clarisays
This review may contain spoilers
They executed their material well in six episodes.
Like all viewers, I too was left hanging for a long time but I was patient because season 2 was announced early. Fast forward to March 13, Netflix dropped the second season of Kingdom. And let me tell you the moment that happed, my feed was filled with well, COVID-19 updates as well as a disappointment as to why there are only six episodes and the ending.
First, let me answer the number of episodes. I did study film in college but even without that knowledge, there’s only one reason I can think of and others might have thought of, too. Budget. So I did a little research to back this up and stumbled on Variety’s 2018 article.
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“Netflix gave me more freedom than any Korean company I have worked with. Netflix gave me minimal feedback on the script, and did not oblige me to incorporate their notes,” Kim said. The only condition was that the director could not control the budget.
“Initially, ‘Kingdom’ was intended as an eight-episode series and production was supposed to be completed in four months. In the end, however, we took about six months on production and overspent the budget, for which we had to pay a penalty.” Kim said that each episode cost more than $1.78 million (KRW2 billion).
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There you go! But honestly, they executed their material well in those six episodes. And though season 1 ended with a major cliffhanger, I can say that I am very much satisfied with how season 2 progressed and ended.
If Kingdom season 1 takes and makes you feel part of the journey, season 2 gives you the justice you’ve been wanting to claim with an action-packed add-on. Moreover, the latest season revealed all the secrets from Haewon Cho Clan’s ruthlessness to Queen Cho’s schemes. It also shared important flashbacks which were used as short backstories and resolutions of the characters we adore and despise. This includes Chief State Councilor Cho Hak-Ju and Lord Ahn Hyeon’s past, Moo-young’s story which is vital to the ending.
With a faced-paced series like this, they did not waste any time and gave all characters the screentime – sacrifice and death – they deserve. And though all is somewhat well, season 2 did leave some stories to tell.
Honestly, it wasn’t a huge cliffhanger but rather a door that leads to a bigger plot. I am again eager to see what they have in store in the third season.
First, let me answer the number of episodes. I did study film in college but even without that knowledge, there’s only one reason I can think of and others might have thought of, too. Budget. So I did a little research to back this up and stumbled on Variety’s 2018 article.
***
“Netflix gave me more freedom than any Korean company I have worked with. Netflix gave me minimal feedback on the script, and did not oblige me to incorporate their notes,” Kim said. The only condition was that the director could not control the budget.
“Initially, ‘Kingdom’ was intended as an eight-episode series and production was supposed to be completed in four months. In the end, however, we took about six months on production and overspent the budget, for which we had to pay a penalty.” Kim said that each episode cost more than $1.78 million (KRW2 billion).
***
There you go! But honestly, they executed their material well in those six episodes. And though season 1 ended with a major cliffhanger, I can say that I am very much satisfied with how season 2 progressed and ended.
If Kingdom season 1 takes and makes you feel part of the journey, season 2 gives you the justice you’ve been wanting to claim with an action-packed add-on. Moreover, the latest season revealed all the secrets from Haewon Cho Clan’s ruthlessness to Queen Cho’s schemes. It also shared important flashbacks which were used as short backstories and resolutions of the characters we adore and despise. This includes Chief State Councilor Cho Hak-Ju and Lord Ahn Hyeon’s past, Moo-young’s story which is vital to the ending.
With a faced-paced series like this, they did not waste any time and gave all characters the screentime – sacrifice and death – they deserve. And though all is somewhat well, season 2 did leave some stories to tell.
Honestly, it wasn’t a huge cliffhanger but rather a door that leads to a bigger plot. I am again eager to see what they have in store in the third season.
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