Netflix Kingdom Season 2: What happens onscreen and behind the scenes (no spoilers)

Kingdom Season 2 has arrived!

So in the last episode of Season 1, Seo-bi (Bae Doona) realises that it wasn't the sun that kept the monsters away — it was the temperature. As the chill rises in Sangju, so do the undead.

Win a bath bomb from Netflix Kingdom Season 2!

PLOT DEVELOPMENTS

(No spoilers ahead)

AsiaOne got a first look at episodes one to three of the new season and we were absolutely floored.

Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger and Season 2 picks up with an amazingly horrific and blood-curdling battle between the Crown Prince and the monsters. There are revelations aplenty in the first episode — hints were dropped in the first season — and episodes two and three will be equally gratifying for fans. Be warned, there are sacrifices, and some hearts might break with plenty of tears shed.

In brief, Lord Cho and his daughter, the Queen, sink deeper into the darkness in their devilish desire for power as their actions are unveiled. When the Crown Prince and Lord Cho finally come face to face, secrets spill.

The creators promise "the biggest battle yet" in the season two finale.

THE ZOMBIES

The series may be fronted by big names but Kingdom would be nothing without these growling monsters. Prior to filming for season one, the zombie family of actors went through several months of auditions and three months of training by choreographer Jeon Yeong, who perfected their undead movements.

Conditions on the set were also far from comfortable with the freezing winter weather and sprints through mountainous terrain. The executive producer (EP) of Kingdom Season 2, Kim Seong-hun, told AsiaOne during a recent video conference interview that there were two main types of zombies.

"There were the A-grade zombies who had to wear pre-made skin patches and fake teeth, and each actor would need three to four hours (to dress for the role). And then there were the 'easier' zombies, who are seen in the way back of the screen, and their make-up took only minutes. We had hundreds of zombies in some scenes, so we can't take hours to prepare each of them. We would give them dark make-up and (draw) some veins," EP Kim said.

The action scenes in season two utilised more than 850 martial artists, 1,300 zombie actors, and 3,000 extras!

WILL THERE BE SEASON 3?

That's a closely guarded secret, unfortunately. Popular Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun took on a crucial role for the last episode (episode six) of Season 2, and there were rumours that her scenes continue into the opening episode of Season 3.

Her management agency did not confirm it, however, and Netflix has also kept mum about the possibility of a third season — the question was even banned during a video conference interview with local media last week. 

ALSO READ: Netflix's Kingdom: Who among the cast and creators would survive a real-life zombie apocalypse?

kwokkarpeng@asiaone.com