If you just finished a binge-watch of Sylvester Stallone’s first foray into the world of prestige television, you’re probably scratching your head. You might be looking at your streaming queue and thinking, "Wait, was that it?" It’s a common feeling. When Taylor Sheridan (the mastermind behind Yellowstone) and Terence Winter (the guy who basically lived and breathed The Sopranos) teamed up, everyone expected a massive, sweeping epic. Instead, we got something leaner.
So, let's settle the debate immediately: there are exactly 9 episodes in the first season of Tulsa King.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Most big-budget streaming dramas usually land on that nice, even number of 10. Yellowstone does it. The Mayor of Kingstown does it. But for some reason, Dwight "The General" Manfredi’s introduction to the Sooner State was cut just a tiny bit shorter. Honestly, it kind of works for the pacing, but it definitely left fans wanting more when that finale credits roll.
How many episodes of Tulsa King Season 1 are there?
It's nine. Just nine.
Originally, there were rumors floating around the internet that we’d get a full 10-episode order. It’s the industry standard for Paramount+ originals. But as production rolled on, the story naturally found its breaking point at the ninth hour. Each episode runs somewhere between 35 and 45 minutes, making it a very "snackable" series compared to those hour-long slogs you find on other platforms.
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If you’re the type of person who needs to see the names to believe it, here is the breakdown of what went down in that first season:
- Go West, Old Man (The pilot where Dwight gets "exiled" to Tulsa)
- Center of the Universe (Dwight starts recruiting his unlikely crew)
- Caprice (The introduction of the ATF complications)
- Visitation Place (The crew tests their first big plan)
- Token Joe (A heavy trip back to New York that changes everything)
- Stable (Dwight tries to reconcile with his daughter, Tina)
- Warr Acres (The stakes with the Black Macadams biker gang get real)
- Adobe Walls (The penultimate showdown preparation)
- Happy Trails (The explosive season finale)
Why the episode count feels "off" to fans
There is a weird psychological thing that happens when a show ends on an odd number. You feel like you missed a week. I’ve talked to plenty of people who genuinely thought they had one more episode to go, only to realize the "Happy Trails" finale was the end of the road for the year.
The season moves fast. Like, really fast. Dwight Manfredi walks out of prison after 25 years, gets punched in the face by his mob boss’s son in New York, flies to Oklahoma, and buys a Mercedes all within the first twenty minutes of the show. That momentum doesn’t really stop. Because the episodes are shorter than your average HBO drama, the "how many episodes of Tulsa King Season 1" question pops up because people feel like they’ve only been watching for a few hours.
Basically, you can finish the entire season in a single rainy Sunday afternoon.
The Taylor Sheridan effect on the story
You can’t talk about the structure of this show without mentioning Taylor Sheridan. The guy is a machine. He reportedly wrote the pilot script in about 24 hours. While he eventually handed the "showrunner" keys to Terence Winter for the rest of the season, his DNA is all over those 9 episodes.
Sheridan likes his stories to be punchy. He doesn’t like a lot of "filler" where characters just sit around talking about their feelings for no reason. Every scene in Tulsa King serves a purpose—either Dwight is expanding his empire, or he’s dealing with the cultural shock of a world that moved on without him while he was behind bars.
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Interestingly, Terence Winter actually stepped down as showrunner after the first season wrapped. There were some creative differences behind the scenes about the direction of the show, which might explain why the first season feels so distinct compared to what came later in Season 2.
The cliffhanger that changed everything
If you haven’t watched the finale yet, look away. Seriously.
The reason people are so obsessed with the episode count is that Episode 9, "Happy Trails," ends on a massive, gut-punch of a cliffhanger. Just when Dwight thinks he’s finally found peace and a "family" in Tulsa, the past comes screaming back in the form of Stacy Beale (played by Andrea Savage).
The ending felt so abrupt that many viewers were convinced there had to be an Episode 10. They were searching their apps, refreshing Paramount+, thinking the "real" finale hadn't dropped yet. But no, that was the intended ending. It was designed to leave you frustrated. It was designed to make you demand a second season immediately.
What to do after finishing Season 1
Once you’ve processed the fact that there are only 9 episodes, you have a few options.
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First off, Season 2 is already out. If you’re just starting your Tulsa King journey in 2026, you’re in luck because you don’t have to wait two years like the rest of us did. Season 2 actually bumped the episode count up to 10, finally giving the fans that "even" feeling they were looking for.
Also, keep an eye out for the spin-offs. Taylor Sheridan loves a "universe." There have been constant talks about NOLA King (set in New Orleans) and other regional expansions. It seems the "King" brand is becoming the new "Yellowstone" for Paramount.
If you’re still craving more Stallone, go back and watch the "Behind the Story" clips. On the Paramount+ app, they usually have about 5-10 minutes of extra footage for each episode where the cast explains why Dwight made certain decisions. It’s the best way to squeeze a little more life out of those 9 episodes.
The best way to experience the show now is to watch it as one long movie. Ignore the episode breaks. If you treat it as a 6-hour crime epic, the odd episode count doesn't matter nearly as much. Just sit back, grab a drink, and watch Sly do what he does best.
Actionable Next Step: If you've finished all 9 episodes, head straight into the Season 2 premiere, "Back in the Saddle," to see the immediate fallout of Dwight's arrest.