own blood, what hope do his enemies have?
This is where Dwight and Jeremiah are perfectly contrasted and might be my favorite throughline of the season.
Dwight builds a family out of misfits and outsiders; Jeremiah breaks his family down to prove control. Dwight treats people like kin. Jeremiah treats kin like dirt.
It’s not just a business battle brewing — it’s a war of morals. And frankly, Dwight’s got a better shot at the pearly gates than this Bible-thumper ever will.
Cole in the Middle
I had the chance to talk with Beau Knapp this week about Cole. Knapp wormed his way into my critic’s heart as Drew on SEAL Team, who seems like he could be Cole’s cousin. I’ll have that interview up tomorrow. It’s worth the wait!
For now, let’s just say that Cole is fascinating because he’s clearly broken by his father’s abuse, yet he still craves his approval.
His scenes with Chloe reveal a boy who has been obsessed since childhood, unable to understand why she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings. His scenes with Jeremiah show a son who will endure pain just to be noticed.
So much of Cole’s demeanor makes me want to smack the hell out of him, but the something happens that makes me want to wrap him in a warm blanket and rub his head.
And what about that moment with Spencer? How can you hate this guy now? Cole stopped a sexual assault in the parking lot, and while his motives weren’t entirely pure, it was the first glimpse that maybe he isn’t fully lost.
He wants to be better than his father, even if he doesn’t know how.
If I were writing this story, Cole would eventually defect to Dwight’s side, because Dwight treats people with the loyalty and respect Cole’s never had at home.
Whether the show goes there or not remains to be seen, but the potential is undeniable. This is the kind of guy Dwight can take under his wing and make a better man. Not a good person, necessarily, but a good man.
Dwight Makes Enemies into Allies and Family
And it’s on par for Dwight to bring someone who isn’t a friend into his orbit whether they like it or not. Half the time, they don’t even know what hit them.
Bill Bevilaqua and his “what’s with this guy” approach to Dwight makes him feel like he’s in business with Dwight on his own terms, but we know Dwight runs that show.
And Cal Thresher, ever the self-promoter, is running for Governor. You’d think he’d steer clear of Dwight after the nightmare from Tulsa King Season 2, but he’s seen what Dwight can do when he puts his mind to it.
Bodhi’s Digital Payback
While Tyson clowned around in his Cybertruck and managed to butcher 50-year-old whiskey by knocking open a bunghole, Bodhi proved he’s far from over Jimmy’s death.
He hasn’t let go of the man who killed his best friend. Last season, it was raw grief, but now it’s something darker — simmering anger, looking for an outlet.
Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 1 gave Cole a chance to take revenge, and he pulled back. Here, he found another way.
No guns, no violence — just his skills. The internet is his weapon, and he promises to make that man’s life a living hell in ways he’ll never see coming.
It was subtle, but it says so much about who Bodhi is now. He’s not the same sarcastic sidekick he once was. He’s been changed by loss, and he’s walking a line between clever and dangerous.
The fact that he didn’t kill the guy when he had the chance doesn’t mean it’s over. If anything, it’s only just beginning.
Tyson’s Family Friction
Tyson’s journey took a quieter, yet no less important, turn. Rolling up to his dad Mark’s place in the Cybertruck, looking every bit like a man trying too hard to play gangster, he asked for plumbing help at the distillery.
Mark wanted nothing to do with it. He’s already been blown up once because of Dwight’s world, and he’s not about to sign up for round two.
But family is complicated, and sometimes, you need to chance getting blown up again to calm the waters. Tyson’s mom, Angie, pushed Mark to take the job anyway, because at least then he’d be close enough to keep an eye on their son.
She’s worried, and for good reason. The flashiest clothes, the expensive sneakers, the new labels Tyson obsesses over — she doesn’t even recognize him anymore.
Tyson insists those labels prove he’s somebody now, but Mark sees right through it. Loud packaging can’t drown out the truth of who you are, and Tyson is caught between the identity his parents want for him and the one Dwight’s world offers.
It’s one of the show’s most relatable threads — how far a young man will go to reinvent himself, and whether the family he came from can still reach him before it’s too late. However, I also appreciate that Dwight and Mark can find common ground when it comes to the young man they both care deeply about.
Deals, Dustups, and Dwight’s Backbone
On the business side, Dwight flexed hard against both Bill and Jeremiah.
Dropping Bill’s cut from 15% to 7.5% was classic Dwight — ruthless, practical, and confident that Bill will swallow it anyway.
Jeremiah, meanwhile, got a face-to-face warning: hurt my people, and I’ll destroy your entire existence, and I’ll enjoy it. Dwight doesn’t bluff, and that might be the one thing that truly rattles Jeremiah.
The porch fight was another highlight. Mitch handled himself with ease, Chloe sliced her way into the action, proving herself a worthy partner for Mitch, and Cole walked away scarred. Literally.
That whole sequence underscored how dangerous the feud has already become. Still, I think the casualty is written in stone. Jeremiah Dunmire may not be redeemable.
Parting Shot
“The Fifty” proves that Tulsa King isn’t slowing down after its strong premiere. If anything, it’s doubling down with richer backstory, darker villains, more comedy, and sharper stakes.
Between Dwight’s bourbon play, Jeremiah’s brutality, Bodhi’s quiet rage, and Cole’s conflicted loyalties, the season is building toward a war that won’t just be about territory. It’ll be about who deserves loyalty, and who’s capable of giving it.
And yes, in the middle of all that blood and bourbon, we’re still getting Goodie showing up at funerals with horse-sized flower arrangements and Dwight being schooled on bungholes. That’s what makes Tulsa King so damn fun.
But what about you?
My Tulsa King readers have often come from outside the site, and with Google’s ever-changing algorithms, that means fewer eyes are around to discuss one of my favorite shows.
If you’re here, that’s a good start. What’s exciting you about the season so far?
And while you’re here, poke around at our other episodic reviews and editorial content. Maybe you’ll find a reason to return!
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The post Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 2 Review: When Bourbon’s Worth $150 Million, Everyone Wants a Sip appeared first on TV Fanatic.