When it came to casting season 2 of Tulsa King, Rocky star Sylvester Stallone knew exactly what he was doing when he insisted on bringing in Frank Grillo to play a fourth-generation Kansas City mobster. In fact, he personally called Grillo to talk about his role as Bill Bevilaqua, who is also a rival to Stallone’s Dwight Manfredi. But before he dished out the mobster beatdowns for Taylor Sheridan, Grillo dominated as a legendary MMA fighter and coach in Kingdom.

The forgotten gritty drama series premiered in 2014 on the now-defunct DirecTV Audience Network, where it ran for three critically acclaimed seasons before ending its run in 2017. The show then landed on Netflix in 2020 for a short 10-month run before quickly disappearing, despite its newfound audience. Since then, the only way to watch the mixed martial arts drama has been to purchase it, but thanks to Prime Video, that’s no longer the case.

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What is the plot of Kingdom?

Cage fighting and interpersonal drama never looked so good

Set in Venice, California, Kingdom follows retired, legendary MMA fighter-turned-survivor-turned-trainer Alvey Kulina (Grillo) as he works to keep his gym, Navy St., afloat. In addition to training a whole new generation of fighters, he also struggles with managing his broken family and their complex, dysfunctional relationships. Alvey’s ex-wife is an addict working the streets, and his two sons, Jay and Nate, are both gifted fighters with their own set of troubles.

Season 1 quickly lets us know the show is not a formulaic sports TV show with an MMA plug as an afterthought. It’s an authentic story developed with realism by people, including Grillo, who know the fighting game. Its narrative isn’t just set in the world of mixed martial arts – it revolves around it and its craft, and portraying both properly is a top priority. Case in point: Jay Kulina.

Jay is as talented a fighter as he is volatile, but he struggles severely with a drug and alcohol addiction. With no money, no health insurance, and a badly broken hand, he agrees to a fight in a heavier weight class. In doing so, he knows he’ll have the opportunity to claim the break happened in the ring, leaving the promoter to foot the medical bill. It’s smart thinking, but realistically, it’s dangerous, and Jay knows it.

Kingdom is about more than just showcasing the gritty world of MMA, though. At its core, it’s a complex, often heartbreaking family and relationship drama centered around a once-legendary, now-broken man desperately trying to stay connected to himself in the face of drama, chaos, and emotional pain. Furthermore, it’s about the growth of its characters in their darkest times.

Kingdom features a cast of notable stars

Grillo isn’t the only big name driving this story

While Frank Grillo indeed dominates as Alvey Kulina throughout the entire series, he isn’t the only character of note. Singer-songwriter Nick Jonas stars as Alvey’s son Nate, who is a tremendous up-and-coming prizefighter with secrets so crippling they force him to rethink his entire existence. Jonathan Tucker (Snowfall, Debris) stars as Alvey’s oldest son, Jay, in an incredibly intense performance. Additionally, Kiele Sanchez (The Glades) stars as Alvey’s strong-willed girlfriend Lisa, who also co-owns Navy St. Gym with him.

Friday Night Lights star Matt Lauria also joins the cast in a performance that helped solidify his career in complex and physically demanding roles. Lauria stars as Ryan Wheeler, Lisa’s ex-fiancé, Alvey’s former student, an ex-con, and the former championship fighter known as The Destroyer.

Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winner Paul Walter Hauser (Richard Jewell, Black Bird) also stars in an unforgettable role as Wheeler’s roommate, Keith. His performance as a troubled but vulnerable former convict who takes up residence at the Navy St. Gym to overcome his bullied past and turn his life around is nothing short of heartfelt, vibrant, and endearingly humorous. Joanna Going (Mad Men) stars as Alvey’s ex-wife, Christina.

Grillo’s role in Kingdom changed his career trajectory

From legit martial artist to rising Hollywood star

While his role as Alvey Kulina was not Grillo’s first major TV role, it was his best and most defining performance prior to Bill Bevilaqua, and it was a career game changer. His experience as a real-life martial artist skilled in boxing and Brazilian jiu-jitsu has added serious depth to his acting roles.

During Kingdom’s run, the actor received critical acclaim for his gritty, emotionally complex portrayal of an MMA legend, struggling business owner, frustrated ex-husband, and single father. It shifted his status as a supporting character actor to a leading man and cemented his reputation as a dedicated, physical, authentic performer. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Grillo called his time on Kingdom a game changer in every way:

“As an actor, it changed my DNA… I would love to go and do more.”

The mid-2010s brought forth a Grillo-ssance of sorts, as the actor quickly became a go-to choice for intense, action-oriented roles full of grit and emotion. He dominated in his role on Kingdom no doubt helped launch his career, elevating him in popularity and leading to further major opportunities, such as working on Showtime’s Billions, the 2020 action movie Boss Level, and now, as series regular Bill Bevilaqua on Tulsa King.

There’s no telling how long Kingdom will be available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, or where it’ll land next once it does exit the platform, if it lands anywhere. If you’re as big a Grillo fan as I am, now is your chance to see the actor in his greatest career-defining television performance. It’s so good, in fact, it deserves a revival.

All three seasons of Kingdom are currently available on Prime Video to members at no additional cost.

Kingdom

Release Date

2014 – 2017-00-00

Network

Audience

Directors

Michael Morris, Gary Fleder, Adam Davidson, Craig Zisk, Dennie Gordon, John Dahl