SyFy's "The Almighty Johnsons"

Hobbits out, Norse Gods in. Alerted to this show's existence by a small blurb in Entertainment Weekly, more's the pity if I had missed out on this delightful New Zealand import. "Almighty Johnsons" considers the question what if Gods and Goddesses existed on Earth in the 21st century? Due to a split between the two genders, however, they don't have their full powers anymore. That's where our main character, Axel, comes in. The youngest of the four brothers Johnson, Axel isn't told about his Norse ancestry until his 21st birthday. On that day his grandfather, who he thought was his uncle (the aging process gets slowed down when you're the family Oracle), informs him that he is the modern reincarnation of Odin. Basically, the head honcho of Gods. A far-fetched notion on a good day, the fact that Axel seems the least likely candidate to be a heavyweight God adds to the fun of the premise. Nonetheless, if Odin finds and reunites with the female reincarnation of Frig, head honcho Goddess of marriage, all of their powers will be restored to their full capabilities. If, in the meantime during his quest, he gets himself killed, all of his brothers will die with him. The show has a strong sense of humor, especially in recognizing some of the more absurd aspects of its concepts, yet the dangers feel real, as does the family bickering and loyalty that grounds the show with resounding emotional weight.

DirecTV's "Kingdom"

While I came into "Kingdom" interested to learn more about the world of MMA fighting, what elevated the show to the next level for me is its portrayal of the damaged relations between a father and his two sons. While Alvey may have his life relatively together now, struggling to keep his Navy St. Gym afloat against financial troubles, it wasn't so long ago that addictions almost ruined him. It's a time his oldest son, Jay, remembers well, and although he's caught up in addictions of his own at the season's start, he took care of his younger brother, Nate, when his dad couldn't. He continues to do so, if in his flawed, well-meaning, way. That his sober dad's response is to recommend Nate keep his distance from his sibling, because of the damage he fears Jay could inflict on Nate's promising fighting career (Jay had one of those, too, once upon a time), is hypocritical. Alvey may be right in pointing out the obvious--Jay's house is a mess, where neither naked women or drugs are an uncommon sight--yet Nate continues to live there anyway, the quintessential neutral party. The first season came out on DVD in Oct. so I'm not completely caught up yet (the first half of the second season just finished airing on DirecTV as well) but for now I am more than content to be caught in the grip of this can't-look-away-from family portrait, knowing full well it's only a matter of time before it explodes. After all, these guys are professional fighters. They know how to throw a punch.