Kingpin (2003)

love it

i loved the show when it aired of tv and i love the product now it is so good. April 1, 2008

Too bad it was canceled

Finally NBC tries something a little cutting edge (even if a blatant copycat of other mafia shows) and what do they do, cancel it. No wonder they are no longer top dog. March 22, 2008

SOUTH OF THE BORDER SOPRANOS

Miguel Cadena (Yancy Aria) is a young American educated Mexican in the employ of one of the biggest drug runners in the country. This mini-series tells his story not only directly through his eyes, but through the lived of those his business touches as well.

When the drug lord goes insane and finds a price on his head, Miquel and his brother take matters into their own hands. Seeing the time is ripe to make their move, they take out their boss and attempt to maneuver themselves into his role. Just to insure things, they take out his son, the next in line as well.

But their plan gets twisted when the boss' brother comes out of retirement for the time being to run things. Even with him in charge, the pair make moves to increase not only their business, but their power as well.

As all of this goes one, we are also brought into the family life of Miguel. His wife (Sheryl Lee) is a high powered attorney who helps him in many of the decisions he must make. The pair is the doting parents of a young son, a boy they insure knows nothing of their lifestyle or business ventures.

As members of the organization move to take over and win their place at the table, Miguel must maneuver his way around them as often as he does the law. He does so with a smooth style, an ease, a coolness that reveals him to be more deadly an adversary than most would give him credit for.

Other plot lines? How about the plastic surgeon going through a nasty divorce who wants to divest himself from dealing drugs? All he needs to do is dispense with his last shipment and pay off what he owes. This leads to a hip hop record producer who uses the load to finance his dreams of making the big time. And he in turn connects with a DEA agent on the skids with the department after having lost a partner and being wounded by a drug dealer.....who works for Miguel. See how nicely these pieces all come together?

The story is believable and fascinating to watch. It's like seeing the strategies of a chess game made plain and understandable, feeling compelled to watch until the next move is played, and then waiting for the next and the next and the next. Which leaves you feeling a void once the show is over because it doesn't actually end! This was a series on NBC for a while that never seemed to draw in the ratings it deserved. Now we'll have to wait and see if they actually finish the story!

The last time this topic was given any intriguing attention was in the book by James Mills THE UNDERGROUND EMPIRE, which told the story of three individuals involved in the drug trade and where it took them. This show captures that feeling of being a part of the story and going behind the scenes. It makes for interesting viewing and dynamite television. Had it been given a chance to find it's core audience on a cable station, this show would have rivaled THE SOPRANOS for best crime family drama.
March 15, 2008

One of the Best Series ever on NBC!!!

Kingpin was one of thee best shows ever produced on NBC! The characters are not A list actors, yet they do a great job.

The price cannot be beat either! When the DVD set first came out I paid around fifty bucks through the television site! Here at Amazon it's a fraction of the cost! May 16, 2007

Good tv Drama

When I was in high school I really got into this show and then just like that it was off the air. The episodes that are on this dvd are good but you dont really get an ending. The show kind of wraps up at the end, but when its over you just want more. Thats why I gave it four stars. March 22, 2007

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