Venice, Los Angeles. This neighborhood on the city’s west side is famous for its sprawling beach and its open-air gym, which, fenced in, looks more like a pen for bodybuilders. It was here in his youth that Arnold Schwarzenegger lifted weights before moving on to Gold’s Gym in the same area — the modern Mecca of bodybuilding. And it’s here, in this legendary corner of Los Angeles, that the Navy Street gym is located. But instead of a “pen” for bodybuilders, it has a cage for MMA fighters, where owner Alvey Kulina (Frank Grillo) trains new champions.

Helping Alvey run the gym is his girlfriend Lisa (Kiele Sanchez), though business isn’t going well: Navy Street lacks professional fighters. Alvey’s younger son Nate (Nick Jonas) is a promising but still inexperienced fighter, while his older son Jay (Jonathan Tucker) has ruined his reputation with reckless behavior and now wastes his time with drugs. Their fortunes might turn with the release of Ryan (Matt Lauria), Alvey’s former protégé and MMA champion — though Ryan no longer has the will to fight. Determined to restore Navy Street’s former glory, Alvey makes it his mission to bring Ryan back into the cage.

The description of Kingdom on some movie portals includes the phrase “a criminally underrated series” — and that’s spot on. Even Gareth Evans, director of the acclaimed The Raid duology, wrote on Instagram that Kingdom was unjustly overlooked. Its lack of popularity may be due to mismatched expectations: MMA fans might be disappointed to find it’s less about cage fighting and more about the Kulina family drama, while others might skip it, assuming it’s just another mindless beat-’em-up series. Both groups would be making a huge mistake — Kingdom is a truly outstanding show.

And there are many reasons why — the main one being the script, where MMA serves merely as the backdrop for stories about people with broken lives. It’s hard to think of another series that gathers so many complex, contradictory characters in one place. Their lives are battles — in the ring, with themselves, with circumstances, and with the consequences of past mistakes. The grueling training sequences, the realistic fight choreography, and the behind-the-scenes look at the MMA world — often less than fair to fighters and trainers alike — only add to the drama.

Of course, none of this would work without the right performances, and the creators nailed the casting. The show’s standout is Frank Grillo, delivering perhaps the best role of his career: a 50-year-old MMA veteran hooked on pills, desperately trying to cage his inner demons. Jonathan Tucker is equally brilliant — a raw bundle of emotion who instantly steals every scene he’s in. His dedication is remarkable: he trained daily at Navy Street, sparred full-contact with a real MMA champion, and even sealed a wound with superglue so filming wouldn’t be delayed. Yet beyond Jay’s manic energy, Tucker also conveys a tender side — a man who values his loved ones more than life itself. Meanwhile, Matt Lauria’s Ryan offers viewers a vivid portrayal of the physical and emotional transformations a fighter undergoes while preparing for a match.

Artistically, Kingdom also excels. It’s not shot “by the book” but with real creativity. The filmmakers aimed to bring viewers as close as possible to the characters and their world — hence the frequent use of close-ups, handheld tracking shots, and diegetic sound. The effect is an incredible sense of presence, allowing the audience to experience the story on a whole new level.

And then there’s the soundtrack, which deserves special praise. Kingdom features one of the best music selections in any TV drama — mostly indie American rock bands and musicians, spanning garage rock, shoegaze, and vintage country. No recycled hits, no pop clichés — just pure underground.

So if you’re looking for a raw, powerful drama, something truly different — welcome to the kingdom of brutality, glory, blood, sweat, and quiet male tears.

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