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Starz's 'Fightland': Boxing Noir Falls Flat
30 Jul
Summary
- Duke Kilroy seeks revenge after prison for a crime he claims was impulsive.
- The series blends boxing and London's criminal underworld tropes unremarkably.
- Critics find the drama lacks expected violence, sex, and gritty dialogue.
The new Starz drama 'Fightland,' with executive producer Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson involved, fails to distinguish itself within the crime and boxing genres. The series centers on Duke Kilroy, a London-based boxer who, after winning a heavyweight title fight, finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and violence.
Duke's life unravels when he discovers his manager, Kingsley Marshall, is a crime boss. An attack during the title fight, resulting in the death of someone close to Duke, leads to his imprisonment for nearly eight years.
Upon release, Duke returns to London seeking vengeance against Kingsley. However, he discovers Kingsley has vanished, leaving his criminal empire to his children, Zeek and Cebella. They struggle to maintain control of their father's operations.
Created by Daniel Fajemisin-Duncan and Marlon Smith, with writing contributions from Damione Macedon and Raphael Jackson Jr., the pilot is criticized for its lack of depth. Howard Charles stars as Duke, delivering a performance with intensity but little range due to the one-dimensional characterization.
The series is noted for its tepid violence and sanitized sex scenes, drawing comparisons to 'Power' but lacking its adult confidence. Critics suggest the show needed to push its content to greater extremes, offering more violence and florid dialogue to match its ostensible subject matter.
