Kingdom: 3 reasons this Netflix zombie series could replace The Walking Dead

If you’ve given up on The Walking Dead, but still need a zombie fix, Netflix’s Kingdom might just be the solution in January.

The Walking Dead now has a hiatus yearly, where it takes a break over the winter and then returns with the rest of the season early in the next year. And in that time this season, Netflix is going to sneak in and try and steal your zombie-loving heart with Kingdom, a Korean-language zombie show that dropped its first teaser today.

And after that first teaser, we’re ready to let this take first place — or should we say the throne — of zombie shows. Here’s why.

Period drama

Not that we don’t love The Walking Dead, but we’ll freely admit that Michonne and her blade make for some of the best watching the show has to offer. Here’s the thing: because Kingdom is set in the past, the primary weapons will likely be swords. (Specifically, it’s set in Joseon-era Korea, “some 600 years ago” according to Variety.) That means that there will be a lot of up-close zombie-killing action, and the same Variety article quotes

It also means that there’s a chance for some really gorgeous costumes, and the trailer seems to really bear that out. Begone, faded plaid shirts and oddly resilient blue jeans!

Actually getting to see some of society’s collapse

“His Majesty has passed away,” the trailer begins. As we know, The Walking Dead basically skips the fall of humanity, letting Rick wake up to a world that has changed without him. It’s pretty clear that Kingdom is going to not put its main character, the prince and heir, into a coma. Instead, he gets to see what looks to be his father through a screen… and, well, the king is not looking good.

Although there’s normally a transition of power, this transition also has the former king wandering around as what could be none other than patient zero of the entire crisis itself. That’d be more than enough to start breaking society down as fear and rumors spread.

Humanity quickly banding together

Did you spot that brief moment of humanity already setting up a fort and defending the hordes of the undead? How many seasons did it take for Rick and his group to actually find a place and safeguard it?

While this may only be a temporary shelter, it certainly seems like it’s somewhat quickly put together. Although there could be some characters or storylines that involve characters looking for safe places, it’s clear that one storyline should see the prince or someone else in authority putting a defense of the palace — if not defenses around the kingdom.

Watch the trailer below:

Kingdom debuts on Jan. 25, 2019, and has already scored a second season.