Kingdom (TV series) Review: Will the real zombie please stand up?

(Netflix does not allow screenshots) 

Novelty or freshness, that is what Kingdom has over other popular zombie narratives. But is that enough to save to save it from it's many plot holes and lack of characterizations?

Popular zombie series/movies are set in post apocalyptic present day. A disease becomes  uncontrollable that society collapses. But there are survivors and we follow their story as they navigate dystopia, trying to find a cure or build society again.

On the other hand, Kingdom is set in medieval Korea where society has not yet collapsed. (not the 1st to do this, of course. A quick net search will yield other zombie or Z movies set in Asia, or medieval times. There is even a Z movie involving Jesus Christ!)

But Kingdom does this novelty well, the costumes and scenes of medieval Korea is refreshing in a genre that is saturated by rag wearing survivors in war torn cities who kill zombies or each other with modern tools. The series did not mince on its costume design especially when portraying the royal family or the palace, nor did it not miss the opportunity to show the wonderful scenery of feudal Korea, there were scenes that did this in the middle of a fight scene. My favorite was the top down view of the ice battle. I thought that was picture perfect.

I do wished they took more time to slow the pacing during those panoramic shots for more viewing pleasures but Kingdom seemingly wanted to do things really fast. A move that is the series' own bane and boon.

Most of the other Z stories I have watched thus far used the genre to zoom into human drama, like the Walking Dead, which has done so successfully but at times overdid it to the point of boredom. Kingdom has very little of the sort, the pacing moves too fast for any prolonged insight into the characters past, their feelings, and their motivations  or their relationship with each other. 

This was both good and bad. Good because it has allowed the story to maintain its high octane run from one event into the other, and do all that in just 6 episodes per season with only 2 seasons thus far. 

But, this was done by sacrificing the characterization and background history thus putting future seasons at jeopardy.

Tell me if you felt that the death of the Prince's body guard Mu Yeung's  death had any dramatic effect? nor the death of his master, Ahn Yeung? 

I bet you don't even know their names. We only know them for their roles. In fact, they sound and look the same at times. 

For sure, we know that the prince wants nothing more than to save the nation. Seo-bi, the medic wants nothing more than to find a cure. All others just want to follow the prince's wish and save the nation.

Yes some would argue that the prince initially acted haughty and dismissive of the poor. And that Yeun Shin, the guy good with the gun, initially wanted nothing but revenge and that he was ruthless. So there is character.

But because of the fast pacing, there was little build up to how they will eventually change. Suddenly, the prince is this virtuous guy full of knowledge, a good swordsman and tireless even. When just an episode ago, he was the one who started a conspiracy for himself, got easily tired climbing a mountain, and was afraid of being alone. Then the guy with the gun suddenly wanted to help him.

Where, how, why and when did these shifts of character happen? I do not remember. I don't even care. I care so less that if you kill them in the next episode, it would be ok.

Because for Kingdom, excitement is the name of the game and not necessarily the story.

One way that the series tried to cover these plot holes is by one or two line dialogues between the characters. The age old adage of show, don't tell would have been better. We know that the guard cares for his wife, he said it. Did he show enough? we know that Yeun  Shin wanted revenge on the people who killed his entire village, aside from spitting on a monument, he was quick to forgive the man who did so. And even Beom-Pal, the former cowardly magistrate suddenly just stood up and did the "right" thing. For countless episodes he was forgiven for his betrayals and cowardice. There was no outside force nor a show of inside pangs that we has struggling to do what is right. Nada, just suddenly he chooses the right path and says " this is wrong". It was because of him that many died including the prince's body guard. And yet, nobody gets angry with him. Especially not the prince. 

This move to skip these characterizations have led to two things. First, it created "perfect" but forgettable characters much like the zombies. They are perfectly virtuous forgiving each other's and their own faults, wanting only to save the country, they are devoid of any uniqueness. The prince even knows everything that needs to be done, with agonizing moments where the characters wait on him to decide what to do next. 

Again, this worked well because in the excitement and the speed, the audience will not have time to identify, or relate to or even be interested into the characters.

The problem arises when they would seek to extend the story beyond the little background, history, or drama they have show. or even beyond the only problem presented: How to save the kingdom?

That is why there have been many and expect more flashbacks to explain who the new character is, or what the situation is all about. 

Another way that this could have been done is to leave clues for the audience to foreshadow the coming events. What if they showed a survivor of the Japanese? or the Cho clan? or another clue, it would have explained better or left more avenues to continue the story. 

Introducing a new nemesis when they have said that the kingdom was united when the prince sacrificed his claim to the throne is a bit of a stretch for me.

Overall, while I find the series a good break from other slow paced z movies, I will stop with the second season. The glaring plot holes (esp with the characters) cannot be saved by more flashbacks or two line dialogues. The two seasons are worth watching, I am not so sure about future seasons.