‘The Kingdom’ season 2: Everything about the Korean zombie series
The Kingdom fans rejoice! Season 2 of the South Korean zombie period drama returns to Netflix on March 13. After a globally recognized first season, we’re chomping at the bit to see how this artfully-executed series moves forward.
Not familiar with The Kingdom?
Based on the Korean webcomic Land of the Gods by author Kim Eun-hee, a well known and revered playwright and screenwriter in Korea, Kim Eun-hee was also the writer of the series and adapted her webcomic to a mainstream audience. Critics were spellbound by the show’s ability to pull off such a wild storyline while maintaining spectacular visual effects throughout. It wasn’t long before The Kingdom developed a cult following.
The series follows Lee Chang (Ju-Ji Hoon), the Crown Prince of Joseon Kingdom (1392―1897) Korea, who is forced to investigate the spread of an undead plague and the cunning conspirators behind the evil scheme. Season 1 left us hungry for more after a 6-episode run. Season 2 will release the same number of episodes, but not to worry! Season 2 promises to give us plenty to sink our teeth into.
Season 1
The first season of The Kingdom, sees the king overtaken by a mysterious illness. Just 10 days after word spread of the disease, the Queen (Kim Hye-Jun) and her father, the country’s Chief State Councilor Cho Hak-Joo, have cut off all contact with the king.
So no one has seen or heard from their patriarch in 10 days, including his own son, Crown Prince Yi Chang. Chang takes it upon himself to sneak into the palace, and is instantly mired in disbelief. He soon discovers the true nature of his father’s condition- and something isn’t adding up to him.
Chang soon finds himself caught in a political conspiracy and is forced to flee the capital. Upon further investigation into the man who treated his father, Chang’s mission soon turns sour as he learns the doctor’s work has led to the creation of a mysterious plague that raises people from the dead, and thereafter, they will wake as horrible flesh-eating monsters. As the epidemic threatens to upend Korea, the Crown Prince must find a way to unite the people and save his kingdom.
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Season 2
Season 1 only indulged us with half of what Land of the Gods had to offer, so there’s plenty of material to pick up where it left off. Let’s start with the most obvious plotline. The horde of undead is mere moments away from attacking Sangju. To the horror of Prince Chang and his fellow defenders, the undead is still active while the sun is out, raising the stakes evermore.
Meanwhile, Queen Cho has been up to no good. After her fake pregnancy backfired, the Queen is plotting to steal a boy from the first woman to give birth from the group of pregnant women. The first male born will take the throne as the heir of the Cho clan, effectively robbing the Crown Prince of his rights to the kingdom.
That said, the trailer revealed just information to know that we can expect the same stunning visual effects and design that made us swoon in season 1. We’re also left with four words: there will be blood.
