It’s been 12 years since FX’s boxing drama “Lights Out” premiered. As I finished watching the Lakers documentary on FX “Lights Out” automatically started playing next and I decided to give the show a rewatch. Here are 12 rounds (takeaways) 12 years later:
12: Mr. Noodle plays the bad guy. Bill Irwin who may be best known as Sesame Street’s Mr. Noodle plays a surprisingly believable and charismatic organized criminal.
11: Lights Out IMHO is the best boxing drama produced for television. Often, based on what you've just watched, you'll want to head back to your neutral corner and take a rest. Lights Out is that intense -- and that good.
10: Marriage stress and communication was a much larger part of the family theme and story than I expected. Highlighted in Lights and Theresa, the opening 5 minutes initially seemed brutal and risqué because FX likes to push the limit on tv, but it was a well done reflection on the post match trauma followed by a functional sex scene that encapsulated the state of the Leary marriage.
9: Somehow I never connected that Pedro Pascal portrayed Omar “The Armenian Avenger” Assarian. I wish Omar would have remained in the background through the rest of the season.
8: The boxer vs MMA fighter debate is displayed as Lights fights mob enforcer Dokaj played by Bas Rutten.
7: Billy Brown was an imposing figure waiting for his showdown with Lights. And he was 39/40 during this series and looked amazingly intimidating. The voice of DJ Professor K is an underrated talent.
6: Mob ties, brain damage, IRS, fixed fights, promoters, and more are highlighted throughout the show in a raw and gritty fashion.
5: The Leary men have a tumultuous and believable relationship as they try to navigate their trials.
4: Elizabeth Marvel is fantastic as Margaret Leary, the matriarchal figure and familial glue that bridges the gaps between her brothers and father.
3: The Leary children are well acted and very believable. Especially in their scenes with Holt McCallany, the characters individual connections to their father are evident and well executed.
2: Reg E. Cathey’s performance as Barry K. Word is great and showed a boxing promoter character not channeling the constant Don King tropes.
1: Holt McCallany crushes the role as Patrick “Lights” Leary. Holt is completely believable as an aging former heavyweight champion trying to navigate life.
Regrettably we never got a season 2 of this well done drama that went beyond sports and touched so many aspects of family, loyalty, desperation, passion, forgiveness, and a myriad of other emotions. Lights out deserves so many more flowers than it currently receives.