Tulsa King Season 3: Could Cutting This Romance Be the Best Choice Made?

Tulsa King Season 3 has decisively severed a divisive romantic thread from its previous chapter, signaling a bold narrative choice in the gritty world created by Taylor Sheridan.

Starring Sylvester Stallone, the show returns with Robert Patrick and Samuel L. Jackson, the latter of whom is introduced to lay the groundwork for a spinoff series titled NOLA King. Bella Heathcote steps into the frame as Cleo, Mitch’s former flame, immediately reshaping the emotional landscape for the season. 

This move quietly snuffs out any lingering hopes for a Mitch-Tina romance, a subplot tentatively teased in season 2. The chemistry was subtle but unmistakable, only to be abruptly curtailed when Dwight shipped Tina off to New York for her safety amid escalating turf wars. As season 3 opens, Tina remains in New York while Mitch grapples with Cleo’s (Bella Heathcote) unexpected return.

Tulsa King Season 3: Why Mitch-Tina’s Romance Fizzled and It Might Be a Genius Move

The tentative romance between Mitch and Tina flickered briefly but was never meant to blaze. Tulsa King Season 2 planted seeds of chemistry, particularly in the memorable gun lesson scene, yet Dwight’s decision to send Tina away underlined the show’s reluctance to fully commit to this storyline. Tina’s absence in the remainder of season 2 and her reappearance in New York in season 3 solidify her detachment from Mitch’s current arc. 

Enter Cleo, played by Bella Heathcote, whose arrival is no mere cameo but a pivotal turn for Mitch’s story. As Mitch’s ex, Cleo’s presence is a narrative wrench, pushing any distant relationship with Tina out of the picture. The dynamic here suggests a more personal, grounded storyline for Mitch, far removed from the shaky foundations a cross-country romance would have built.

Well, romantic entanglements have been a thorny patch for Tulsa King since the start. Andrea Savage’s character’s exit after just a handful of episodes in season 2 left the cop-and-criminal romance underdeveloped and ultimately abandoned. The show’s creators seem intent on avoiding the cliché romantic drama typical of mafia stories, focusing instead on the tension-filled crime battles and alliances.

Dwight’s relationship with Margaret (Dana Delany) remains the sole meaningful romance subplot, suggesting that the writers prefer to keep romantic distractions minimal. Injecting Mitch and Tina into a love story would risk muddying the streamlined narrative of power struggles and violent reprisals that define Tulsa King.

Sylvester Stallone’s Tulsa King Season 3 Opens Strong With Critics

With the third season ongoing, Tulsa King is expanding its mob universe and stirring strong reactions. Critics are eating it up, awarding the show a fresh 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a tick down from last season’s 100%, but a sharp rise from Season 1’s 79%. And the praise is loud. FandomWire called it “criminally entertaining”, highlighting the addition of dangerous foes like the Dunmires, a wealthy, old-money family that plays dirty.

The official logline for Season 3 reads:

Still, the audience rating, currently at 59%, hints at a disconnect. Perhaps fans aren’t thrilled with the new direction. Or maybe the fallout from Season 2’s dramatic kidnapping cliffhanger didn’t hit as hard as expected. Either way, with eight episodes left and the mob heat rising, the season still has time to prove the critics right or eat their words.

Also, was slicing off the Mitch-Tina storyline the narrative power move Tulsa King desperately needed? Or did the writers kill a subplot that could’ve paid off with a little patience? And what’s next for Dwight as he goes toe-to-toe with the cunning Dunmire clan and dabbles with federal shadows?

New episodes drop every Sunday. Tulsa King Season 3 streams weekly on Paramount+.