Purely Joyful Movie!

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

I was completely hooked on this show. So sad that it ended at season three. I really wanted more! I could see a fourth season where Jay's character is developed after Nat's death and Alvy's health issues go to the next level. Anyway not to be I guess. But I'm trying to locate Ryan's "walk-in" music, does anybody know what/who it is??

This show is really amazing and unlike the usual TV series which start at the top and then deteriorate, I found that Kingdom is going better and better each season ! It took me several episodes to be hooked but then, I binge-watched the entire season 2 and 3! Beautiful display of emotion in this show and I felt quite empty once I finished watching it. Oh and great cast of course !!

There are many television series which fly under the radar as under appreciated and under rated however, the one that sticks out the most to me is Direct TV's Kingdom. In 2014 Byron Balasco created a unique series surrounding the inner workings of an MMA gym owned by a retired fighter, Alvey Kulina (Frank Grillo). The show follows Alvey and his partner Lisa Prince (Kiele Sanchez) as they manage their fighters, friends and family while dealing with their own relationship obstacles. As an audience you fall in love with Alvey's sons Nate (Nick Jonas) and Jay (Jonathan Tucker) as they grow as fighters and people. We battle through life's triumphs and tribulations with fighter Ryan Wheeler (Matt Lauria) after he returns from time in prison, hoping to put his past behind him to be the best fighter possible. Each character represents their own struggle in society while depicting a realistic, heart breaking look at "fatal flaws" within one's being.Byron Balasco along with his team of brilliant writers have effortlessly created a story which displays the perfect balance of life drama including - sex, romance, racism, drugs, alcohol, athleticism, sexuality, money and health. Each character is forced to rely on one another to survive the crazy, unpredictable society of Navy Street Gym. Throughout the 3 completed seasons of Kingdom, the audience goes on multiple journeys with each character often which leave us on the edge of our seats, grabbing for the tissues or with a nostalgic smile as we slowly become apart of the family. The writing, directing and cinematography in Kingdom is outstanding however, it is the acting that makes this show a stand out from the rest. While watching acting of this caliber one can not help but question the authenticity of award shows such as The Emmys or Golden Globes because actors such as Jonathan Tucker and Matt Lauria should not have to miss out just because their television series is not from a "higher" or "greater" production company. Jonathan Tucker has taken a very unique and eccentric character as Jay Kulina and shaped him into one that the audience loves to love despite his many flaws and struggles. As each episode passes you can not help but question what crazy tirade Jay will take you on while hoping that it is even greater than the previous. Matt Lauria has had the difficult challenge of creating a character such as Ryan Wheeler which leaves the audience questioning his mystery without losing any interest in his obvious deeply buried emotions. Throughout the three seasons, Lauria has skilfully peeled the layers of Ryan's personality while surprising the audience at the best of times with his outrageous behaviours and antics. While these two are personal stand outs, each cast member raised the bar for any guest actor on the show and thus, creating a standard which had to be matched - and was matched. One does not have to be a fan of the UFC or MMA in any kind to still enjoy Kingdom. However, if you do hold an appreciation for the sport you will find that kudos must be given to the actors for the incredible work they have done off camera to prepare for shooting of this series. Each actor who portrays a fighter is in immaculate shape as they trained with professional fighters and trainers to provide complete authenticity to the sport. In no way has there been any lacking towards the fitness required to be involved in this series as there were no stunt doubles in any of the fight or training scenes in order to show the utmost respect the sport and it's fighters. Kingdom has it all and in no way does it disappoint. Viewer discretion is advised however as the show does contain strong content including nudity, coarse language, adult scenes, depiction of drug and alcohol use and violence. While the show has come to a close, I believe that this is one which can be appreciated and celebrated still in years to come. I would not dismiss this show nor would I forget these actors as they will be doing big things in the years to come.

This show has captivated me from the first 2 episodes I saw about a year ago. Into its second season, it shows that it still has momentum and enough attention grabbing plots to keep its viewers entertained for years to come. I absolutely love when a series can have a group of characters, all with their unique personalities and issues that come together so well that it makes for the perfect viewing experience...throw in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) and you have a recipe for greatness. The cast who have been known to be in medium budget films actually work great for television and show that they can lay it all out on the line if given the proper script and direction. So many elements come into play that every episode shows a progression in the lives of each of the characters and it is fantastic. I sincerely look forward to seeing this series continue and showcase not only the excitement that is the world of Mixed Martial Arts, but also the drama that goes along with the life of a fighter and their inner circle. 9/10