Netflix Original na ‘Kingdom’ patok sa mga manonood

Napapanood na simula nitong Enero 25 ang anim na episodes ng pinakabagong Netflix Original na pinamagatang “Kingdom” na ikalawa rin na Korean original series ng streaming giant.

“In a kingdom defeated by corruption and famine, a mysterious rumor of the King’s death spreads, as does a strange plague overtaking the land. The Crown Prince, fallen victim to a conspiracy, sets out on a journey to unveil the evil scheme and save his people.”

Tampok dito ang mga bigating Korean stars na pinangungunahan ni Joo Ji-hoon (Along With the Gods Part 1 and 2, Goong) bilang ang Crown Prince na si Chang, Bae Doo-na (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Sense 8) bilang Seo-bi, Kim Sang-ho (The Beauty Inside, The Happy Life), Heo Joon-ho (Jumong), Jeon Seok-ho (The Good Wife), at Ryu Seung-ryong bilang Jo Hak-joo, isang royal council member.

Mula sa tagumpay ng Netflix sa critically-acclaimed hit 2017 action-adventure-scifi na “Okja” sa direksyon ng premyadong Korean director na si Bong Joon-ho tampok ang isang ensemble cast na binubuo ng Korean at Hollywood actors, gayon din ng box-office hits na “Train to Busan” at “The Age of Shadows” (2016), patuloy na lumalawak ang impluwensiya at atensyon nito sa loob at labas ng South Korea.

Sa direksyon ni Grand Bell Award winner Kim Seung-heon (The Tunnel, A Hard Day) at sa produksyon ng AStory, ang Kingdom ay adaptation ng webcomic series na “Land of the Gods” mula sa art ni Yang Kyung-il at panulat ni Kim Eun-hee, at unang pagpasok sa webcomic writing ng batikang screenwriter-playwright.

Si Kim ang screenwriter ng naturang serye na nasa likod din ng police drama na “Signal” (2016), “3 Days” (2014), “Phantom” (2012), “Sign” (2011), at “Harvest Villa” (2010).

Ito rin ang unang Netflix Original Korean zombie thriller series na nakatakda sa panahon ng Joseon Dynasty.

“The show looks like an interesting combination of Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai”, Brad Pitt’s “World War Z” and HBO’s “Westworld”. Of course, we realize that both Seven Samurai and Westworld deal with feudal Japan, but Korea did have its own brand of deadly, sword-wielding warriors, known as the Hwarang.”

Ito ang pagsasalarawan naman ng Syfy Wire sa Kingdom na siguradong isa na namang international hit ng Netflix kasunod ng successful run ng period-drama na “Mr. Sunshine” nitong nakaraang taon at mas dumarami pang Asian drama offerings ng streaming giant.

“The streamer has designs on Kingdom being an international genre hit, as it will not only lure insatiable zombie fans, but it will do so within a medieval setting, effectively turning the series into a genre mash-up – the undead wreaking havoc in a lavish costume drama. The result appears to be a stylish new series that will go heavy on horror and action,” ang pagsasalarawan ng Screen Rant.

Dagdag pa ng Screen Rant, sa trailers pa lang ay itinuturing na ang serye na isa sa mga “scarier additions to the genre in a long time, leaning into typical period trappings, hint of fantasy thrown in, to make things interesting” ngunit malayo sa istilo ng “gritty realism” na nakasanayan na ng mga tagahanga ng genre na makikita sa mga genre staples na “The Walking Dead” (AMC) at “Night of the Living Dead.”