At the end of the television premiere of “Lights Out,” retired former heavyweight champion Patrick Leary (Holt McCallany) is punching his anger out on a guy at a bar, and later on a man who’s wronged him. But then the scene flashes back to him telling his daughter he doesn’t fight anymore.
“Sometimes you miss hitting people,” he tells an interviewer.
Plot elements of the show echo the recent movie “The Fighter” or classic boxing tales such as “Rocky.” But unlike the characters in those films, “Lights” Leary isn’t seeking success, fame or fortune — he’s already had all of that. No, what he’s seeking is retribution and redemption.
These elements are what make the sports drama “Lights Out” more gritty, dark and interesting than your run-of-the-mill boxing tale.
So here’s the basic premise: Leary, played by the perfectly sarcastic McCallany, has just lost a huge fight at the height of his career. He is battered and bruised, both physically and mentally, but he’s not ready to give up. His wife, Theresa (Catherine McCormack), however, begs him to stop and forces him to choose between her or boxing.
Five years later we find out he chose a life with Theresa and his three daughters. Contrasting to the gritty boxing world, Leary lives in a huge suburban house (a mansion by most standards), works part-time as a stay-at-home dad and part-time at a boxing studio. He supports his wife’s dream to go to medical school, his daughter’s finances and a huge mortgage.
Despite this picture of domesticity, Leary longs for revenge against the boxing opponent who he believes wrongfully took his crown from him.
A lot like “The Sopranos,” “Lights Out” involves regular, everyday people committing violent crimes through a veneer of normalcy in suburbia.
Leary not only struggles with his anger and is haunted by revenge, but he struggles to financially support the dreams and the lifestyle of his family. In the first episode he seems desperate to get every dollar he can.
The show is not action-packed or inspiring like most sports-inspired media. But that’s what makes it not just good, but potentially great. And though everything looks washed out and gray (in typical FX style), the subplots between Leary and his daughter provide the perfect lightheartedness when everything else feels so dark.
As long as the show stays away from sports-soap cliches, the show is definitely one of the best sports dramas to date.
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