Hit Netflix drama "Kingdom" on zombies an eerie reflection of our COVID-19 times

[Gerry T. Galacio]

(Note: I wrote a spoiler-free synopsis by episode of "Kingdom" Season 1 and Season 2 in Plain English at https://campusconnection.blogspot.com/2020/03/kingdom-season-1-and-season-2-synopsis.html)



"Kingdom" Season 1 and Season 2 are a Netflix-produced Korean drama series that have become a worldwide hit since Season 1 was aired January last year. Season 2 was released a few months ago.

"Kingdom" falls into several genres — horror/zombie, historical, political, and action. It was written by Kim Eun-hee based on her web comics; she's also known for having written the hit 2016 police-procedural drama "Signal."

Even if you don't like horror or zombie movies, you should consider watching this drama. Besides being a worldwide hit, it has also received critical acclaim and rave reviews. The action scenes are exciting and brilliantly choreographed. Its stunning cinematography also includes an homage to Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning 1993 movie "Schindler's List."

Although both seasons of "Kingdom" were filmed before the worldwide onset of the COVID-19 crisis early this year, those who have watched this drama say that the drama and the disease that turned people into zombies seem like a reflection of the current worldwide crisis.

From "Netflix series Kingdom a must-see even if you're not into zombie shows" (CNET):

I don't like zombie flicks.

But Netflix's new show Kingdom, a six-episode saga set in 15th-century Korea, had me hooked from the get-go.

Six episodes don't feel like enough of this intelligent, beautifully shot period drama from South Korea.

From "Netflix's 'Kingdom' Is the Perfect Show to Binge If You Miss 'Game of Thrones'" (Thrillist):

The show is pretty dense, but it's so exciting, and, at only six episodes, the plot moves swiftly as the characters find themselves deeper and deeper in trouble. Think Game of Thrones meets The Witcher meets the good bits of The Walking Dead. If that's not enough to convince you, here is a list of cool things this show has in it: Sick swordfighting (it's set in the 1600s, so not everyone had guns or knew how to use them yet) ...

From "Kingdom Season 2 (Netflix) Review - A Zombie Show That's Actually Good" (Gamespot):

When it comes to TV, there's no better show that combines the gore and thrills of a zombie movie with the political plotting and intrigue of Game of Thrones than Netflix's Kingdom, which just returned with a second season.

Note: My spoiler-free synopsis by episode of "Kingdom" at https://campusconnection.blogspot.com/2020/03/kingdom-season-1-and-season-2-synopsis.html discusses the drama's cinematography and its homage to Spielberg's movie "Schindler's List."

[Gerry T. Galacio]

Notice that I used in the OP the word “homage” twice. I wrote for example: “Its stunning cinematography also includes an homage to Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning 1993 movie "Schindler's List."

So, which is grammatical — “an homage” or “a homage”? From what I’ve read so far, either “a  homage” or “an homage” is correct depending on whether the “h” is pronounced.

Here are some interesting discussions on “a homage” and “an homage.”

A.  Bryan A, Garner (editor-in-chief of Black’s Law Dictionary) says that “homage” which was originally French (hommage) has already become an English word in spelling and pronunciation.

In his article “How do you say it? Try this quiz to evaluate your pronunciation skills” (ABA Journal) at https://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/legal_pronunciation_skills_quiz, Garner says:

Some pronunciations are in flux as the result of repatriation: a word imported centuries ago, and thoroughly anglicized, is sometimes treated as if it were foreign by those unaware that it was long ago made English. Hence homage, pronounced /HAH-mij/ for centuries, is now often heard being pronounced /oh-MAHZH/ by those who think they’re using a French word.

B. “A or An Before Words Beginning With H?” at http://editingandwritingservices.com/a-or-an-before-words-beginning-with-h/

C. From “A homage or an affectation?” (Grammarphobia) at https://www.grammarphobia.com/blog/2010/02/a-homage-or-an-affectation.html

“Homage” has been part of the English language for around 800 years and should be given one of the two standard English pronunciations: HOM-idj or OM-idj.