Tulsa King parents guide: Why you shouldn’t let your kids watch the Paramount+ series - even if it’s great, explained

Tulsa King may be one of Paramount+'s most addictive crime dramas, but parents, this one isn't for the kids. The show looks into the gritty world of mob/crime life, with Sylvester Stallone leading the show as Dwight “The General” Manfredi, a gangster who is trying to rebuild his empire in Oklahoma.

But behind all of the clever one-liners, Tulsa King is a bag that has been filled to the brim with adult themes such as graphic violence, s*xual scenes, and foul language, all of which make it a strictly grown-up TV show.

Here’s why you might want to hit pause before letting teens tune in.

It’s not just mob talk—Tulsa King gets pretty raw

Tulsa King might look like a fun crime show from the above, but the content on the inside tells a very different story. The show goes into the darkest corners of organized crime, and that means we as the audience get to see a lot of violence, blood, gore, and physical fights.

There are beatings, shootings, and even moments where we get to see the aftermath of these bloody events. In one instance, a character’s jaw is wired shut after being punched, and another ends up in the hospital after a brutal assault.

Along with extreme violence, the show also advertises many other adult themes. Drug dealing and weed businesses are the most important to the storyline, and a lot of action is seen happening inside bars or strip clubs.

Some scenes feature bar dancers and even s*xual references. While there’s no explicit nudity as such, the suggestiveness of the show and language make it uncomfortable for kids.

The use of profanity is also another theme that is off the charts, as the “F-word” makes an appearance almost every other line, along with plenty of other strong and completely foul language. Even if the show has humor, the humor itself is wrapped around in an adult package that kids simply shouldn’t unwrap.

Why Tulsa King isn’t suitable for teens—despite how good it is

It’s easy to see why so many adults love Tulsa King. Stallone’s charm gives Dwight a kind of warmth, but it also fills him with dark humor as a mobster, and this makes the show a rare kind of crime dramedy..

But the show’s content sets the boundaries for who should be watching and who really shouldn't be watching it. Rated TV-MA in the U.S., it’s clearly meant for audiences that are mature enough to grasp content that features use of drugs, violence, and s*xual content.

Parents might also want to note how often the story normalizes crime as business; it could be a usual everyday thing for most characters. From drug distribution to casual violence, much of it is treated as part of Dwight’s “new empire.”

While the show never fully glorifies the crime, it certainly paints it with a glossy TV glam. Younger kids, especially early teens and below, may find the blend of charm and crime confusing. It’s a show that talks about loyalty and redemption but does so in a world full of moral gray areas. And as much as it’s entertaining, it’s not a great classroom for lessons in right and wrong.

Tulsa King is clever, and it is carried beautifully by Sylvester Stallone’s mob energy, but it’s also every bit as adult as its TV-MA rating warns.

Between all of the constant violence, strong language, s*xual content, and drug references, this is a show that has been made specifically for grown-ups and not kids. So, while it’s an easy binge for the parents, it’s best to save this one for after bedtime and keep the little ones far away from the screen.

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