Dynamic, bloody and engrossing, the show is an engaging account of revenge, fractured family dynamics and unbridled ego.

While the show has its flaws, the six episodes of “Fightland” available for review were a promising introduction to the dark underbelly of London’s criminal underworld. Bolstered by engaging lead performances, gripping action and nervy cliffhangers, it’s a worthy addition to Britain’s thriving crime drama landscape and has all the ingredients to become the genre’s next binge-worthy hit.

All this has a steadily mounting pace with efficient moments of undercover suspense, although plausibility issues aside, the relentless toughness of Fightland can make it a slightly dour experience. It could benefit from a few more distinctive moments, flashes of dialogue not necessarily related to plot, or perhaps just some more boxing.

Those seeking a thought-provoking, subversive, awards-worthy watch will almost certainly come away underwhelmed, while those comfortable with more indulgent, sensationalized entertainment will get plenty of mileage from Jackson and Starz’s latest collaboration.

Fightland‘s strengths don’t necessarily outweigh its weaknesses—again, it’s hard to imagine a single character becoming anyone’s favorite—but its fundamentals are solid enough that future seasons could be a dramatic improvement on season one.

Fightland feels incongruously sanitized throughout, without actually being appropriate (or engaging) for all ages.

This is a crime drama, through and through, built around blunt-force action scenes and braindead emotional logic.