Kingdom got me back into MMA in a big way, I can't remember how or where I first heard about it, but it was way back, and being based in the UK, it was rock hard to find and watch it as it aired on the 'Audience Network'.
I know.. I have never heard of the Audience Network either.. or DirecTV, the place you needed to be a subscriber to initially watch it.
After finally getting my hands on it and becoming absorbed in Season 1, then 2 and 3 - then some fucking idiot decided to cancel the whole show!
Here are a couple of hard facts.
- Kingdom has an 8.4 rating on IMDB
- Kingdom has an 80% tomatometer and 87% audience score on Rotten tomatoes.
That is pretty good going, and whichever berk decided to cancel a show on those sort of ratings needs to take a really good look at their executive decision-making skills. Everyone was surprised, angry, confused - there was so much more to explore in each one of those characters.
I am sure I remember reading (after it was cancelled) that the owning network was not going to allow it to stream elsewhere...
Well here we are on July 1st and it has just landed on Netflix!
BE WARNED: THIS ARTICLE IS FULL OF JAY KULINA GIFS π€·π» and if you have no idea who that is, think a blend of Conor McGregor, Naseem Hamed, Mike Perry and Dan Hardy. Below is Jonathan Tucker who plays Jay Kulina watching McGregor dismantle Eddie Alvarez..
Trust me, you'll love Jay Kulina's passion and vulnerability, Jonathan Tucker plays him magnificently, not to mention the body transformation he had to go through.
Kingdom played a part in reigniting my passion for MMA and for founding thisMMAlife. I have trained Muay Thai for a long time, even competed, but just didn't put the same amount of effort in after my children were born, then general life just took over, as it does. I still kept up with MMA, primarily through the UFC but after seeing Kingdom for the first time I remembered what I loved about the sport, and it wasn't necessarily the combat.
What I love about MMA and what Kingdom represents magnificently is the characters in the sport, how real they are, how much of a struggle it is, how authentic these athletes are and their day to day struggles they have to make it in the most brutal of all sports. No other sport ask as much, no other sport means as much when individuals finally breakthrough and that is the narrative that Kingdom delivers on perfectly, it is a character-based drama and it is absolutely brutal.
If you want more evidence then check out this Reddit post below ππΌ lots of great comments from the community.
Somehow I've only just heard of the show, and I was just wondering if anyone had seen it and if they know if it is any good? I've been looking for some good MMA TV drama for a while now, and wanna know if this is worth a watch. The show has reasonably good ratings on imdb, but I thoughtβ¦
And if you want more information on the show, it's background, the cast and episode guides, checkout the Wikipedia page below.
Kingdom is an American drama television series created by Byron Balasco. The series premiered on October 8, 2014 on the Audience Network and concluded on August 2, 2017. It stars Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, Matt Lauria, Jonathan Tucker, Nick Jonas, and Joanna Going. Season one consists of ten episodes.
I believe Kingdom will do well for Netflix, and it will rise like a phoenix from the ashes for a 4th season.
Check out Kingdom on Netflix but prepare yourself to miss a few days training whilst you binge it.
Hey, if you're looking to get started with MMA blogging then why not start your journey on This MMA Life? We are a welcoming, friendly, progressive and non-toxic, in fact we're the only martial arts community that mirrors the code of conduct you'll find on the mats. Honour, respect, diversity, tolerance and inclusivity. Join the revolution.
Top comments (13)
About time! I only got to watch season 1. I didn't want to pay on iTunes or Prime. Clearing some time in my diary for this one for sure x thanks for the heads up!
I paid for mine π
Ditto
I never heard of this show till I saw it on Netflix. I just binge watched the whole series in the last week and a half. This show is great. I hope they bring it back now that it has a audience on Netflix.
That is my hope, really weird how they just canned it. I think if it is popular then there is no reason why the original producers wouldn't commission another season. So gritty!
Great isnβt it!?
Ah man, saw this a few years ago, defo worth another watch. I so hope they make Kingdom Season 4, such a good show.
100% want a season 4 of Kingdom, MMA fans would go nuts, cancelled way too early!!
Seen it, was amazing, definately want season 4, let's prey.
Such a good show, love Kingdom, best MMA show ever, canβt believe itβs finally on Netflix. We need a season 4!!!!
I have booked 3 days blackout in my diary just for Kingdom on Netflix. Navy Street here I come.
Have you seen that they have released Navy St merchandise now? π Jonathan Tucker showed it off on his Instagram!
Brilliant series, I so hope another season comes out....!