by Tim Gordon
Dwight Manfredi (Sylvester Stallone) is back in full command mode as the hunt for the stolen Montague 50 bourbon takes center stage. The stakes are sky-high, alliances are shifting, and the shadow of war looms large over Tulsa.
The episode opens with Dwight rallying his crew after losing $150 million worth of product. “Family doesn’t leave family behind,” he declares, reminding everyone that Tyson’s (Jay Will) botched situation is not just his mistake but everyone’s problem. The message lands hard, though not without some side-eye from Bodhi (Martin Starr), who is beginning to question whether Tyson can still be trusted after last week’s beating.
Determined to make things right, Dwight teams up with Bevilaqua (Frank Grillo) to track down surveillance footage that might identify the culprit behind the heist. Once they have a lead, the two head out for a bit of “old-school persuasion,” which ends in classic Bevilaqua fashion: loud, brutal, and completely lacking in diplomacy. The sequence reminds us that while Bevilaqua’s loyalty is absolute, his methods are always a liability.
Meanwhile, Quiet Ray (James Russo) reenters the picture and meets with a family insider who warns him about the rising tension between Dwight and the Dunmires. Ray shrugs it off, but later reaches out to Bevilaqua, offering his services if things get messy. His reappearance adds a new variable to the mix and leaves Dwight wondering where Ray’s loyalties truly lie and whether he is a wild card or a weapon waiting to be used.
Elsewhere, Bodhi tracks the stolen shipment and works with his colleague to turn the fiasco into a marketing win once the bourbon is recovered. Using his tech savvy, he designs an AI-generated pitchman for the Montague 50 that gets Joanna’s approval. The campaign goes live, hinting that even chaos can be good for business if you spin it right.
In a more personal subplot, Margaret (Dana Delany) reconnects with Cal (Neal McDonough), who is knee-deep in his gubernatorial campaign. She bluntly tells him his poll numbers are tanking because “people don’t like him,” but offers to help on one condition: she wants her ranch back. It is a sharp, calculated political move that does not sit well with Dwight, who feels territorial about both Margaret and her growing influence. Their heated exchange later that evening gives way to a quiet moment of connection, a reminder that these two understand each other completely, even when their goals do not align.
Tyson’s father, Mark (Michael Beach), returns at Dwight’s request to talk some sense into his son. Mark warns Tyson to “keep his head on a swivel,” advice that resonates more deeply than either expected. Tyson’s loyalty is tested again when he discovers Serenity, the stripper who helped set him up, is still alive. Her reappearance inadvertently leads Dwight’s crew straight to the stolen bourbon, and the cavalry rolls out.
Dwight confronts Jeremiah Dunmire (Robert Patrick), demanding an exchange: the stolen Montague 50 for Cole (Beau Knapp), Jeremiah’s son. After a tense standoff, Jeremiah finally agrees, but not before warning Dwight, “There’s nothing you can steal that I can’t get back.” The line lands like a promise or a threat.
Meanwhile, Cole’s desperate bid for his father’s approval backfires. Proud of his theft, he confesses that he stole the Montague 50 to prove himself, but Jeremiah barely acknowledges him. The emotional rejection is brutal and may set Cole down an even darker path.
As tensions ease slightly, Cleo (Bella Heathcote) and Mitch (Garrett Hedlund) reflect on their shared victory and what reclaiming the bourbon means for their future. Their conversation hints that while business may be booming again, love and loyalty are about to be tested just as fiercely as any mob rivalry.
Finally, Musso (Kevin Pollak) calls Dwight with a simple but ominous directive: “Stand down.” The order lands like a warning shot. The Feds seem to know far too much, far too quickly, leaving Dwight to wonder how Musso keeps staying one move ahead of him at every turn. The call raises an unsettling question about who inside his circle is feeding Musso information and how deep the betrayal might go.
Final Thoughts
“Staring Down the Barrel” is a tense and tightly wound chapter that underscores Dwight’s dual struggle to maintain control while the ground shifts beneath him. His leadership remains ironclad, but cracks are forming, from Tyson’s shaken loyalty to Ray’s reemergence and Musso’s uncanny foresight. The bourbon may be back, but the balance of power is slipping. As Dwight fights to protect his empire and his people, the question is no longer whether a war is coming but how much of it is already being waged from within.