As we hole up inside our homes trying to avoid the Covid-19 pandemic, what better way to kill time than watching an onscreen plague and the living dead rush in faster than people panic buying toilet papers?
The Joseon-dynasty zombie drama Kingdom returns to Netflix for a second season after its successful debut last year. Our favourite prince, Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon), once again puts on his boots in a marathon to outrun those infected on his way back to the palace.
In this season, characters are dropping dead like it's Game of Thrones -- a good reminder that no one is truly safe in this series. And it's also a game of thrones for Chang and his evil stepmother, the young queen (Kim Hye-jun), who is Minister Cho Hak-ju's (Ryu Seung-ryong) daughter. After faking her pregnancy last season, the queen plays a more active role and proves herself a force to be reckoned with this time around. Behind that still, porcelain face, she is cold, cunning and unpredictable that even her scheming father can't quite keep up.
Zombies and politics become almost inseparable as the infected become tools in the power struggle. What is more dreadful, really? The living dead or the masterminds who use them as disposable pawns? In a way, people are spurred to fight one another and destroy opponents, while the one who holds absolute power looks down with a smirk. Read into that however you will with today's political climate. The series comes back at just the right time.
Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) faces the living dead. Photos: Netflix
As the fight for power continues, the mystery surrounding the resurrection plant is gradually unravelled by physician Seo-bi (Bae Doona). But as the characters dig deeper into its secrecy -- and as we think they're getting close to cracking the code -- it seems we're only seeing aspects of the bigger picture. The series is reeling us in with its twists and turns, showing us glimpses of what is hiding behind its layers of curtains which will undoubtedly and slowly be unveiled to us in future seasons. It's a given there will be more coming our way.
Season 2 still keeps its focus on the main cast to move the story forward. In this season, the characters go through a rough journey as well as experience personal growth. It's definitely interesting to see some of the characters in an unexpectedly tough spot. There are also some new characters, though their roles have yet to become memorable or distinctive as those who paved the way last season.
Fans of the genre will be glad to know that blood and gore still splatters as usual. Rolling heads are nothing new anymore. However, there are also scenes where violence requires a certain amount of imagination as the director chose to relay that sequence behind closed doors instead. A curious choice is one key scene involving the crown prince that was filmed that way. Artful, perhaps? But we wouldn't mind seeing it played out right in front of our eyes.
Bae Doona as physician Seo-bi.
Packed in six short episodes that feel more like a long movie, Season 2 covers a certain ground and sees Chang finally confronting the queen. The first episode feels a little slow as it sets the scene for this season. Then, we're off on a ride. In quite a similar rhythm to its debut season, Kingdom does take its time in telling the story. And when it gets there, it's a bloodbath. Arrows, swords and gunfire ring through the new, icy battleground. And at the end, in a surprise turn of events, the story jumps several years into the future with surviving characters thriving in another landscape. A clean slate, almost, but also one with a past that is ready to return and haunt everyone.
Kingdom Season 2 culminates in a delightful yet frustrating cliffhanger as Jun Ji-hyun finally makes her very brief and mysterious entrance. When news broke months ago that Jun -- a big name who's been in hits like My Sassy Girl and My Love From The Star -- was joining the cast of Kingdom, speculation ran wild. I was reminded of the series' writer Kim Eun-hee's interview and how she said Jun's character is going to expand the world of Kingdom. Judging from those last minutes of the season, we're in for something thrilling from this new character. It's a shame that it will probably take us another year (or longer) before we get to find out what the show's creators have in store for us.
The villainous queen, played by Kim Hye-jun.
- Kingdom Season 2
- Starring Ju Ji-hoon, Bae Doona and Ryu Seung-ryong
- Directed by Kim Seong-hun and Park In-je
- Now streaming on Netflix
