The fifth episode of Tulsa King Season 3 marks a turning point in Dwight Manfredi’s empire. What begins as a long-awaited celebration quickly unravels into another dangerous tangle of betrayal, blood, and business gone wrong. True to form, Sylvester Stallone’s Dwight is caught between triumph and turmoil, navigating shifting alliances and unexpected disasters with his trademark mix of charm and menace.
A Brief Calm
After weeks of chaos involving stolen bourbon barrels, vengeful rivals, and uneasy partnerships, Dwight finally finds a moment of peace or so he believes. The Montague Distillery, his latest venture, is ready for its grand opening. The victory feels personal; after all, Dwight has fought his way through sabotage, arson, and deceit to bring this dream to life.
As the team basks in early success, Bodhi (Martin Starr) and Grace (McKenna Quigley Harrington) successfully drum up publicity, ensuring that the “Fifty” bourbon launch has the city’s attention. Even Bigfoot (Mike “Cash Flo” Walden) shows off a surprising ice sculpting talent, proving that this crew is more versatile than anyone could have imagined.
Meanwhile, Dwight enjoys a rare domestic interlude with Margaret (Dana Delany); their playful conversation about her associate Carl Thresher (Neal McDonough) hints at Dwight’s ongoing insecurity and competitiveness. Margaret, ever pragmatic, suggests inviting Thresher to the distillery event, a move that could bridge political and business gaps. Dwight hesitates, but the suggestion plants the first seed of unease.
The Dunmire Threat Grows
Elsewhere, Jeremiah Dunmire (Robert Patrick) stews in resentment. Still furious over Dwight’s seizure of the bourbon operation, he plots revenge through both political and criminal channels; his meeting with the Attorney General exposes just how far he’s willing to go. With veiled threats and reminders of campaign favors, Jeremiah pressures the AG to send an inspector to disrupt Dwight’s launch. “If you don’t,” he warns coldly, “it’s gonna get really bad for them and for you.”
Meanwhile, Jeremiah’s volatile son Cole (Beau Knapp) yearns for bloodshed, eager to “crack some heads.” His father’s indifference only fuels his instability, adding another volatile element to an already combustible mix.
Back at the Bred-2-Buck Casino, Cole has a softer moment with Spencer (Scarlet Rose Stallone), the barista he previously rescued from an abusive boyfriend; their quiet exchange, her gratitude, and his introspection momentarily humanise him. But it also underscores how the Dunmires’ world is one of moral gray zones, where even violent men long for redemption.
Dwight the Mentor; Lessons for Tyson
Before heading to the distillery event, Dwight shares one of the episode’s most grounded and heartfelt moments with his protégé, Tyson (Jay Will). The young driver, weighed down by guilt and uncertainty, asks what it truly means to be a man. Dwight’s response is disarmingly honest: “You were stupid and weak but that’s how learning happens.” His reassurance that Tyson has already proven himself “a man” shows Dwight’s rarely seen paternal side.
It’s a short but powerful scene that reinforces one of Tulsa King’s central themes - Dwight’s leadership is built as much on loyalty and mentorship as it is on intimidation.
Business and Betrayal at the Grand Opening
The distillery launch is a spectacle the culmination of Dwight’s grit and ambition. Joanne (Annabella Sciorra) welcomes him warmly, and Bodhi runs the numbers, optimistic about their prospects. But the air of celebration is short-lived.
Bill Bevilaqua (Frank Grillo) arrives to warn Dwight of growing unrest. Vince has been calling on behalf of Quiet Ray, and the pressure is mounting. Bill lays it out plainly: “Quiet Ray wants me to turn on you.” Dwight, however, is focused on the moment. “This is big for me,” he insists, unwilling to let threats spoil his night. Bill counters with pragmatism; if war breaks out, there will be no business left to protect.
Soon after, Dwight gets a cryptic call: his bomb-making contact says the device is ready for pickup. At the same time, Special Agent Musso (Kevin Pollak) reaches out, hinting that the feds are listening. The tension tightens, Dwight’s juggling celebration and conspiracy at once.
En route to the pickup, he gives Tyson another grim piece of wisdom: “People don’t get what they deserve; they get what they attract.” It’s a line that feels prophetic by episode’s end.
Trouble in the Barrel Room
While Dwight is away, the crooked state inspector Leery arrives at the distillery, sent by Jeremiah to find or fabricate violations. As he prowls the premises, Bigfoot and Goodie (Chris Caldovino) try to placate him, but Leery makes it clear he’s there to cause trouble. When Goodie discreetly offers him a bribe, the inspector threatens to report it as an attempt to corrupt a public official.
In a sudden, darkly comic twist, Bigfoot accidentally pushes a stack of barrels that come crashing down on Leery, killing him instantly. Shocked and panicked, the crew scrambles to stage the scene as an accident, knowing that any scandal could destroy the distillery before it even begins.
A Celebration Turns to Chaos
Back upstairs, Cleo (Bella Heathcote) delivers a tribute to her late father, crediting him with the craftsmanship behind their bourbon legacy; her words lend the event emotional weight, even as disaster brews below.
Margaret and Carl Thresher arrive, only for Thresher to retreat once he notices Bill Bevilaqua’s presence not a good look for a would-be governor. Just as Dwight returns, sirens wail in the distance. Jeremiah, the Attorney General, and an armed entourage crash the event, halting the festivities in spectacular fashion.
Before a stunned audience and a swarm of reporters, Jeremiah publicly accuses Dwight of stealing his bourbon formula. His outburst escalates into violence when Cole smashes a barrel of the Fifty with an axe. Weapons are drawn on all sides: Dunmire’s men, Bill’s guards, and law enforcement, but Dwight’s crew holds their ground without firing a shot. The AG sides with Jeremiah, ensuring that Dwight’s launch will be remembered as a scandal rather than a success.
Dwight’s Defiant Resolve
As the crowd disperses, Joanne laments that their reputation is in ruins. But Dwight refuses to accept defeat. “If you think we lost, that means you think he won,” he declares. It’s classic Manfredi, battered but unbroken. He sends the crew home with orders to regroup and prepare for a comeback.
Moments later, Mitch, Bigfoot, and Goodie discreetly reveal the dead inspector’s body. Dwight orders them to leave it for Bodhi to “discover” in the morning, spinning it as a tragic accident. It’s a chillingly pragmatic decision another reminder that in Dwight’s world, survival often trumps morality.
The Final Confrontation
The episode closes with a tense face-off between Dwight and Bill Bevilaqua. Bill has learned of Dwight’s secret meeting with the bomb maker, and the exchange between them simmers with suspicion. Accusations fly, guns are drawn, and for a split second, it seems one of them won’t walk away.
Bill coolly calls Dwight “greedy,” accusing him of wanting too much control. When Dwight denies being a “rat,” Bill calmly replies, “You said it, not me.” He leaves with an eerie composure only to be ambushed moments later by federal agents at a stoplight. The final shot, Bill surrounded by SUVs full of armed feds, leaves viewers with more questions than answers.
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