Visitation Place

I really didn't expect to like this show at all. I think the premise is outlandish and yet the execution is very entertaining. There are no ground breaking ideas, characters are stereotypes and plot lines are not particularly innovative. Despite all of that the writing pulls the best out of a great group of actors with Sly leading from the front in a perfect star vehicle. I have been engaged since the first scene and at only 4 episodes in I am holding back from bingeing the lot because it will brighten many more nights if I show some self restraint. I do t really mind where the story goes (feels like I can probably guess) because the journey is worth it.

You have a show featuring the ultra manly Sylvester Stalllone. He's a mobster fresh off a 25-year stint. Banished to Tulsa, he's putting together his gang of local misfits and exploiting every financial opportunity he comes across.

So many standouts: Max Casella as a former mob associate; Jay Will as Tyson; Michael Beach as Tyson's dad.

When he's not punching out the lights, Stallone is delivering the TV performance of a lifetime. His farewell phone call to his dying brother is Emmy material.

The problem is that the show's creator - or its writing room or whomever - insists on shoe-horning in a female ATF agent. Marginally attractive depending on her get-up that episode. Not a very compelling actress. And stuck with a ded-end storyline. More of Agent Beale's scenes are cringey, to be charitable.

They should have faded her after the pilot episode.

Clearly the 39 minute episodes are here to stay. It is my one big problem and continued complaint with this series. Other than that, it has really hit its stride and found its niche.

The writing is good, although as I previously pointed out, the writers may be trying to tackle too many different storylines.

Stallone's one-liners are custom tailored and he wears them well. This episode brought 'Sopranos' alumnus, Max Casella, into the fold and Max always brings something good to the party.

The rivalry with the MCC is just heating up and appears certain to escalate.

Stallone's sometime fling, Agent Stacy Beale (Andrea Savage), was a bit of an afterthought this time around.

Clearly, Tyson (Jay Will), is going to have to make a choice.

This episode definitely had a "Grand Theft Auto" meets "Cobra Kai" vibe to it. The realism has been thrown out the window, but it's still a fun watch. Without a doubt, Stallone is deserving of praise for his excellent performance this episode. The future looks promising for "Tulsa King" now that season two has been given the formal go-ahead, provided that the writing does justice to its cast. My only key complaint in "Visitation Place" is the inclusion of several scenes that felt out of place. Nevertheless, it was an entertaining episode; I had no idea how much I would appreciate a Stallone mafia comedy till now.

Rating: 7.6/10 (Impressive, Yet it doesn't quite hit the mark in every respect)

Deftly juggling a large number of subplots, this segment of "Tulsa King" also manages to fill in some significant elements of backstory to Stallone's character with the aid of guest star from the '90s Annabella Sciorra, and in so doing brings out the heart and serious side of the series.

But of course it is Stallone's awesome presence and the fun of watching his band of misfit criminals at work that makes the Taylor Sheridan show enjoyable. Fine casting provides brief yet pungent highlights for the individuals making up the motley supporting cast, notably Max Casella as a quite improbable small-time hood from out of Stallone's past. Least successful element concerns co-star Andrea Savage's character -still way too sketchy to have an impact. Perhaps adding more women to the writers' room to keep Regina Corrado (who wrote episode 3 "Caprice") company might help.