"Zombies in Joseon"
Kingdom is zombie thriller meets period drama, set in Korea's Joseon dynasty during a time of political upheaval. The king is dead—or is he? A plague is spreading from the northern provinces, turning the dead into ravenous monsters that hunt at night. Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) must navigate court intrigues while trying to save his people from an enemy that grows stronger with every victim.
The zombies here are fast, aggressive, and operate in hordes that swarm like insects. They only hunt at night, which gives survivors a chance—but the nights are long, and the plague spreads faster than information. The show finds horror in the contrast between Joseon's rigid social order and the chaos of the undead. The plague doesn't respect rank. A noble's blood tastes the same as a peasant's.
The political intrigue centers on the Haewon Cho clan, who are using the plague to consolidate power. Lord Cho Hak-ju (Ryu Seung-ryong) controls the queen, controls the military, and wants the crown prince removed. The zombies are a problem; the people weaponizing them are worse. The show layers survival horror with court drama—escaping the dead while navigating the treacherous waters of royal succession.
Bae Doona plays Seo-bi, a physician's assistant trying to understand the plague and find a cure. Her journey takes her from medical investigator to essential survivor, her knowledge becoming the kingdom's best hope. Kim Sung-kyu is Yeong-shin, a mysterious warrior with secrets that complicate everyone's loyalties.
The production is lavish—period-accurate costumes, sets, and locations combined with modern action filmmaking. The zombie sequences are terrifying, the political maneuvering is tense, and the blend of genres feels natural rather than gimmicky. Korean period drama has never been this visceral.
World Building (9): Joseon Korea feels fully realized, and the plague mythology has coherent rules that matter.
Visual Spectacle (9): Sweeping period landscapes, terrifying zombie hordes, palace intrigue—all beautifully filmed.
Narrative Drive (9): Relentless momentum. Political stakes + survival horror = constant tension.
"Episode 1" (S1E1) — The king's secret. The first outbreak. The prince investigates.
"Episode 6" (S1E6) — Season one finale. The queen's plot. The escape. Hope.
"Episode 6" (S2E6) — Season two finale. The origin. The sacrifice. The truth.
US/UK: Netflix