So, that's how I picked up Kingdom and I must say...boy am I happy I did it. This show is EPIC. It's the most incredible sageuk I've seen in a long time. I loved EVERYTHING about it. The story, the production, the special effects, the brilliant acting, the cinematography. So, if you're pondering whether to watch this or not, my only advice would be DO IT!! WATCH IT NOW!! IT'S AMAZING!! Seriously, I'm sure you won't regret it. Besides, thankfully season 2 is out already on Netflix so I can binge watch it till dawn *insert evil laugh here*
So yeah, go watch Kingdom now!!
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This show has received a lot of amazing reviews and attention from audiences that aren't typically asian drama watchers and that only proves this show's ability to surpass language and cultural barriers and capture everyone's hearts and keep us at the edge of our seats.
There are many amazing reviews already that express my feelings perfectly but I'll still say a few words for each category, in case whoever is reading this still isn't convinced.
The plot is absolutely AMAZING, BRILLIANT, EXCITING, GENIUS etc etc. It really doesn't get any better than this. The whole story is so intriguing, heartbreaking and incredibly cruel, as it portrays the biggest flaws of humanity. The writer and everyone involved in the production of the series did an incredible job at criticising our day's society through 1) a story about an epidemy that transforms people into flesh-craving monsters 2) set in the Joseon era, centuries before our present time. It's truly outstanding.
The cast is simply brilliant. I believed every actor, every emotion, every expression. I'm ashamed of not knowing these fantastic actors before this drama. I have to check their other works out!
The characters were so complex and raw that I found myself submerged in the story and living their adventures as if I was their companion. That's how realistic they were. Forget about all the stereotypes surrounding heroes and nation saviours: these people are trying to survive, not always in the most selfless way. I loved every single one of them. The fact that the Crown Prince is genuinely doing his best and beyond to help those people and be different from the selfish and coward "important" people is remarkable. I loved his character development; it might seem very small and irrelevant compared to the magnitude of the events, however, he is the one who has the power to save them all. The "small changes" in his character by the end of the season were so meaningful and completely relevant to the plot. I don't think there are any side characters as they all play very important roles and they're all PHENOMENAL, whether I loved them or hated them.
The music increased the tense sensation on my stomach and made me literally jump sometimes. It was so well chosen that I can't give it less than 10 stars.
The more I think about this drama, the more I love it and watch to rewatch it. I'm so glad I chose to give it a chance and I certainly don't regret it. I'll probably rewatch it before the new season stars... that's how obsessed I am!
I'm not a horror fan and I'm still scared of historical dramas thanks to my lack of knowledge and experience with these shows, but Kingdom was able to make my mind work at an incredible speed for two days and every time that I wasn't watching it I was thinking about watching it. Powerful show, in many ways. It deserves the 10 stars and I will happily add it to my favorites list.
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Story
The story was in my opinion very unique and not stretched out to the max, like a lot of kdramas are unfortunately. I could best describe this series as a mix between The Walking Dead and Train to Busan, but set in Joseon Korea. The story contains a lot of gore, just like TWD, and focuses on the struggles of the weak vs. the powerful and a crown prince who wants to fight for his people. What I mainly liked about the story is how comprehandable it was. What I usually dislike about Sageuk dramas is how overly complicted the political aspect of the story can be (at least to me). Furthermore, their wasn't any cringey romance anywhere to be seen (which is also unique for a Sageuk, at least the one's I've seen). However, Kingdom had this good balance of political struggles (legitamacy as a king, poverty and dealing with the disease which turns people in to zombies) paired with bloody action scenes and, on the other hand, light moments where beautiful nature is shown and sometimes a bit of romance.
The only thing I kind of missed in the series was more backstory and depth regarding the characters. There are some flashbacks, which make you feel a bit more attached to the main characters, but unfortunately the characters were quite flat and I hope to see this change in a season 2. (However, in the defense of the series: I think 6 episodes would have been to short to give an in depth story on every main character, so for this season I think it was a good decision to build up the story and hopefully a second season will elaborate more on the characters, and even some romance). Also, the reason I keep talking about a season 2 is because I feel like the story simply hasn't ended and it has so much more to offer, so it would be weird for there to not be a season 2 looking at how the series ended..
Acting/Cast
Overall I liked the cast and their acting. To be honest I never really pay attention to acting or notice it a lot unless it's cringingly bad. Also, except for Heo Junho (who's a great actor), I can't remember seeing any other cast members in other series/films, so I don't really feel like I can fully judge the actors yet, but as for now I think they were great.
Music
Music is also something I don't notice unless I find it very bad or unfitting, but in Kingdom that's not the case. There weren't any really memorable songs/osts because it's all instrumental as far as I remember. However, the director has made perfect use of music to build tension to keep you at the edge of your seat.
Rewatch Value
I'm not the type to rewatch series, but since this drama is so short and easily accesible through Netflix, I can actually see myself rewatching the series and that's why I scored it an 8.
Overall
I definitely recommend this drama to everyone who loves Sageuk and zombies/gore. The story is very short, but very interesting nonetheless. The acting and music was great overall and, though I didn't discuss it in depth, I loved the way it was filmed and the locations, like Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon/Biwon (the palace's so called 'secret garden' which can be seen in the trailer), were stunning. The only thing I think could have been better was the character depth, or actually the lack of it. Therefore I give this series an overall rating of 9 instead of a 10.
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This review may contain spoilers
I have been anticipating this one for over a year and bless Train To Busan putting the zombie-genre on Korea's map! This concept is literally so fresh, and I am surprised it hasn't been done so much before, because it is so smart putting zombie virus as a form of plague during times of actual plague and poverty. This drama really is stunning and worth the budget being sky-high, the camerawork, costumes and effects are amazing and money well-spent. The plot meshes zombie apocalypse with intriguing court politics in just the right way, and you think it is gonna get dragged out but instead the last episode just leaves you wanting for more. Also plots and characters that are getting more and more developed in the right pace, because they don't have time for emotions, they just gotta run as fast as they can. I also like having the Crown Prince as a center character, being from the highest class, while some of the real heroes of the story are the ones from the lower classes, like Seobi, the guard and the mysterious tigerhunger really doing the most.
I am so excited for the next chapter, and especially with the undead capable of being out and about in the day now.
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My only complaint would be at times the show does feel like it's dragging, however the scenes with the zombies as well as the delicious plot twists more than make up for that, I'd say this is great for fans of the zombie genre ass well as people looking for something fun to watch
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This review may contain spoilers
Such a fun reimagining of the zombie genre! I love the idea of setting a zombie apocalypse (of a sort) in a historical period because it increases the sense of unknowable and unimaginable horror. There are no medical or scientific explanations available to break down what is happening, and it can't be summarized by the characters as a viral epidemic, etc. I'm not saying those types of zombie movies don't have their own strengths, but I really enjoyed seeing the historical Korean monarchy paired with zombies, it was scary in a way I hadn't been expecting. The cast is great. I don't think that the acting is necessarily the biggest draw here (Historical. Zombies.) but I think that they do a good job of making you care about the people involved. Of course, Bae Doona is her usual awesome self.
The writing and directing is very good, keeping a breakneck pace while also keeping the stakes digestible enough that it feels personal. The survival of this specific group of people is the focus of the first season, which gives room for the scope to be expanded in season two. I think that the twist is very well done, the zombies are well done (their strengths and limitations are well matched to the show, they're not TOO powerful and do have some weaknesses, but they also very much feel like a threat).
Overall, a well-made and enjoyable horror tv show that will be entertaining for people that like gore, action, some horror and also a solid historical setting. Definitely worth checking out. It may sound gimmicky to pair zombies and period dramas (some Pride and Prejudice and Zombies type shit), but actual I think that the setting is used really smartly to actual increase tension and horror, while still feeling like it's speaking to modern issues.
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This review may contain spoilers
Likes: Zombies. Joo Ji Hoon wielding a sword. The awesome action scenes.Dislikes: S1 is too short!! Only 6 eps. Plus there’s a ginormous cliff hanger which you’ll have to wait until S2 to find out what happens!
I do confess, I’m a zombie fan. I dunno why. Maybe it’s the whole going back to basics bit…the simple need to survive. Or maybe it’s the more clear cut good vs evil. Or the fact that I’m usually at the edge of my seat when I’m watching a battle with the zombies. I dunno…I just love it. From 28 Days Later to the Walking Dead to Train to Busan and everything in between, I just can’t get enough.
The thing I like about Korean zombies is they’re FAST compared to American zombies. Just like in Train to Busan, there were so many scenes where I didn’t realize I was holding my breath until the scene was over and I could sigh with relief. The scenes were shot well. The editing was great. The cast can act. Everything just came together beautifully.
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This review may contain spoilers
It was really hard rating this drama. It was highly anticipated as a Netflix original Korean series and after watching the trailer I could see that the budget was high. To tell the truth I wanted this series to be a hit. Why? I wanted people who don't give a chance to series from countries like China and Korea to know what they are missing.I read multiple comments saying that the series had more politics than it should have and I completely understand their point of view, but I also disagree. I think that the drama didn't want to be just a source of entertainment. In my opinion the writers wanted us to see that even in a life-or-death situation, the politicians - no matter being in the Joseon era or in today's society - will only think about their own personal gain. But if there are no people to ''obey'' does having power really matter? It was great to think who are the real monsters and see in what extremes can people go to survive. I loved the fact that it showed the corruption among the people in the palace and the courage of every day individuals.
What made this different from all the dystopian films and series was the fact that it didn't only have dramatic scenes but it also had comedic elements. The cinematography was great, so was the music. The only minor problem for me was the acting. Don't get me wrong it wasn't even near to being bad, but I expected more from such well known actors - also more screen time for Bae Doona-.
All in all, it is definitely worth watching and I would recommend it to non Kdrama watchers for sure.
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BEST ZOMBIE SERIES OUT THERE!
~One of the most thrilling zombie fantasy genre drama with a touch of historical fiction~It is pretty fast-paced and keeps you on the edge of the seat in anticipation and fear
~Three dimensional characters make it interesting for the plot and storylines
~Touches upon political and social commentaries on the hunger for power, class inequalities, bureaucratric hierarchies and poverty
~Solid A class cinematography and picturization
~Not for the faint hearted though as it can be graphic and gory at times
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High octane block buster action and gore !
The Korean film industry really knows how to handle the Zombie genre . Period .There’s not much to say about Kingdom S1 as it’s 6 eps but what I can say is that it is exciting , binge worthy and very dynamic in the violence and gore department!
Character portraits are not profound but Kingdom does not present itself like that. It’s high octane blockbuster action and gore and it scores high points in those aspects ! Job well done .
A must watch for lovers of the zombie genre !
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This review may contain spoilers
14/01/2021
I like season one, two and the movie, but mostly season one.
This isn't another cliche horror movie or tv series and is different because we are taken back into historical times in which the zombies aren't your run of the mill type zombified fiends. For example, the zombies are only active at night time and play dead in a sleep like state hidden from direct sunlight during the day.
However, it isn't just a series about zombies, it is also about a royal family with power conflicts, political corruption plus there is a background story behind why and how the zombies come to exist in the first place which kind of goes against the law of nature.
We have a combination of great story telling and adventure plus episodes full of drama/action/suspense and interesting characters.
Episode one eases us into it - then it is full on action and what have you from episode two on right through to episode six.
It isn't too slow or so fast that it feels boring or rushed.
Everything about this is done perfectly from the acting, music score, costumes, atmosphere and thematics right through to cinematography.
I enjoyed the main male lead and his servant's relationship as well as all the fight scenes and zombies when they invaded and attacked. There are some really cool scenes that are well worth watching throughout it. E.g. Finger in the pot of soup.
Personally, I liked it and feel it is most definitely something that can be rewatched again with no problem.
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A surprising take on period dramas
Kingdom is a mini series set during the Joseon period with a sudden outbreak of flesh eating arisen dead. The series is slow placed but doesn’t leave you feeling like there’s not much happening. It’s almost emotions driven because you feel the nervousness and fear that the characters feel. in this first season we are given a proper introduction to the zombies and their habits while also getting accustomed to the characters. The series ends on a cliffhanger, I’m glad I watched it only after the second season was out. There are some aspects of the plot that feel slightly weak, but it’s all right. I also liked the cinematography, the focus on the vastness of the palace which isn’t usually this visible in the rest of the period dramas. And also the disparity and suffering between the rich and the poor told visually was stunning.Overall it’s a good thriller with lots of goriness and killing and some zombie apocalypse setting. Totally bingeworthy!
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