WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Kingdom, streaming now on Netflix.
One of the rules by whichAMC's The Walking Dead pretty much follows the comic is no one's off-limits when it comes to death. Fans learned that when Robert Kirkman surprisingly killed off Rick Grimes to heraldthe end of the book, and on the TV show, while major deaths aren't as sudden, they still do come off shocking and have an impact.
Well, at least up until Negan went on his killing spree. And that's because, from that point on, there weren't many key faces the show had the guts to kill off and those who did get murdered didn't have any emotional resonance with the audience. If the zombie series wants to get back on track, though, one series that pulls death off way better is Netflix's South Korean horror,Kingdom.
RELATED:Netflix's Kingdom: Season 2's Gory Ending, Explained
Now, this isn't to knock TWD, but while the likes of Lori, Shane and Carl getting killed did blindside fans and change the complexion of the series, it's hard to see laterdeaths having the same effect. Sure, fans got Hershel being beheaded by the Governor, Glenn and Abraham beat to death by Negan, but since then, Henry and Co. being placed on spikes by the Whisperers and Alpha getting beheaded by Negan just doesn't generate the interest of old and light social media afire. The show is scared toRick off and the only death one can see really sparking rage online is Daryl.
And that's because thedeaths prior don't seem to organically move the show along as much anymore. The Carl death made no sense as it defeated the entire story of a Grimes legacy, made even worse by Rick being taken away by a mysterious military. At this point, even if Michonne or Maggie gets killed, the fact they're no longer full-time players on the show means fans won'tinvest much in them anymore. And if death does occur, it'll feel like shock value or to inject something into a flailing series.
RELATED:How Netflix's Kingdom Sets Up Season 3
Kingdom, though, knows how to kill off supporting and big characters to get the plot to where it needs to be. And that's because it allows everyone ample screen time and to feel like a major cog, there's no wastage so that people come off like filler. Season 2 kills off Jo Beom-Il in the first episode as he sacrifices himself for Prince Lee Chang to get back to his Joseon kingdom to take back his throne, whileEpisode 2 also killing people who try to protect the fellowship. Episode 3 kills off Chang's right-hand man Moo-Young, who served him last season so well, only to turn informant for the evil Cho regime. His death is so well done and shocking, especially as fans expected him to redeem himself and get Chang back in power.
The fact Queen Cho has Moo-Young's wife and is trying to claim their son when he's born as her own meansno one wouldhave seen the dad's death coming. Kingdom just knows how to disguise what's to come, hiding tells at all points and ensuring only worthwhile characters are available for future episodes. Kingdom keeps fans in the dark and when Episode 4 rolls around, Queen Cho's dad, Hak-Ju, the main villain of the franchise is shockingly poisoned by his daughter. It's a stunning moment because when he discovers she's trying to fake a son, one would assume he'd be down for it, but he turns out to be a villain of honor who wants pure royal blood on it. And the fact he dies without Chang ever getting to kill him says a lot. Chang even had to cut his zombified dad's head off so you can clearly see Kingdom wants to create as much natural turmoil and inner-angst in both villains and heroes, making them all sympathetic.
RELATED:Netflix's Kingdom Finally Reveals the Zombie Outbreak's Origin
And by the time, Moo-Young's wife dies and Queen Cho gets zombified herself, only to die facing Chang's army, one can tell how important it was for Kingdom to spend time building up characters in Season 1's six episodes only to have them perish in these six episodes. This series understands character development and really doesn't waste time in boring connections, especially for those who won't play a role in Season 3's war to come. It's a royal coup that needs to be undone so everyone's quickly painted as a player on the chessboard that's indispensable. This is where TWD fails, as several faces don't feel valued at all, so when they die, fans just don't care. Well, not anymore anyway. And by keeping these characters around for seasons to come, whether they live or are killed off, people just don't have that attraction to them anymore.
Kingdom stars Ju Ji-hoon, Ryu Seung-ryong and Bae Doo-na. Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.
KEEP READING: How Netflix's Lost In Space Sets Up A Season 3
A Good Justice League Movie May Finally Be Coming... From Marvel Studios!?
I'm a former Chemical Engineer. It was boring so I decided to write about things I love. On the geek side of things, I write about comics, cartoons, video games, television, movies and basically, all things nerdy. I also write about music in terms of punk, indie, hardcore and emo because well, they rock! If you're bored by now, then you also don't want to hear that I write for ESPN on the PR side of things. And yes, I've written sports for them too! Not bad for someone from the Caribbean, eh? To top all this off, I've scribed short films and documentaries, conceptualizing stories and scripts from a human interest and social justice perspective. Business-wise, I make big cheddar (not really) as a copywriter and digital strategist working with some of the top brands in the Latin America region. In closing, let me remind you that the geek shall inherit the Earth. Oh, FYI, I'd love to write the Gargoyles movie for Disney. YOLO.
More:
Netflix's Kingdom Handles Death Better Than The Walking Dead - CBR - Comic Book Resources
- The Walking Dead Will Releases A Trilogy Of Cryptic Puzzles - Bleeding Cool News - May 9th, 2024
- How could you be with her? What's wrong with you?: Norman Reedus Faced the Wrath of The Walking Dead Fans ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- He's got no coordination whatsoever, zero: The Baddest Man on The Walking Dead Was Actually the Worst at Fake ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- How could you be with her? Whats wrong with you?: Norman Reedus Faced the Wrath of The Walking Dead Fans ... - imdb - May 9th, 2024
- Skybound Celebrating "The Walking Dead" Interactive Game with San Diego Comic-Con Offsite - San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog - May 9th, 2024
- Photos: 'The Walking Dead: Dead City' production takes over downtown Worcester - Worcester Telegram - May 9th, 2024
- "I don't think it'll be possible until...": Only 1 Thing is Stopping Robert Kirkman from Making The Walking Dead Animated ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- 10 The Walking Dead Moments That Made Viewers Quit The Show - Screen Rant - May 9th, 2024
- What you cant see from the street Inside the The Walking Dead: Dead City set - MassLive.com - May 9th, 2024
- Worcesters Union Station closed Wednesday for Walking Dead spin-off filming - MassLive.com - May 9th, 2024
- On set at The Walking Dead: Dead City in Worcester - MassLive.com - May 9th, 2024
- New Photos Surface of 'Walking Dead: Dead City' Production in Worcester - FUN 107 - May 9th, 2024
- That tends to make me want to kill them: Robert Kirkman Has One Huge Reason for 'The Walking Dead' Deaths That ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- Robert Kirkman's Favorite The Walking Dead Character Will Make Andrew Lincoln and Steven Yeun Fans Super Mad - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- Andrew Lincoln: "There's Infinite Chance" for The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Season 2 Under 1 Condition - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Revisits Early Chapter in "The Book of Carol" Story - Bleeding Cool News - May 9th, 2024
- I Do Credit Robert Kirkman: How The Walking Dead Helped Launch Another Massive Horror Hit (by Accident) - Screen Rant - May 9th, 2024
- "I miss that scene": Jeffrey Dean Morgan Was Upset After The Walking Dead Ignored 1 Iconic Scene From The Comic ... - FandomWire - May 9th, 2024
- Skybound Entertainment & Those Beyond Launch Trilogy of New The Walking Dead Cryptic Puzzles to Pioneer the ... - Capsule Computers - May 9th, 2024
- Celebrate Free Comic Book Day with first issue of The Walking Dead comic (digital - Undead Walking - May 9th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Not Eligible for Emmys Limited Series Category, Will Submit as Drama (EXCLUSIVE) - Variety - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Dead City to film in Worcester - heres when and where - MassLive.com - May 1st, 2024
- 10 Walking Dead Characters Who Need Their Own Spin-Off - CBR - May 1st, 2024
- "She was not in that first movie": Andrew Lincoln Was Devastated 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Nearly Didn ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- All 11 Fear The Walking Dead Main Villains Ranked - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- All 11 Seasons of 'The Walking Dead', Ranked From Worst to Best - Collider - May 1st, 2024
- She was not in that first movie: Andrew Lincoln Was Devastated The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Nearly Didn ... - imdb - May 1st, 2024
- Where are Rick and Michonne at the End of The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live? Here's What We Know - Flickering Myth - May 1st, 2024
- There are other very important characters in the universe: Andrew Lincoln's Selfless Response When Asked if Rick ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- There are other very important characters in the universe: Andrew Lincolns Selfless Response When Asked if Rick ... - imdb - May 1st, 2024
- 10 Best Episodes of The Walking Dead Season 8, Ranked - CBR - May 1st, 2024
- "I hadn't thought about it that way": The Walking Dead Actress Never Knew Her Character's Death Would Cause Such a ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Eighth Season Blu-ray (Netherlands) - Blu-ray.com - May 1st, 2024
- Surprising 14-Year Walking Dead Actor Record Shows Who The Franchise's True Main Character Is - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- The Ones Who Live All But Confirms 1 Walking Dead Mystery Will Never Be Answered - Screen Rant - May 1st, 2024
- "I must have been on their radar": Why The Walking Dead Star Andrew Lincoln Nearly Refused $650000 Per Episode ... - FandomWire - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Wallpaper You Know You Need - Bleeding Cool News - May 1st, 2024
- This Underrated Netflix Zombie Show Did One Thing Better Than The Walking Dead - MovieWeb - May 1st, 2024
- DEI is the walking dead | Commentary | bgdailynews.com - Bowling Green Daily News - May 1st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Season 11 | Rotten Tomatoes - April 22nd, 2024
- About The Walking Dead | News, Bios and Photos | AMC - April 22nd, 2024
- How to Recreate the Most Iconic Location From The Walking Dead in 3D - 80.lv - April 22nd, 2024
- The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol Sets Tribeca Debut - Bleeding Cool News - April 22nd, 2024
- The Walking Dead star joins Superman movie in major role - Digital Spy - April 22nd, 2024
- Rick Grimes' Ending Finally Honored The Big Promise Walking Dead Made In Season 5 - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- When Will 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 2 Premiere? - UPROXX - April 21st, 2024
- The Surprising Reason HBO Turned Down 'The Walking Dead' - Collider - April 21st, 2024
- "You Really Have to Consider What He's Been Through": Walking Dead Creator Admits It's Hard to Root for Rick, But ... - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- Robert Kirkman: The Walking Dead Animated Series Can't Happen "Until I Get the Rights Back From AMC" - ComicBook.com - April 21st, 2024
- Morgan Jones' Got The Sendoff He Deserved On Fear The Walking Dead - CBR - Comic Book Resources - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Animated Series Happening Depends On One Important Thing - GameRant - April 21st, 2024
- Robert Kirkman Says The Walking Dead Animated Series Can Only Happen Under One Condition - MovieWeb - April 21st, 2024
- Daryl Dixon season 2 could make the Walking Dead universe even better here's why - Tom's Guide - April 21st, 2024
- 7 New Walking Dead Villains That Could Replace The CRM - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Fails Rick Grimes and Here Are All the Reasons Why He Deserves A Better Fate - Hollywood.com - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Is a Reckoning of Hope - Reactor - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead's Robert Kirkman Shares What's Holding Back the Planned Animated Series - CBR - Comic Book Resources - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Crossover Plans Now Face A Huge Obstacle Thanks To Rick Grimes - Screen Rant - April 21st, 2024
- Behind the scenes as 'Dead City' films in Taunton We talked to zombie, caterer and more - Taunton Daily Gazette - April 21st, 2024
- Die creators Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans' new original graphic novel is a cross between The Walking Dead and ... - Gamesradar - April 21st, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon' Season 2 and 'Presumed Innocent' Headline the 2024 Tribeca Festival TV Lineup - Collider - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman wants an animated show, but there's one issue - Winter is Coming - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead Crossover Plans Now Face A Huge Obstacle Thanks To Rick Grimes - imdb - April 21st, 2024
- Tom Payne and Wife Jennifer kerman Welcome Twins (Exclusive) - PEOPLE - April 21st, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 5 Trailer - ComicBook.com - March 24th, 2024
- What The Song Means In The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4 (Does It Reveal The Ending?) - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible Season 2 Is Avoiding A Problem That Nearly Killed The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible Season 2 Has A Walking Dead Easter Egg You Might Have Missed - Looper - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live Episode 4 Review What We - Den of Geek - March 24th, 2024
- 'The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live' Episode 4 Recap: It's Rick, Michonne, and Carl? - Collider - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead Includes a Rare Sex Scene on The Ones Who Live: 'It Is About Pain,' Says Andrew Lincoln - PEOPLE - March 24th, 2024
- Daryl Dixon Season 2 Release, Cast & Everything We Know - The Direct - March 24th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Episodes 5 & 6 Get Ominous Tease From Walking Dead EP - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- TWD The Ones Who Live Episode 5 Trailer: Rick & Michonne Find Trouble Escaping - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Does Rick Leave the CRM on The Ones Who Live? - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 24th, 2024
- Into The Kirkmanverse? Invincible Teases A Major Connection To The Walking Dead - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- The Ones Who Live Pulled a Bait-and-Switch on Walking Dead Fans, But It Works - CBR - Comic Book Resources - March 24th, 2024
- Well, That Was The Walking Dead's Raunchiest Episode Since The Show Began In 2010 - Screen Rant - March 24th, 2024
- Invincible x The Walking Dead Crossover is Now Likelier Than Ever Due to This Season 2 Character - imdb - March 24th, 2024
- The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live episode 5 - Release date & time, where to watch, and more - Sportskeeda - March 24th, 2024
Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero