Fightland Already Looks Like British Power – And I’m Here for It

I wavered back and forth about whether I wanted to tune in to Fightland.

A boxing drama didn’t immediately scream “must-watch” to me, even though I’m a sucker for sports dramas, though I’m not a diehard for sports in general. Don’t ask me to make sense of that; I can’t.

Then I found out Nicholas Pinnock was starring in it, and that’ll do it every time.

After how phenomenal Pinnock was in the criminally canceled For Life, his casting alone made Fightland worth checking out.

That series proved 50 Cent’s productions can deliver just as much heart and character work as action and spectacle.

In these shows, we get characters who depict how multifaceted humans are.

They’re in pursuit of so many of the things that drive us all in one way or another: power, love, family, security, and a theme that weaves in and out of so many of his shows: vengeance.

As with the Power Universe, there’s something Shakespearean in the quality of fixating on the Old Bard’s greatest themes and setting them in modern contexts, where we can engage with them in a unique light or even in a familiar context.

Whether you’re familiar with the type of urban flair or the criminal underpinnings, or you’re a mere observer of stories you’ve only heard about but never really conceptualized or understood, this type of crime drama has something to offer.

It’s why the Power Universe expanded into an impressive franchise that has sparked so many spinoffs; it’s easy to lose count, yet it still proves there’s an endless supply of stories worth telling.

In many ways, 50 Cent is akin to Taylor Sheridan — these two titans have left such an indelible mark on the television industry and remain unstoppable.

They understand that the key lies in finding a deeply familiar, personal formula that works, and then not letting up.

They’ve cornered their respective markets and demographics, all the while not unwilling to push things further and to broader heights if need be.

So, yeah, when I first saw Fightland’s concept, my thought was: “So British Power?”

And after watching the trailer, I can confirm that it really does feel like British Power. But that’s nothing to indict in the least here.

It’s actually what may be Fightland’s greatest strength.

Fightland doesn’t tease the idea of straying too far away from a certain premise. The trailer does promise revenge, criminal underworlds, illicit activities, shifting alliances, and drugs – oh, definitely the drugs.

Essentially, 50 Cent is taking the best of what his scripted content has to offer and expanding it overseas, marking the first International series under his purview.

And from the trailer, it already seems like the perfect fit.

As someone who devours British crime procedurals every bit as much as American ones, the idea of having something that scratches the itch for series like Top Boy and Gangs of London is exciting.

It’s also exciting that Fightland approaches this from a different angle, with a boxing-world setting that both appeals to American audiences and seems to capture some of the essence of British audiences.

Setting the series in the boxing world feels like a natural fit.

Between crooked promoters, high-stakes gambling, money laundering, and organized crime, combat sports have always made fertile ground for crime dramas. Fightland looks ready to capitalize on all of it.

Fightland promises to have it all: wealthy, powerful people desperate to keep said power and wealth; hungry individuals looking for a come-up; and plots and plays worth making everywhere you turn.

Lead Duke’s background as a man who lost everything due to promoter Kingsley, and fresh out of eight years in an American prison, at that, already promises another complicated protagonist who will take us on a ride.

Duke infiltrating the organization of the man who may have destroyed his life is the type of juicy conflict that makes for great stories.

Vengeance always lures us in.

In the gripping trailer, we see Duke is doing just as much fighting outside of the ring as he is in it.

And it’s gritty and appeals to the baser instincts we possess, and that’s always great to watch.

We’re getting the promise of morally dubious characters, legacy, honor, and a dark redemption.

So now, when I think, “So Fightland is British Power, innit?” It’s not with trepidation, cheekiness, or wariness, but with a resounding, “Hell yeah.”

If Fightland delivers on its trailer’s promise, Starz may have another franchise-worthy crime drama on its hands.

It has the familiar ingredients that made Power such a phenomenon, but the British setting and boxing backdrop give it an identity all its own.

It sounds like the best of both worlds to me.

Fightland premieres July 31 on Starz. And We’ll have you covered!