Netflix's Horror Masterpiece With 98% On Rotten Tomatoes Is Game Of Thrones Meets The Walking Dead

Kingdom is a horror masterpiece that brings zombies to early 17th-century Korea. Adapted from Kim Eun-hee and Yang Kyung-il’s webtoon, Kingdom of the Gods, the zombie series was the first K-drama to premiere on the streaming platform. Kingdom was a hit with audiences and critics, and remains popular to this day. The zombie K-drama has an impressive 98% Tomatometer score and 92% Popcornmeter rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Kingdom's success helped set the tone for Netflix original K-dramas, two years before Squid Game became the streamer's most-watched TV show of all time. K-dramas are famous for masterfully mixing genres, and Kingdom does this effortlessly. One might assume it is just a period piece about rulers and wars, yet Kingdom is also a terrifying show with lots of scares.

Kingdom Is A Korean Horror Show Set In The Early 17th Century

Kingdom Stars Ju Ji-hoon As Crown Prince Lee Chang

From its opening scene, Kingdom cemented itself as an extraordinary K-drama that had a fresh take on the zombie genre. Set at the beginning of the 17th Century, Kingdom takes place in Joseon and sees the country infected by a horrible disease that turns people into monsters.

Amid the zombie outbreak in the horror K-drama, Crown Prince Lee Chang fights for his throne as well as the survival of his people. Kingdom is consistently good throughout its 12 episodes and perfectly blends action, thriller, politics, and horror in a way that doesn't make it seem overcrowded. Every episode of the horror K-drama adds interesting details to its beautifully written and well-shot story. While the zombie outbreak is the backbone of Kingdom, the series still takes time to develop its characters.

Kingdom Has Both Zombies And Political Intrigue

Kingdom Is About Who Will Sit On Joseon’s Throne, As Well As A Zombie Outbreak

Kingdom’s main appeal is how it has both zombies and politics at the center of its premise. The undead creatures in the historical K-drama have an interesting origin story, having come to be because of a resurrection plant. As more people in Joseon get rapidly infected, the stakes in the series get higher as its normal citizens have to fight for survival, thus creating an action-packed and fear-inducing story. Unlike the typical zombies in other shows, the undead creatures in Kingdom only rise when the temperature is low.

Coincidentally, the zombie disease is also central in Kingdom’s political storyline. The Haewon Cho, a powerful family in Hanyang, used the resurrection plant on the king in order to keep him alive until Joseon’s queen gave birth to a son. So while Lee Chang had to deal with the consequences of Hae Won’s plan, he also had to ensure that he remained the Crown Prince, as those who opposed his ascension to the throne tried to kill him.

Fans Of Game Of Thrones And The Walking Dead Will Love Kingdom

Kingdom Shares Some Similarities With Game Of Thrones And The Walking Dead

If you are a fan of Game of Thrones, then Kingdom will be right up your alley. Just like Game of Thrones, Kingdom is filled with power struggles among its elite. The Queen’s scheming and determination to remain as the head of the monarchy are reminiscent of how Cersei would do anything to keep her enemies from sitting on the Iron Throne. Lord Hak-ju’s love of power also fits in perfectly with Game of Thrones' tone.

The zombies in Kingdom can obviously be compared to the wights from Game of Thrones, although their presence in the story and their numbers are more similar to The Walking Dead’s walkers. The sense of imminent danger and fight for survival in Kingdom is similar to that in The Walking Dead. Combining political drama with zombie action is not easy, but Kingdom does it perfectly.