Kingdom (2014)

Kingdom feels genuine, and it’s earned that attribute from turning minor moments into major ones.

So we have solid setups here for tales of love, redemption, friendship and the same championship dreams that made Rocky an American icon.

Kingdom follows in the tradition of great fight films like “Raging Bull,” “Somebody Up There Likes Me” and “Rocky.” Three seasons aren’t enough, but at least Kingdom isn’t going down without a fight.

It's almost as if, like its testosterone-fueled fighters, the show loses its mind every once in a while and just has to punch something, and punch it and punch it and punch it. Between these attacks, however, it relaxes into well-written scenes in which the wounded characters express ideas and feelings other than rage.

After an exceedingly violent first episode, it eases up a notch, and the show is better for it.

The second season of Direc­TV’s MMA fighter family saga Kingdom circles familiar territory, but the third episode is a knockout, with a swerve that could permanently divide this fractured family.

Most of all, DirecTV seems to have a serious case of “Ray Donovan” envy. But the series remains watchable because of otherwise competent scripts, convincing verisimilitude in character and setting, a lot of throbbing, rippling, sweaty eye candy, crackling action scenes and frequently strong, nuanced performances.