Look, The Walking Dead is great. I mean, it’s arguably the best zombie show of all time. But sometimes you want something different. Rewatch sessions are cool and all, but there are just so many times you can revisit the farm, relive the prison arc, or brace yourself for yet another devastating farewell before the familiar horror starts to feel, well, familiar.
Sure, you can turn on one of the spinoffs, but will that really scratch the itch? They're set in the same universe, so it wouldn't feel like stepping into uncharted territory. It’s comforting, yes, but it’s also predictable. What you need is to broaden your horizon. Perhaps take a chance at watching a zombie series that wasn't originally on your radar. Luckily for you, I've got just the perfect show that will pull you into a completely new world of zombie horror!
Netflix's Kingdom is the one zombie show you probably missed
Not many people know about the Korean zombie series, Kingdom. And honestly, that’s a crime for any fan of the undead. While shows like The Walking Dead have dominated the zombie scene for years, Kingdom takes the genre in a completely fresh and thrilling direction.
Set in Korea's medieval Joseon period, Kingdom isn’t your typical post-apocalyptic story. Instead of modern cities overrun with zombies, we see a historical kingdom on the brink of collapse. The story begins with Crown Prince Lee Chang discovering that his father, the king, is gravely ill. What appears at first to be a mysterious sickness soon reveals itself as something far more terrifying. It's a plague that resurrects the dead as ravenous, fast-moving zombies.
Gone are the slow, shuffling undead we’ve grown used to. In their place are infected villagers who strike without warning. As the outbreak spreads across villages, Lee Chang teams up with Seo-bi, a determined and resourceful physician’s assistant, to uncover the truth behind the disease. Their investigation ends up exposing the deadly combination of a kingdom rife with corruption and the unstoppable spread of the undead.
Meanwhile, the political scheming within the palace intensifies. Corrupt officials and ambitious nobles see the outbreak as an opportunity to seize power, leaving Lee Chang to navigate a kingdom where the living are often as dangerous as the infected.
There's so much about Kingdom that's great. While watching the two-season series, you're going to love the cinematic visuals, sweeping landscapes, and large-scale zombie battles, which make it feel more like a series of high-budget films than a traditional show. Then, there's the incredible cast. You have Ju Ji-hoon, Bae Doona, Ryu Seung-ryong, and so many other talented South Korean actors delivering performances that are powerful, nuanced, and completely absorbing.
The amazing production design, costumes, and choreography are worth noting as well. Every royal robe, every dimly lit corridor in the palace, and every chaotic clash between soldiers and the undead feels intentional and immersive. While watching Kingdom, you're not just watching a zombie outbreak unfold. You’re stepping into a fully realized historical world that happens to be unraveling in the most terrifying way possible.
But what truly makes Kingdom stand out isn’t just how it looks. It’s how it makes you feel. The tension is constant. The stakes are high. And the mix of political intrigue and horror ensures that even when the zombies aren’t on screen, you’re still on edge. By the end of the series, you won’t just be impressed by its scale and ambition. You’ll be wondering how this show wasn’t already at the top of your watchlist.
If you find yourself really enjoying Kingdom after binge-watching all 12 episodes, I strongly recommend that you check out Kingdom: Ashin of the North on Netflix next. It's a feature-length special that expands the world of the series in a darker, more intimate way.
Kingdom is streaming right now on Netflix.