Hello, my lovelies, I’ve found another show that earns a place as Worth A Watch. It’s been a while since I posted one of these and for those who don’t know I try to find shows you may not have on your radar because they aren’t from the USA or UK. KINGDOM balances on a fine line because it’s a Netflix exclusive but Korean-language and filmed in Korea.
What’s the story?
Set in the late Joseon Period (1392–1897) the story follows the Crown Prince Yi-Chang, son of a concubine, who is struggling to stay alive after his father marries a woman from the powerful Cho clan/political faction. They don’t go into the political details here, so what you need to know is that even though Yi-Chang is the heir to the throne his new step-mom can displace him if the baby she’s pregnant with is a son. The queen’s father is a powerful politician and her family controls the government in several nearby towns as well as the military. The easiest way for the Cho’s to ensure their reign is to kill Yi-Chang.
That is enough to run a story on, and a lot of sageuk (Korean historical dramas) could spin this out for 30-40 episodes no problem. KINGDOM adds a nice twist to the plot by opening with the king being sick. So sick he hasn’t seen anyone but the queen and her father in ten days. People are Suspicious.
Wouldn’t you be?
The crown prince tries to speak with his father but is dragged away, but not before seeing a terrible monster walking the halls of his father’s pavilion.
And, here’s a note for everyone unfamiliar with the layout of Korean palaces back in the day…. The western idea of palaces and forts wasn’t common in most Asian countries. The Koreans preferred to have a large lot of land with independent houses for everyone. The king had a house. The queen has a house. Each of the kids gets their own house. Each pavilion has its own staff, kitchens, and servants. It was a good way of handling multi-generational families that often included either concubines and wives, or multiple wives, and then the children from those multiple relationships. With a setup like that it’s easy to see how political intrigue, spying, and shady alliances became something like the national sport of the wealthy.
Worried for his father’s health Yi-Chang goes to find a renowned healer at the same time that the queen and her family decide to find a reason to kill the prince. That all happens in the first twenty minutes.
The rest of the story is a fast-paced story about loyalties, leadership, and surviving monsters. It is very much a horror story with creepy things and a very high body count, but don’t let that stop you.
Who’s it for?
If you like horror, you’ll love this show. KINGDOM has been compared to GAME OF THRONES and THE WALKING DEAD for good reason. It involves politics, the supernatural, and monsters. There’s a healthy dose of politics but the show relies on the watcher knowing how Korea worked in the Joseon Era. If you don’t, you may feel a little adrift but ten minutes on Wikipedia should give you enough to figure out what’s going on.
What’s the culture like?
The late Joseon Period in Korea coincides with the rise of the European empires and the Golden Age of Piracy which means you get guns ~and~ swords in KINGDOM.
The Mature/14 rating on the show is for the violence. It’s pretty light on the swearing and nudity, but that has more to do with the nature of the show than anything else. It’s late autumn and no one wants to get naked near monsters. There are hints of romance, but no real battle couple or OTP yet (although you may find yourself shipping Healer Seo-Bi with people).
Bonuses?
Healer Seo-Bi does an awesome job of stealing the show from Yi-Chang. She’s amazing. A smart, tart-tongued woman who is ten-thousand percent done with everyone’s BS. She doesn’t take lip from anyone and her exhausted eye rolls when monsters attack are wonderful.
The villains are good in KINGDOM but the side characters are even more fun. There’s a mysterious sharp-shooter, a food-loving royal guard, and the bumbling local official looking for a redemption arc. They all are fully realized characters with their own secrets and quirks.
Like jumping at doors. The sharp-shooter loves busting down doors. Hopefully season two will explain why.
What to watch out for?
KINGDOM is SHORT. I’m talking six 43m episodes. Season 2 is filming now.
How many seasons?
One available on Netflix and a second is in production.