Fightland may arrive wrapped in boxing, crime and revenge, but Richard Pepple believes the series has much more working beneath the surface. During an interview with The Movie Blog, Pepple explained that he and series star Howard Charles wanted Gazzer and Duke’s relationship to feel deeper than a familiar father-and-son conflict. Gazzer’s impact on Duke’s life is undeniable and Pepple views Gazzer as a wholly complete character carrying his own mistakes, grief and regret. I think part of the way Duke is, is because of the failings he had as a father towards him,” Pepple said. Through Gazzer, Fightland examines how parental failures continue affecting a family long after the original mistakes were made.