A Korean drama released originally on Netflix, Kingdom is a mini series with a zombie survival plot line set in the Joseon period based on a comic Burning Hell Shinui Nara written by Kim EunHee and Yang KyungIl.
Leading the cast is Ju Jihoon who plays the Crown Prince Lee Chang. He wishes to investigate to his father's sickness. At the beginning of the series, he is forbidden to see him in person by his step mother who is pregnant with his half sibling and her father the Chief Councillor who leads the Haewon Cho Clan. As the story unfolds, we learn there are other big schemes in the works within the palace but also outside.
Along with his trusted guard Mu Yeong played by Kim Sang Ho, the Prince's suspicions lead him further away from the palace to try to find the leading Physician who was the last person to write in the medical journal. There they encounter the epidemic that is spreading that is connected to his father's ill-health that is being kept a secret from many. It's also at this point where we learn why the Prince had planned a treason in the royal household. Other main characters we are introduced to are Physician Seo Bi played by Bae Doona and the mysterious but well-skilled gunman Yeong Shin played by Kim Sung Kyu.
The entire storyline may be rather predictable for some as it occasionally consists of trying to survive from not just a zombie outbreak in all kinds of situations but also out-smarting snitches out to get the Crown Prince - mostly those who are part of the Haewon Cho Clan. I almost wanted to dismiss the series because of the zombie storyline as this is not my main go to genre but with the combination of a historical period drama setting, a good cast and a survival story in a horror, almost apocalyptic surrounding I decided to give it a try.
Because it is six episodes, the story is just being pushed forward constantly in order to get the plot moving. This does not really give us enough opportunity to see all the characters fleshed out. There's only flickers here and there. Sadly this means the female characters like Seo Bi are pushed aside. It's great she even stood up and killed zombies to help the rather frightened Beom Pal but she deserved more credit. She was the only surviving Physician from Jiyulheon.
Yes there is also a ton of stupidity with many of the characters however this is a rather realistic approach to how things would be dealt in real life. You have to bear in mind that if you were telling the locals that there are monsters who will eat living flesh and spread the contamination, do you think anyone would believe you? Also, you can't expect everyone to obey your orders when you tell them to run and they are so petrified that they cannot think straight. Even with adrenaline pumping in your body. Seriously. But isn't that what horror is about as well when you know characters are going to be killed by the monster as they are walking into a trap though as the viewer you can't warn them?
Funnily enough when you think about it, Yeong Shin was the one who started the outbreak at the beginning of the series with the Jiyulheon clinic where one of the medical assistants had been slaughtered by the King in the opening scene and his body was chopped and cooked up before being eaten by the patients in the clinic. Though of course, to begin with Yeong Shin didn't even know the virus was around and didn't expect everyone to be infected so easily.
On the other hand, I am hoping season 2 and I hear there is a season 3 (oh my goodness!) will explain more background on Yeong Shin, how the King was infected to begin with and where did this virus come from originally. After that ridiculous cliffhanger from season 1's finale and discovering the secret from the Queen I am impatient. Sadly we have to wait till March 2020 for season 2 to start.
Kingdom had me a little intrigued with having a zombie breakout set in the past as opposed to a present/modern day timeline and I'm glad I survived all six episodes. The main zombie films I've seen so far have been British (28 Days Later and Shaun Of The Dead). I'm too much of a weakling in general when it comes to anything gory with cruelty in all shapes and sizes on humans and animals. In addition to the decent CG and zombie effects, the cinematography of Kingdom is top notch. I am a sucker for colourful costumes and great landscapes when they are presented well.