My SPOILER Impressions of KINGDOM Season 2 (On Netflix)
I finished all 6 x episodes of Netflix's KINGDOM Season 2 on a single Sunday sitting, watching it thru back-to-back (breaking only for dinner), and it was a satisfying end(ish), which started from Season 1 (which I previously reviewed HERE), and is more fulfilling IF you've watched season 1, with this current being a direct continuation, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise, IMHO.
You can watch both Seasons 1 & 2 here on Netflix, while everything else from after the trailer posted below are MY SPOILER IMPRESSIONS OF SEASON TWO!
Is it worth a watch? = MOST DEFINITELY!
But was it as good as Season 1? = Short Answer: I would recommend to watch both S1 & S2 to be more fulfilled.
#SPOILER(ish): Alternatively you'll have to wait until S2E6 to get a quick flashback summary to catch up, which quite frankly you'll be better off watching the entire S1 in the first place.
I do not normally give/rate "stars" on the media I watch all these years (maybe I should tho), but I'll happily give S2 a healthy 7/10, while S1 would be a solid 8/10.
The first episode of Season 2 picks up directly after the end-scene of Season One, where you'll get the context of the temporary fort being erected, and WHAT the folks where expecting, and as importantly WHO the folks were.
Not a whole lot of exposition happens in Season 2, except for the principal characters, but otherwise might leave certain information wanting, especially negating the trials and tribulations they had gone through in the entirety of S1 that color and informs their actions in S2.
S1 was the introduction of the characters and their motivations forming, and at the same time we are introduced to what WE (the viewer) recognise as "zombies", while for the characters in the period drama had ZERO idea who or WHAT they are, hence the "refreshing concept", at least from my POV. And I will admit, enough of a "scare factor" to have made me feeling the heebbee-jeebies in attempting to watch S2 at night!
But rest assured, the gore remains minimal, besides a whole lot of beheadings (this series is rated "M18"), but "scares" are not as rampant as I had expected.
In S2, the characters who had interacted with the "zombies" have wisen up and learnt from S1, and can act accordingly to be the heroes they were meant to be shown, while everyone else just toes the line somewhat. I am reminded of the analogy of the "One-Eyed Man leading the blind", and in this instance, you'd do better to LISTEN if you want to survive.
Perhaps it is the mood of current-tribulations borne of the COVID-19 era, but the manner in which the principals - in this case "Crown Prince Yi-Chang" (played by Ju Ji-hoon) decides to share openly with the people and soldiers - while other politicians and power-hungry folks scheme and covert power - is such a refreshing notion, that no doubt carries forth the notion of "trust" with the soldiers he was trying to convert, which only moments before would have executed him. Or perhaps that's just a piece of romantic-writing, idealising the "what-ifs"...
Make no mistake, there are brand new characters introduced in S2, adding unto the ones we recognise in S1 (*And not all of them survive, so be prepared), and quite frankly might be hard to catch up with, without the benefit of watching S1, IMHO.
Character's motivations were explored, while some had cursory mentions, for which I'll not go into details for, and spoil ALL your fun...
The element of "surprise" remains still thanks in large part to the script (*By Kim Eun-hee, adapted from the webcomic series "The Kingdom of the Gods"), but otherwise somewhat a forgone conclusion is expected, sprinkled with large doses of emotional weight, I might add, and that is what makes the "difference" in this zombie-flick. Kudos for the actors for putting in the depth in said zombie-flick!
Kim Seong-hun directed the first episode (he directed he entirety of Season 1's episodes), while Eps 2-6 were directed by Park In-je.
Personally I'd much prefer the cinematography in Season 1, while S2 continued to look great, but it felt somewhat serviceable, and quite possibly familiar to the small-screen palette. The aspect of mise en scène previously relished seemed to have given way to the focus on "Action" this season, versus the overall visuals served previously. But you cannot argue the beautiful heart-wrenching scene in the forest, consumed by winter...
Or you can argue the actors' collective strong performances drowned out everything else around them...
Episodes 1 through to 5 went by pretty quickly, with a very decent pacing, I feel, that did not tire me out, or exhaust my attention span, IMHO. It was not until the final 6th episode, where my romantic notions of KINGDOM were cut-short with the "7 Years" flash-forward, and flashback, which reminded me that yes, it was indeed a "K-Drama" I had been watching LOL
The over-dramatic moment when the Prince made his decision left me crooked-browed for a split-second, but understand the arc of the character's development, which helped propel him to carry on in "Season 3", without the burden of royalty hampering his hunt.
I was immediately reminded of another feature film I adored - Zhang Yi Mou's "HERO", in which the character of Tony Leung / "Broken Sword" confronts Jet Li / "Nameless" in his notion of "revenge" in his mission, and offering him two simple words: "天下" - which in this case translates to "the world (beneath the skies)" - ie: the Kingdom of China, and the notion of the "Greater Good" versus the individual...
In the end, I'd felt the first season was much tighter in terms of story and situation solving, while Season Two attempted to layer in court/royal intrigues, familial bloodlines - all of which led to the tropes and cliches we regularly see in K-Dramas, unfortunately.
S2 is hardly perfect, and in my mind there are a couple of issues I have with - but have decided to not cling unto it too hard, least it burdens my little brain... like why the hoard of zombies could fall from the collapsed roof, but remain inactive? Zombies so easy to kill meh? LOL
And yes, essentially you can watch both S1 and S2 and end as-is, without needing to jump unto the new story-thread started in the 6th and final episode, where the actress Jun Ji-hyun AKA Gianna Jun turns and reveals her face before the credit rolls. If she is the one you were looking forward to be seeing on-screen, then you'll have to wait for a "Season 3" to happen! Can you hear the ankle-bells ringing now...?
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