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Director: Kim Seong-hun
Writer: Kim Eun-hee
Premise
Being a fan of Kingdom drama series, I excitedly awaited what the powerful duo Kim Seong-hun and Kim Eun-hee had in store for me for the sidequel Kingdom: Ashin of the North. The final episode of the second season ended with cliffhanger sequences as Crown Prince Lee Chang and Soe-bi venture to a quest for the mysterious saengsacho - the resurrection plant that started the apocalyptic zombie wave in Joseon. They were told that someone from China is selling the plant and could have been the root of this conspiracy. Just before the end credits roll, a woman with a mischievous grin appeared on the screen introduced as Ashin from the North.
This 93-minute long special episode is released prior to the third season of the cult classic saeguk zombie thriller series Kingdom. With an entirely different setting, this spin-off aims to provide a back story to the resurrection plant, shed light on the character of Ashin, and establish a plot of the third season. The story is full-packed with details that interweave the first two episodes as it penetrates the story of the Kingdom series.
Frames & Music
During the first two seasons, the audience was captivated by the grandeur of Joseon palace and the picturesque beauty of its landscape. In this film, we are treated to the breathtaking northern region with its dark green coniferous forest, snow-blanketed mountains, vast grasslands, and what else, the alluring purple-hued saengsacho flower. The desolate northern region is dressed up with excellent art direction and splendid hues of blue, green, orange, violet, grey, and black. The cinematography is not only majestic but is a poetic depiction of Ashin’s anguish and hunger for vengeance.
The BGM is exhilarating. The score enriches the story and the momentum of each scene. It maintains the eerie and dark vibe of the film by integrating various sounds into a dazzling montage.
Characters & Performances
This film only utilized two familiar characters from the series, Ashin and Captain Min Chi-Rok, both introduced in the latter part of the second season. Unlike how we see Captain Min in the series with his gallant sword fights, here we see his decisiveness and emotional dynamics. He defines the critical development of Ashin’s character. Ashin, a mysterious character on the second season was given a solid backstory. She is a victim of social injustice, betrayal, human greed, sexual abuse, and conspiracy. Her childhood memories are heart-wrenching to show that her actions are ungrounded to justify what wrath she would bring to Joseon in Season three.
The three lead actors are phenomenal. Park Byun-eun, shows the different side of Captain Chin. As the film involves more emotions than conversation, he is able to take full control of his character. Kim Shi-a as young Ashin is fantastic, especially in that heart-breaking sequences. And Gianna Jun also known as Jun Ji-hun once again proved why she deserves to be the highest-paid hallyu star. After 4 years of hiatus, she never loses her brilliant characterization. She carries the frailty and strength of Ashin’s character, and with fewer dialogues, she expresses the range of emotions through her eyes and expressions.
Screenplay & Direction
Being impressed by the story of the series, its success, and cult following, PD Kim Seong-hun asked to direct this special episode himself. With familiarization with the story and the characters, he was able to helm the film and make it a worthwhile addition to the franchise.
The real star of the show is Kim Eun-hee, the talented writer who penned Signal, the webcomic, and the live-action adaptation of the Kingdom series. This sidequel is indeed one of the best anti-hero backstories I have seen. Nothing is superficial, everything is presented organically. How she interweaves the first two installments with this spin-off is jaw-dropping. Like what she did in Signal (I love that series so much), she brilliantly weaves the narrative with astounding precision. She did not only focus on the blood-thirsty zombies but presented how a person could become evil because of an abusive society. Setting the whole film in the North is a profound idea and makes us even more excited about the unforgiving terrain Crown Prince Lee Chang would trudge in Season 3.
Conclusion
Those expecting hard-core action may find this film disappointing but I think it effectively delivers the purpose of this special episode. Though, regarded as a sidequel, it has a stand-alone story and could be watched by those who have not yet seen the series. Kim Eun-hee once again proved that her brainchild Kingdom deserves to have a universe on its own. What a fantastic spin-off to prepare the fan base with what is to come on Season three.
By @flix_n_dawn
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1. I've watched all seasons of Kingdom before, but the most memorable scene was when Ahn Hyun-dae-gam, who had become a zombie, appeared.
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2. For actors who are good at acting, you feel the obviousness that comes from 100% trust, like ‘Oh, what else can they do well?’
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3. The same goes for actor Heo Jun-ho. An obvious sense of relief that of course you will do well and of course you will be cool. But you didn't know that you would tear it up even more by turning into a zombie, right?
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4. Are you a zombie? Why is it cool??? Is it just running????
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5. If we were to create a person with aura, coolness, force, sexiness, or whatever energy we want to express and even create a meme to express it, wouldn't it be [Heo Jun-ho]?
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5. For your information, I am not a fan. Even if you're not a fan, I'm right.
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6. The reason I'm talking about actor Heo Jun-ho, not in the Kingdom review, is because I saw him explode with excessive coolness again in 'The Scoundrel', which I'm currently watching for the Nth time.
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7. He appears briefly and dies miserably, but why is he so cool?
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8. Amazing.
By @cignomovie
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