Kingdom

Kingdom (킹덤) is Netflix’s pioneering original South Korean period horror thriller. Set in medieval Korea’s Joseon period shortly after the Imjin War, the narrative unfolds across two tightly plotted six-episode seasons. The story opens amidst whispers of the King’s sudden illness and death. As Crown Prince Lee Chang attempts to uncover the truth behind his father’s hidden condition, he becomes framed for treason by the powerful Haewon Cho clan, who effectively control the royal court. Forced to flee the capital, Prince Chang journeys to the southern provinces, only to encounter a horrific plague that resurrects the dead as fast, flesh-hungry monsters.

Across its overarching narrative, Kingdom seamlessly weaves high-stakes political conspiracy with visceral zombie survival horror. While Prince Chang fights alongside dedicated allies to contain the rapidly expanding epidemic, Chief State Councillor Cho Hak-ju and his daughter, the Queen Consort, manipulate the outbreak to consolidate absolute control over the throne. The crisis forces the characters to traverse a devastated landscape of famine and corruption, moving from rural provinces back toward the royal heart of Hanyang.

Rather than relying purely on shock horror, the series treats the plague as both a biological threat and a direct consequence of socio-political corruption. As the characters uncover the biological origin of the resurrection plant, Prince Chang evolves from an endangered, naive royal into a compassionate, tactical leader. The two-season arc culminates in a high-stakes struggle for the future of the nation, determining whether Joseon will be saved by true leadership or consumed by its own ruling class.

The central thesis of Kingdom is that the true monster plaguing society is not the mindless, hungry undead, but the boundless greed and moral bankruptcy of human rulers. Creators Kim Eun-hee and Kim Seong-hun use the zombie epidemic as a visceral allegory for systemic inequality, class oppression, and the catastrophic failures of totalitarian leadership. The series demonstrates that when those in power treat ordinary citizens as disposable commodities, society inevitably collapses into chaos.

Furthermore, Kingdom redefines the concept of legitimate monarchy. Through Crown Prince Lee Chang's evolution, the show argues that true leadership is not inherited through royal bloodlines or maintained through political terror, but earned through empathy, self-sacrifice, and an unwavering obligation to protect the vulnerable.

The series supports multiple analytical lenses:

Kingdom debuted at an inflection point for South Korean media, bridging Eastern period drama (sageuk) aesthetic with Western zombie horror traditions. Released shortly before the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show gained unintentional real-world resonance due to its depiction of quarantine failures, official cover-ups, and regional outbreaks.

Critics universally lauded both seasons. Season 1 holds a 93% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while Season 2 achieved a rare 100% score. Critics praised its cinematic scope, set design, fast-paced storytelling, and social commentary. Along with the movie Train to Busan (2016), Kingdom solidified the global "K-Zombie" movement, proving that Korean storytellers could innovate within established horror genres while embedding sharp critiques of class and power.

Praised Aspects:

• Pacing and Scale: Audiences praised the show for avoiding typical 16-episode K-drama padding, delivering condensed, breathless 6-episode seasons.
• Visual Craftsmanship: High praise for costume accuracy, historical sets, cinematography, and realistic zombie choreography.
• Intelligent Villains: Cho Hak-ju and Queen Consort Cho were celebrated as terrifyingly competent antagonists.

Main Criticisms:

• Early Season 1 Performance: Initial local Korean audience reviews briefly criticized actress Kim Hye-jun's early performance as Queen Consort Cho, calling her vocal delivery in early episodes unnatural for a period drama. However, her performance in Season 2 won widespread acclaim as her character's villainy expanded.
• Season 1 Cliffhanger: Some viewers expressed frustration at Season 1's abrupt cliffhanger ending, though this was resolved by Season 2's immediate continuation.