I firmly believe Tina Manfredi was eager to reunite with her father despite her initially cold attitude in Tulsa King

Tina Manfredi in Tulsa King shares a complicated relationship with her father, Dwight. At the surface, her behavior with her father seems cold and guarded, but underneath, I think she longs for his attention. There have been instances that suggest Tina is eager to reunite with her father despite the initially cold attitude in Tulsa King.

The father-daughter relationship is marked by abandonment. With Dwight locked away in prison, Tina had to navigate her formative years under the shadow of a mobster’s reputation without any of the supposed “protection” that comes with it. This formed the storm beneath her quiet appearance.

But even when she lashes out at him, she still lets Dwight reach back to her and never cuts her ties with him entirely. She claims she wants nothing to do with him, but still keeps the door open, hinting at a sense of longing and eagerness.

Disclaimer: The article reflects the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

Here is why I believe Tina Manfredi was eager to reunite with her father despite her initially cold attitude in Tulsa King

Tina didn't ask for Dwight's legacy, but she carries the weight of it all the time. Other people treated her based on who her father was. Despite the show being subtle about this, the kind of stigma leaves deep grooves in her identity.

For Tina, coldness became a survival mechanism. When Dwight comes back, her clipped tone and cold attitude weren’t really hatred but armor, or a defense mechanism. After 25 years of abandonment, she can't believe this won't happen again. Therefore, she keeps herself emotionally distant from her father to avoid the risk of heartbreak eventually.

On the other hand, Dwight is desperate to reconnect now. The show never shows us this directly; rather, it digs more into the complex emotion of Tina being torn between her longing for Dwight and protecting herself emotionally by keeping him at arm's length.

Tina Manfredi shows some signs of softness towards Dwight in Tulsa King

Tina's first reaction to Dwight is apathy in Tulsa King. Her distance stems from distrust, as he abandoned her in the very formative years. Therefore, this choice of not trusting is a shield until she becomes completely vulnerable and reconciles with Dwight. As mentioned, Tina never cut her ties completely with Dwight, suggesting eagerness to witness what unfolds next.

As Tulsa King progresses, Tina shows flashes of pride, curiosity, and vulnerability around her father. The show portrays Dwight standing up for his daughter, causing Tina's wall to fall temporarily. Even in season 2, when a feud with Cal Thresher escalates, he pleads with Tina to take care of the kids in New York. The scene gave us a glimpse of Tina's vulnerability, where she needs him, even if she doesn’t want to admit it.

Moreover, Dwight, who is concerned about building a family along with the empire, sees Tina as embodying the conflict he wants to win over. Her “cold eagerness” is exactly the kind of messy, human contradiction that grounds the drama in Tulsa King.

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