DirecTV, Audience Network, Balasco Productions
This is so far out of my normal genre, but the transformation factor and the performances of all the actors got me good. Kingdom was created by Byron Belasco based his passion for Mixed Martial Arts. Debuted in 2014, the series is a family drama that takes place in an MMA gym in Venice California, owned by patriarch and former fighter Alvey Kulina. He struggles with maintaining his gym, with repairing strained relationships with his two sons and with remaining relevant. His eldest son, Jay, played by Jonathan Tucker is the lion heart of the family with a big, wild personality, often trading fighting for his vices. His youngest, Nate, played by Nick Jonas, is quiet and reserved, trying to make a name for himself in MMA. Friday Night Lights and Parenthood alum, Matt Lauria plays Ryan Wheeler, a fighter recently released from prison, who now has to work his way back into the cage.
Every actor on Kingdom gives outstanding performances, including Lauria's struggle with his past (his performance with his on-screen dad in Season 2 will level you) and Jonas' struggle with his present, but it's Jonathan Tucker that delivers performances that are unnervingly unexpected with each episode. He completely embodies a fighter in the way he walks and moves through each scene. Tucker's performances and transformations are absolutely, undeniably mesmerizing – from his 30lb weight cut, to Jay's benders into the black. When Jay's up, he's larger than life, when he's down, he's out of reach. Playful, gentle, ferocious, and explosive – when it comes to protecting his brother, saving his mom, or winning a fight, Jay is unstoppable. He's a son, a brother, a fighter and a townie. As Jay tells an officer he's hell bent on harassing for information, 'I'm a very patient boy with no gainful employment and no place to be.’ He also gets the best lines.
Kingdom presently has two seasons (10 episodes in Season 1 - laying down the groundwork, 20 in Season 2 - digging in deep) and has been renewed for a third season, so plenty of solid content to burn through. My only critique for the show is that Kingdom is a tough name. Many movies and TV shows use the word Kingdom, making this particular series hard to find. So I wish you luck in seeking it out, but I assure you, for Jonathan Tucker's consistently remarkable, awe-inspiring performances, it's worth the hunt!