Kingdom

A Cinematic Masterpiece: Kingdom Redefines the Zombie Apocalypse Genre

A word before my review:- "I'll be honest, zombie apocalypses aren't typically my go-to genre. In fact, I had a traumatic experience watching a non-Korean zombie movie when I was just 11 or 12 years old. I didn't understand the context, but it left me terrified, and I avoided the genre altogether since then. However, thanks to a friend's enthusiastic recommendation, I decided to give Kingdom a chance, and I'm so grateful I did! This series has completely changed my perspective on the zombie apocalypse genre, and I'm now hooked."

THE DRAMA - KINGDOM :-

This Korean drama is a Stand-out drama in the thriller genre, setting a new standard for zombie apocalypse stories.
The decision to set the series ( the story point of Zombie) in ancient times was a bold and really challenging move, but the makers pulled it off with finesse. Mainly where the " Sageuk" dramas main elements rule on the classic love-revenge-wars-betrayal, power-struggle for the throne. it's a really tough challenge to the writer - director to create Zombie world in this classic sageuk elements. But their hardwork shines in every scene and every character makes us emotional, survival tense.
and the Netflix 's Korean drama wave started from here.

*THE EXCELLENCE OF KINGDOM'S SOUNDTRACK AND CINEMATOGRAPHY*

"When it comes to the thriller genre, I'm particularly discerning about two crucial aspects: soundtrack and cinematography. Kingdom excels in both areas, elevating the overall tension and suspense to new heights. The soundtrack is masterfully crafted, with the subtle sounds of the zombies and the haunting background score for the main leads perfectly complementing the on-screen action. The cinematography is equally impressive, with a keen attention to detail that immerses the viewer in the dark and foreboding world of ancient Korea. The cinematography in the Kingdom is nothing short of breathtaking, transporting me to a hauntingly beautiful ancient ( sageuk/historical ) Korea time'. The dark tone cinematography is a masterclass in crafting suspense and tension, expertly leveraging lighting, shadows, and composition to create an atmosphere that's both foreboding and mesmerizing and capturing a hauntingly beautiful scenery of Korean old days with bare trees on the mountains, their silhouettes etched against the eerie backdrop like nature's own work of art."
The soundtrack is equally impressive, with a haunting score that perfectly complements the on-screen action, amplifying the emotional impact of every scene and character. The combination of these two elements creates a truly unsettling and thrilling experience that keeps me on the edge of my seat.

ACTING:-

"The acting in Kingdom is truly exceptional, with each actor delivering a standout performance that leaves a lasting impact. Ju Ji Hoon, in particular, brings his character to life with a depth and nuance that is simply awe-inspiring. The entire cast, including Bae Doona, Kim Hye Jun, Ryu Seung Ryong, Heo Jun Ho, and Kim Sung Kyu, delivers fantastic performances that are both convincing and compelling. The cast's extraordinary acting skills are a testament to their dedication and talent, and they play a significant role in making Kingdom the thrilling and unforgettable experience that it is."

OVERALL :-

"I'm a little late to the party, but I'm thrilled to have finally experienced the masterpiece that is Kingdom! The script is nothing short of brilliant, weaving a story that's both captivating and unpredictable. The director-writer's vision is masterful, transporting me to the eerie world of the Kin and plunging me into the midst of a zombie apocalypse like never before. With its flawless pacing, heart-pumping action sequences, and emotional depth, Kingdom has raised the bar for K-dramas and zombie apocalypse stories alike.

My Rating: 10/10

If you haven't yet indulged in the thrill ride that is Kingdom, do yourself a favor and dive in without hesitation! This unforgettable experience will leave you breathless, craving more, and forever changed. Trust me, it's worth the binge!"

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Is a multi extras blockbuster

The story is predictable, and we seen it any times before. The bit with the Queen being pregnant from. King in very I’ll health for three years was a bonus! 😂 What makes the drama watchable is the cast and the vying - they did really well there!
It’s a slow burner, so you need to hang in there.

One element of the directing I didn’t enjoy was the scene stretching - absolutely unnecessary in my opinion, the drama would have hold well as 10 ep. The excess of massive zombie scenes gets really boring after a while - I missed the build up really. I think it would have been better if they kept these under control.

One special shout for the main character cast. They are so captivating and relatable, that makes following the story inevitable.

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The Best Plot Twist!

Introduction:
Kingdom Season One is a gripping thriller set in the Joseon era, offering a unique twist on the zombie apocalypse theme within a historical context. The show's period setting adds a distinctive flavor to the familiar genre.

Plot and Suspense:
The suspense throughout the series is truly commendable. The plot keeps viewers on the edge of their seats with its unpredictability. Initially, the assumption that zombies only attack at night is cleverly subverted, revealing a shocking twist related to temperature.

Character Dynamics:
The main characters, whether protagonists or antagonists, are portrayed with excellence. It's hard to dislike even the antagonists, thanks to their intelligence and the well-crafted strategies of the main characters. The character dynamics contribute significantly to the show's overall appeal.

Acting Quality:
The acting in Kingdom Season One is top-notch, with no shortcomings. The cast delivers stellar performances, bringing depth and authenticity to their respective roles. The characters truly come to life on screen.

Series Opening:
The opening of the series sets the stage effectively, creating an engaging atmosphere from the start. It captivates the audience's attention and establishes the tone for the thrilling narrative that follows.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, Kingdom Season One is a must-watch for fans of both period dramas and zombie thrillers. With its unique setting, unpredictable plot, outstanding character portrayals, and impressive acting, the series stands out as a compelling and memorable addition to the genre.

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Alt-History Joseon-Zombie Masterpiece

KINGDOM was brilliant and in my humble opinion, vastly superior to many of the other zombie series out there today. It's certainly one of a kind, a new breed. It was only enhanced by the Joseon historical setting and alternative history presented by the directors. It was excellently written, casted, directed and acted. Great production and cinematography. Beautiful settings, lifelike costumes and realistic storylines. Epic battle scenes and zombie costume/cosmetics. Dark, gritty and cutting edge series.

I really loved the cast, especially Ju Ji-hoon as Crown Prince, and Bae Doona as the nurse Seo Bi. I also really enjoyed the character of Kim Sang Ho, as the bodyguard Moo Young. His character was extremely likable and I loved the dynamic between he and the Crown Prince. Kim Sungkyu, as Young Shin (the Tiger Hunter) was a very compelling character as well, playing a mysterious warrior with a shadowy past.

Ju Ji-hoon is excellent in this series. His portrayal of the tragic Crown Prince character is really note-worthy and he plays the noble hero turned warrior very memorably. It's great to see his character grow and conquer new obstacles, and become a person worthy to inherit the throne.

One of my main critiques is this. As a big fan of actress Bae Doona (Stranger), I did feel like her true potential wasn't being utilized in this series, but that seems mostly due to the direction and writing of this series, rather than any issue on her part. I truly hope to see her character allowed grow and shine in future installments as she is a wonderful, diverse actress with a lot of acting range.

This series brought so much to the zombie table, so to speak. I found the "truth" behind the plague to be fascinating and unique. It was a truly intriguing twist. Also, this series does not shy away from highlighting both the good and evils of humanity, offering a glimpse at human nature and morality. It was a truly stunning show. I've now watched the complete Kingdom series and am hoping for further seasons in the future. This was a great new addition to the kdrama thriller and horror genres.

[This review is for seasons 1 & 2]

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Amazing

FYI: this review contains S1&2
First of all let me say that netflix deserved their TENS for releasing this. Like this was the start of the high budget kdramas. Everything about this was wonderful. It's only 6 episodes long and so doesn't overstay its welcome in the slightest. It has some of the best visuals I've seen in a kdrama. The story is original and of course I'm going to be excited about a high budget zombie kdrama on netflix??? The actors all did what needed to be done. The pacing is a bit on the slower side and there's a little too much talking going on. I would've liked to see a bit more action. Other than that I don't really have any complaints.
S2 was even better than the first in almost every aspect. It's bigger and more action-packed but somehow the emotional beats hit harder than S1!

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About Next Season Realising

I want to watching Kingdom next season please realise the next Kingdom season immediately🙄🙄🙄😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥😥

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kingdom eh um sentimento oiiii ??

eh realmente algo odiar todo e qualquer filme/serie que é sobre zumbis ou mundos apocalípticos e mesmo assim assistir kingdom e considerar ele seu dorama favorito 🤓☝🏻
talvez eu seja muito emocionada e talvez eu considere o mínimo já como muito, mas kingdom é perfeito em todos os aspectos. primeiro que, a história/enredo é muito bem feita e muito bem seguida ao longo dos episódios, nunca deixando nada passar e continuando com a perfeição de sempre. e junto a história, é impossível também não citar a atuação dos personagens que, literalmente, deram vida para tudo, e mesmo o cgi marcando presença em todos os momentos, é quase imperceptível pela atuação e pela história. algo que me marcou durante todo o dorama, foi a atuação dos zumbis, que mesmo não sabendo quem são deram a vida para tornar tudo cada vez mais acreditável. kingdom é perfeito em cada detalhe e eu assistiria ele para todo sempre, sem me enjoar. espero de verdade que tenha uma terceira temporada para fechar todas as duvidas que tenho 😭😭

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Worth the bingewatching

This drama surprised me with 2 things. The first one is how I could stick to the phone and finish it in half a day. The second is how I am excited to watch the second season. Why I gave it only 9 stars and not 10 is because sometimes I got annoyed with some decisions some of the characters made and I got bored out of nowhere. If you want to watch it you need to watch the second season as well because the first season will only give you an open ending. When I started watching Kingdom some of the things reminded me of Scholar who walks the night (those who know, those who don't, don't) and it brought me back memories so it felt nice. And right now excuse me, because I need to finish the second season as well.

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Simply the Best

Zombie apocalypse in ancient Korea. Sounds absurd, right? Yet another, stupid zombie movie, right? No such thing! This drama has a well thought-out, smart plot - if not for the paranormal aspect, it would be totally plausible. Add to this great cast, interesting characters, who you really don't want to be eaten by the zombies, ;) power struggle, political schemes, and captivating cinematography... Well, I really cannot imagine a drama better than this one. Strongly recommended.

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Woah. This drama was so good, I just had to write my first review on it.

The plot of a zombie outbreak is common amongst particularly Western film today. One could even say the genre is overdone. However, the way that 'Kingdom' handles the issue is a breath of fresh air. It would be enough that it happens to occur in old-time Korea, because that in itself already felt brand new.
But the twist of an infected King made it that much more interesting, with the addition of a power struggle between a pregnant queen and a crown prince.

The Crown Prince, Lee Chang, has interesting growth throughout the series. At first he is portrayed as a sheltered, somewhat arrogant character that is journeying for himself, to uncover the mystery surrounding his father. However, he grows quite quickly and the watcher no longer doubts him. He shows compassion and a strong sense of justice, and soon becomes quite the potential King. I enjoyed his actor of course, but there is one other than impressed me so much more.

Seo Bi is introduced as an assistant physician. Throughout the series, her empathy matches her profession, and she proves herself to be smarter than the average citizen, therefore surviving despite being put through some very scary situations. This was the first time I was introduced to her actress, Bae Doo Na, and honestly? For myself personally, her acting was almost flawless. I absolutely fell in love with her as an actress. Because of her work in Kingdom, I definitely plan to watch more of her roles.

The final character I want to discuss is the Queen. She does an excellent job as an antagonist, and her actions frustrated and irritated me (which is what I expect from a good antagonist). One thing I appreciated about her was that, whilst you were furious at her, and you knew that she would make a cruel ruler, you understood her thinking at the very least. Her motives were clear, and human, although they were somewhat evil.

As for the rewatch value; although it was incredibly stressful to watch and therefore not something I would rewatch for a little while (at least until I recover), due to how short but sweet the first season has been it would not be at all difficult to rewatch when the time comes.

Overall, despite being new to Drama, I could tell that this drama was very well done. It was so realistic, every frame was done well and it was clearly a high budget series. I was quickly immersed in a world of night-monsters and political balances, and I definitely can't wait for a second season.

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