The original post: /r/television by /u/imcalledaids on 2025-08-13 21:55:00+00:00.
First of all, let me re clarify, this is about the MMA show, not the Korean one (although what I have heard about that is all positive).
After my girlfriend and I had watched Warrior (2011), I wanted to keep up the MMA vibe in the household, my girlfriend was more ambivalent about it. All I knew was this TV show that also starred Frank Grillo as an MMA coach. I read some reviews from different Reddit users that described it as “a tv show set in the world of MMA, not a tv show about MMA.” They compared it to Friday Night Lights, granted I haven’t seen it, but I’ve heard really positive reviews. So I asked her if we could give it a go together, and if it’s not her thing, I’ll continue to watch it in my own time.
What we expected was a show that had a lot of fighting, with some family drama sprinkled. What we were greeted with was 3 seasons of beautiful camera work, clever editing, a soundtrack that felt like it could’ve been pulled from the Life is Strange games, and above all- some of the most gut wrenching performances I have seen in a long time.
One of the most stand out performances came from Jonathan Tucker playing Jay Kulina. There wasn’t a single scene where he didn’t steal the show. His performance of a damaged eldest son was raw, and real.
I also want to give props to Nick Jonas (yes, the same guy who sung Introducing Me in Disneys hit original movie Camp Rock 2). His performance as Nate Kulina (Jays younger brother) was amazing. Whilst he certainly is not the focus of a lot of the episode, it was a pleasure to see him with range.
The show tackles masculinity, and specifically toxic masculinity in such a delicate way. Throughout much of the show I looked at these men poorly, they are victims to their own toxicity, but then they would tell another they love each other before a fight, or they wouldn’t be too afraid to cry in front of each other. It allowed walls to break down for myself that I maybe didn’t realise I was forcing up.
And also props for the show to be short, but to actually have a conclusion that feels real.