10 Reasons You Should Watch Netflix's Kingdom
2. The Political Intrigue
In this world, class separation is clear, and largely based in real world class politics of the era. Much like other prestige shows that have blessed audiences in the past couple of decades, these politics act as a driving force in the story, just as much, if not more so, than the rising, running, devouring dead.
Despite the monstrous living dead acting as the immediate threat, however, it truly is the politicking that makes up an even bigger threat in this universe, with such politicking being the reason the show's infection came about in the first place. A bid to retain political power by a ruthless leader, Minister Cho Hak-ju, head of the powerful Cho family, ensured his daughter became the emperor's wife and appeared to the public to carry his "heir", while keeping the deceased king "alive" in order to prevent the fully grown crown prince from taking over the throne.
For most of the film, Cho Hak-ju proves to be just as much of a threat to the protagonists as the dead themselves, and these machinations give the film a layer of complexity that goes beyond the more straightforward fight against the living dead.