10 Episodes
Short on time? Here's the essentials:
"Kingdom" Season 1 centers on Alvey Kulina, a struggling ex-MMA fighter and gym owner. His life is complicated by his sons: Jay, battling addiction, and Nate, who is recovering from a brutal attack. Alvey also takes in Ryan Wheeler, a former MMA champion recently released from prison, offering him a place to train.
The season's core conflict revolves around Alvey's efforts to keep his gym afloat and manage his fractured family. Key turning points include Nate's violent assault, which reveals a gangster's message, and Jay's desperate attempt to force his mother into detox. Ryan struggles with sobriety and his past, leading to a violent brawl with Alvey.
The season concludes with Ryan winning the King Beast Lightweight Championship, but Alvey's personal life unravels. Lisa declares their relationship over, and Alvey is left to confront the profound changes in his life.
Season 1 of Kingdom covers episodes 1-10. Here's everything that happened:
Season 1, Episode 1: Set Yourself on Fire - Alvey Kulina, an ex-MMA fighter, struggles to keep his Navy St. gym financially viable with his girlfriend Lisa. His youngest son, Nate, trains for an upcoming fight, while his older son, Jay, battles addiction. Lisa's ex-fiancé, former MMA champion Ryan Wheeler, is released from prison, and Alvey, seeing an opportunity, offers Ryan a place to train at his gym. The episode concludes with Nate being brutally attacked and beaten after leaving home alone.
Season 1, Episode 2: Glass Eye - Alvey struggles with feelings of being washed up, while Lisa tries to convince him that getting Ryan Wheeler back in the cage is their gym's financial solution. Jay aggressively seeks answers about Nate's attack, leading to a confrontation with a detective that lands him in jail. Despite his injuries, Nate remains tight-lipped about his assailants. By episode's end, Ryan reluctantly returns to the gym, while Jay also expresses a desire to fight again.
Season 1, Episode 3: Piece of Plastic - Ryan begins a new job with ex-cons and struggles during his first time back in the cage, doubting his abilities. Alvey meets with Ryan's parole officer, while Nate starts physical therapy after his attack. Jay confronts his mother's pimp and gives Christina a burner phone, offering her a way out. The episode concludes with Christina using the phone to arrange a lunch with Jay, hinting at a potential shift in her life.
Season 1, Episode 4: Flowers - Jay kidnaps his mother for forced detox, securing her in his room to get clean. Meanwhile, Alvey is on edge due to unwelcome gifts from investors. Lisa commits to helping Jay secure a fight. In a critical reveal, Alvey learns the truth about Nate's attack when Nate finally tells him the gangsters' message, then walks away from his father.
Season 1, Episode 5: Eat Your Own Cooking - Alvey grapples with revenge fantasies and self-control. Lisa's father, Ron, visits, leading to a drunken night where he reveals Lisa desires children and her late mother disapproved of Alvey. Jay re-enters the cage with a welterweight, planning to fake a hand injury for financial gain. Nate's love life progresses, while Ryan and Keith face loneliness during Family Day at the halfway house.
Season 1, Episode 6: Please Refrain from Crying - Ryan seeks his father's forgiveness, while Christina bonds with Nate, sharing family history and her past. Alvey and Jay work to mend their relationship. Pushed by Michael's relentless bullying, Keith takes drastic measures to end it, leading to a shocking and irreversible outcome at the halfway house.
Season 1, Episode 7: Animator / Annihilator - Ryan moves into the gym, struggling with his sobriety and past, leading to a destructive rampage and a violent brawl with Alvey. Despite the fight, Alvey recognizes Ryan's readiness and calls a promoter to arrange a press conference for his comeback. Meanwhile, Christina decides to divorce Alvey, seeking to move on with her life. Nate confronts an old acquaintance, and the men who attacked him are arrested.
Season 1, Episode 8: The Gentle Slope - Jay seeks revenge for Nate's beating but falters upon seeing the gangster's child. Christina reveals Alvey's past suicide attempt to Jay, later reconnecting intimately with Alvey. Lisa confronts Alvey, revealing she consulted a lawyer and still has feelings for Ryan, who confesses his love for her, but she rejects him. The episode concludes with Alvey breaking down, realizing the profound shifts in his life.
Season 1, Episode 9: Cut Day - Ryan and Jay endure grueling weight cuts for their fights. Alvey is absent, confronting personal demons. Nate decides not to press charges and commits to returning to MMA. Both fighters make weight, and Ryan confesses his love for Lisa. The episode concludes with Alvey calling Lisa, who offers **no response when asked if she still loves
Season 1, Episode 10: King Beast - On fight night, Jay secures a quick T.K.O.. Ryan Wheeler makes his triumphant return, winning the King Beast Lightweight Championship. Lisa confronts Alvey, declaring she's not coming home and doesn't miss him, signifying the end of their relationship. Christina battles her sobriety, and Nate explores his sexuality.
