Fightland is taking the week off before its Season 1 finale, which makes this the perfect time to look back at the seven episodes we’ve seen so far.

If you’ve fallen behind, now is a good time to catch up. And if you’ve been watching every week, a few episodes are definitely worth revisiting.

So, with seven episodes down and one to go, here’s how we rank Fightland Season 1 so far, counting down to the episode that came out on top.

(Courtesy Starz) 7. Fightland Season 1 Episode 2: Brick by Brick

Fightland Season 1 Episode 2‘s “Brick by Brick” picks up right where the Fightland series premiere leaves off, with Jay walking in on Duke standing over a dead body.

Duke’s revenge plan is already going sideways, and this episode makes it clear that eight years of planning haven’t made him any more patient.

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There is plenty of action, and the episode does raise the stakes. Unfortunately, they also use that ridiculous mannequin as a dead body.

I know 50 Cent had enough budget to find something more realistic. Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it, and this episode lands at the bottom of my list.

6. Fightland Season 1 Episode 3: No Innocents (Courtesty of Starz)

By Fightland Season 1 Episode 3‘s “No Innocents,” Duke gets even more reckless, and his revenge plan becomes everybody else’s problem.

A lot is going on. Too much.

Kim is stepping up, Zeek is making questionable moves, secrets are coming out, and apparently stealing drugs wasn’t enough because now there’s a bomb.

The casino bombing raises the stakes and pushes the war surrounding the Marshalls into dangerous territory.

It is a solid episode, but compared with what comes later, the best of Fightland is still ahead.

5. Fightland Season 1 Episode 1: The Only Round That Matters Is the Next One (Courtesy of Starz)

The Fightland season premiere lands at No. 5 because it has the heavy lifting of setting up everything that follows.

In “The Only Round That Matters Is the Next One,” Duke returns to London after eight years in prison with revenge on his mind.

We meet the Marshalls, learn about his complicated history with Joy, and see the loss that sent his life in a completely different direction.

The premiere packs a lot into its runtime, but it gives Fightland a strong foundation. By the end, the relationships are complicated, and Duke’s plan is already creating problems.

It may not have the payoff of later episodes, but none of those moments work without the story this episode sets in motion.

4. Episode 4: Protect Yourself at All Times (Courtesty of Starz)

Fightland Season 1 Episode 4 stands out because Fightland slows things down just enough to let us see another side of its men.

The episode emphasizes emotion more than violence. The guys start dropping some of the bravado and finally let their guards down.

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That gives us a chance to get to know them beyond the boxing, crime, and revenge. We see more of what drives their choices and the emotions beneath all that toughness.

“Protect Yourself at All Times” proves Fightland does not need somebody getting punched, shot, or blown up every few minutes to keep things interesting.

3. Fightland Season 1 Episode 6: There Is a War Coming (Courtesy of Starz)

Kingsley is back, and his presence immediately changes Fightland’s temperature.

After spending most of the season hearing what this man is capable of, we finally get to watch him move through this world and remind everybody why he has so much power.

Duke also gets closer to the revenge he’s been chasing since the premiere, while the people around Kingsley start making their own moves.

“There Is a War Coming” feels like the point where everything starts closing in, setting up the season’s final stretch.

2. Fightland Season 1 Episode 7: Without Me, There Is No You (Courtesy of Starz)

Fightand Season 1 Episode 7 earns the No. 2 spot because we finally get the showdown between Duke and Kingsley that the season has been building toward.

The showdown itself is a little disappointing. After all that buildup, I expected more, but finally seeing it happen still gives the episode some weight.

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We also get more of the backstory between Duke and his father. It adds another emotional layer to Duke and helps us understand just how complicated that relationship became.

Most importantly, “Without Me, There Is No You” sets us up for what I think will be a fantastic finale. Nearly everyone has a reason to be fed up with Kingsley now.

1. Fightland Season 1 Episode 5: I Want This (Courtesty of Starz)

Five episodes in, Fightland finally starts delivering the payoff that all that family drama, revenge, and tension had been building toward.

There is plenty to choose from here, from Aiden’s kidnapping and rescue to some strong emotional moments involving Duke, Gazzer, and Jay.

Then there is Joy.

After Cece tells her that finding her kidnapped son is none of her business, Joy gets fed up and slaps her so hard I felt it through the screen.

Honestly, the slap alone might have earned “I Want This” the top spot. Add Kingsley’s homecoming at the end, and there was no question which episode was No. 1 for me.

(Courtesy of Starz)

Over to you, TV Fanatics!

Have you been watching Fightland? How would you rank the first seven episodes, and which one takes your top spot?

If you haven’t, there’s still time to catch up. The first seven episodes are streaming now on STARZ.

Fightland returns Friday, September 25, with the season finale at 9/8c on STARZ.

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