So, Tulsa King Season 3 just wrapped up with a worthy finale. And honestly? There was nothing simple about the sequence of events that unfolded. The finale started with a high-profile kidnapping that affected Dwight ‘The General’ Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) on a personal level. It also ended with a new beginning of sorts, basically the birth of a crime world spanning far beyond Tulsa.
The series has largely followed Manfredi as he builds his own criminal empire in Tulsa after a 25-year prison stint. The season 3 finale finally gives him the rewards of his endeavors, but not on a platter. It really tests him, making him change what he thought he knew about the business. But at the end of it all, ‘The General’ becomes a new kind of king.
How ‘Tulsa King’ Season 3’s Finale Rewires Dwight’s Power Structure
The finale kicks things off with a huge moment when the immediate aftermath of Jeremiah Dunmire’s (Robert Patrick) men snatching Joanne (Annabella Sciorra), and as a result, everything goes haywire from that point. First of all, the kidnapping of his sister puts Dwight in a tight spot both mentally and emotionally, because if he missteps, she’s dead meat. It’s an emotionally charged moment that’s equally dangerous because, this time, it’s not just about the business; it’s about family.
Speaking of family, the biggest twist of the finale comes in the form of Cole Dunmire (Beau Knapp), who basically switched teams. So, instead of going along with his father’s violent plans, he’s as thick as thieves with Dwight and his family. He helps the General by literally drawing him a map of the Dunmire estate where Joanne is being held. Dunmire’s business was already crumbling, especially after some of his major distributors dropped him from their client roster. But this betrayal, from his own son no less, put the final nail in his coffin.
Armed with the map and some other intel, Dwight and his whole crew arrive at the Dunmire estate for a full-on attack. They use bombs, tear gas, and lots of guns in a big, loud rescue. In the ruckus, Jeremiah, probably realizing he’s lost the battle, attempts to escape. However, Dwight catches him, ties him up, and burns him alive, jungle justice style. But not before some big speech about what fire does to the human body, because why not? That scene was just as brutal as it was poetic, given that Jeremiah burned down Theodore Montague’s (Brett Rice) mansion with him inside in Season 3, Episode 1, “Blood and Bourbon”.
While Jeremiah Dunmire’s death was a huge deal, it wasn’t the biggest change in Dwight’s power structure. That came in the form of the federal liquor license from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). This seemingly simple piece of paper, which he obtained with the help of FBI Agent Musso (Kevin Pollak), makes Dwight’s bourbon business legal. It takes him from street boss to legit big shot. He can sell his drinks, and maybe other things too, without worrying too much about being shut down.
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From Tulsa to New Orleans: The Seeds of a Bigger Universe
The finale pretty much wrapped up the Dunmire storyline, but it also points to the future with Russell Lee Washington Jr., played by the ever-so-charismatic Samuel L. Jackson. Just by watching the way he moves and talks, you could tell that this cool character has a much bigger part to play in the future of this franchise. Viewers are given a clear illustration of this concept in the scene where Dwight celebrates with everyone who played a part in rescuing his sister and in the destruction of Dunmire. Here, Jackson’s Washington Jr. says goodbye to the crew and tells them to “holler” if they’re ever in New Orleans. That wasn’t just a friendly line; it’s a sneak preview for the much-heralded spin-off NOLA King.
Paramount+ greenlit the show in mid-2025, although production is reportedly expected to begin in February 2026. Jackson will lead the show as Russell Lee Washington Jr., and also serve as co-executive producer alongside Stallone and Taylor Sheridan. His encounters with Dwight already give viewers a backstory for his character. The pair became friends in prison, and he now draws inspiration from Dwight to return to New Orleans and rebuild his life and criminal enterprise.
Overall, the finale tied things up in a nice bow. For instance, getting Dwight that liquor permit is a game-changer that lets him make more money while fronting as a clean businessman. Meanwhile, his arrangement with Musso looks shaky. The latter traded the liquor license for information on a flash drive, but what stops him from asking for more favors in the future? Also, taking out Jeremiah means the streets of Tulsa now firmly belong to Dwight, because no other big fish are left to vie for control.
But the coolest part of the finale is undoubtedly Jackson’s Washington Jr. heading to his own show. That means two crime stories in two different cities. Maybe they’ll team up one day or go toe-to-toe for supremacy. The possibilities are endless.
Go watch the finale again on Paramount+ for all the small yet simultaneously monumental details.
