Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Tulsa King season 3, episode 2.After almost three full years, one of Taylor Sheridan’s favorite actors made his return to Tulsa King season 3. Taylor Sheridan famously uses the same actors for multiple shows. James Jordan, for instance, appears in four of Taylor Sheridan’s shows and one of his movies. There are even multiple Tulsa King actors who appear in other Taylor Sheridan shows, like Michael Beach and Neal McDonough.
One of Taylor Sheridan’s recurring actors in Tulsa King, however, hasn’t appeared on the show or any of Sheridan’s other projects since Tulsa King’s debut season back in 2022. Even though he was one of the founding members of the cast of Tulsa King, this actor was completely absent from Tulsa King season 2. Luckily, he’s finally back in Tulsa King season 3.
Barry Corbin Finally Returns As Babe In Tulsa King Season 3 Episode 2
Barry Corbin, who plays Babe Keller, finally returned in Tulsa King season 3, episode 2. Babe is Mitch’s uncle, and we first met him drinking at the Bred2Buck back in Tulsa King season 1, before Dwight took over and turned it into a casino. Despite his relation to Mitch, however, Corbin didn’t appear at all in Tulsa King season 2.
It was honestly a bit surprising that Barry Corbin didn’t appear in Tulsa King season 2. He is Mitch’s only surviving family member, and Corbin had also worked with Taylor Sheridan in Yellowstone season 4. Corbin was also still acting during the three years between seasons, as he appeared in Killers of the Flower Moon and other movies, and he’s a very famous Western actor in his own right, too.
Babe’s absence was likely due to Mitch’s reduced role in Tulsa King season 2. Luckily, both Mitch and Babe have a lot more to do in Tulsa King season 3. Babe was finally reintroduced when Mitch brought his former girlfriend and current love interest, Cleo Montague, to stay at his house so he could protect her from Jeremiah Dunmire and his son, Cole.
What Babe’s Return Means For Tulsa King Season 3’s Story
Having Barry Corbin back in the cast of Tulsa King is great in its own right, but Babe’s return also has some implications on the plot of season 3. As previously mentioned, Babe is back because Mitch is a much bigger focus of Tulsa King season 3 than he was of season 2. As Mitch’s story progresses, he’ll likely look to Babe for advice, wisdom, and familial comfort.
Babe’s return also coincides with Tulsa King season 3’s return to its neo-Western roots and its Tulsa setting. Jeremiah Dunmire is a facet of Tulsa, and the entire season is gearing up to get deeper into the culture and history of Oklahoma as a result. Babe is just as much a facet of Tulsa as Dunmire is, so his return helps cement Tulsa King’s return to the Western genre even more.