MMA Drama KINGDOM Grapples With Pain And Acceptance As Season 3 Comes To A Close

About a year has passed since the heart-wrenching Season 2 finale of American mixed martial arts drama Kingdom, but while the motley crew of Navy St. Gym seems to have undergone plenty of change, Season 3 makes it clear that some things remain the same.

Kingdom comes back with Alvey Kulina (Frank Grillo) deciding to get off his antidepressants and learning to come to terms with his identity as a fighter, a father, and a son.

Jay Kulina (Jonathan Tucker)—now a family man—tries his hand on real estate, but inevitably returns to his old dysfunctional self after being fired for getting caught fighting with Ryan Wheeler (Matt Lauria). Ryan, on the other hand, suddenly has to cope with his roommate’s murky past, as well as his own penchant for violence.

Behind the sound and fury: Untangling knots in the minds of Kingdom’s MMA fighters

Mixed martial arts (MMA) has captivated the world with the skill, technicality, and showmanship of its fighters.

But while the theatrics, striking, and grappling provide the immediate thrill of the sport, the characters of the series Kingdom show us that there’s more to these fights than just the outward spectacle. In the show, we see that the internal battles of fighters are just as important as their five rounds in the cage.

Nate, ably played by actor/singer/popstar Nick Jonas, wants to prove that he is still one of Navy Street’s strongest despite a brutal street beat down and his reserved personality.

Ryan (Matt Lauria), a lightweight division champion meanwhile is fighting to overcome the mental toll of an injured body as he prepares for a title defense.