This article contains spoilers for Tulsa King Season 4, Episode 3, “Cease & Desist.”
The walls are closing in on Dwight Manfredi after the latest episode of Tulsa King, but “The General” has survived tougher spots before. “Cease & Desist” perfectly describes Season 4, Episode 3, as Oklahoma Governor Amanda Clark systematically shuts down Dwight’s legitimate businesses one by one. In an episode steeped in doom and gloom, a rare silver lining is developing — though series star Garrett Hedlund warns that this bright spot comes with a dangerous new set of problems.
The episode teases a budding romance between Mitch (Hedlund) and Spencer (Scarlet Rose Stallone), who’s entrusted to run Margaret’s ranch after the latter’s death. They hit it off after that initial connection, and Mitch is deliberately building something with Spencer, who made it clear she was open to a relationship. Speaking with MovieWeb, Hedlund explains why his character would be better off if Spencer ultimately rejected him.
“His heartstrings are sort of on the line here… When somebody comes in and attaches a sort of heartstring to them, there’s a lot. He feels overwhelmed by not only being needed emotionally, tenderly, anything in regard to that, but he feels that if he caves into it, he will be more prone to danger himself and not be able to protect everything he’s built 100%.”
Hedlund said that kind of vulnerability could work to his disadvantage. His valid fear stems not only from the thought that Spencer could be hurt by associating with him; he also knows that attachment will cloud his judgment. On the surface, Mitch gains an emotional victory, and yet he knows the consequences if he continues to pursue Spencer. As a member of Dwight’s crew, he puts himself in an unnecessary predicament, and considering how he almost spiraled out of control during his previous relationship, Spencer’s rejection would have been a blessing.
“All he wants to do is focus on the game plan,” Hedlund added. “Falling for somebody was never really a part of the calculation. It was about protection. It was about loyalty. It was about capability. It was about putting your life on the line to protect everything that you built.”
Mitch needs a clear head now more than ever because Dwight is squaring off with a formidable villain — Clark has launched an all-out war against him, and so far, she has the upper hand. Mitch’s fears also mirror Tulsa King‘s overarching theme of vulnerability as a liability, as Dwight’s predicament shows: by going legitimate, his operations are now vulnerable to the law, and the government is dismantling his empire.
It’s a grim pivot from an overwhelmingly triumphant Season 3 finale. The Season 4 premiere also proved that by abruptly killing off Margaret Devereaux and Cal Thresher, the show instantly flipped the script on Dwight’s crew — leaving audiences to wonder whether Mitch and Spencer’s budding romance will ultimately become collateral damage.
- Release Date
-
November 13, 2022
- Network
-
Paramount+
- Directors
-
Allen Coulter, Benjamin Semanoff, David Semel, Guy Ferland, Joshua Marston, Kevin Dowling, Lodge Kerrigan, Jim McKay
- Writers
-
Joseph Riccobene, David Flebotte, William Schmidt, Taylor Elmore, Tom Sierchio, Regina Corrado, Stephen Scaia, Terence Winter
Leave a Reply