After a long wait for some more Kingdom content, I was eagerly awaiting this special episode and was fairly happy with how it turned out, if not a little disappointed with the number of zombies. It's a slower, more emotional ride than the main series but does a good job developing a backstory.

They managed to successfully keep the same stylistic choices and the quality was certainly on par with the main series. The storyline provides a lot of detail so it's a great prequel storyline but it felt a little dry and a little too long to get to the action. I liked the historical aspect and how we got to learn a little about the Jurchens and the build-up to a war rather than focusing solely on Joseon politics but I would have liked a little more depth on Ai Da Gan [Pajeowi's leader] as he only appears briefly yet is pretty prominent to the story. Certain aspects of the storyline feel a little underdeveloped but it's a 1.5 hour special so, considering the time, they answered the key questions while providing an emotional backdrop. Sadly, this means a lot of action was probably sacrificed and only really appears near the end (maybe like the last third/quarter?). I think it sets up the way for Season 3 quite nicely though, there's lots of characters and information they can play with.

Kim Si Ah showcased a lot of talent as young Ashin, especially during the emotional scenes; the facial expressions and tone really helped draw you in and feel the pain and hurt the character was experiencing. Of course, our beloved Jun Ji Hyun was also excellent, I loved the mercenary feeling she brought to the character near the end - anything goes until the revenge is completed. The zombie choreography is as good as the main series.

Truthfully, it was exactly what it said on the tin, a story focusing pretty much solely on Ashin with a little sprinkling of zombie origins thrown in nearer the end so it's my fault for putting my own expectations onto it. It left those who were hoping for a speedy season 3 but getting a sidequel feeling a little unimpressed with the amount of action. If I were to watch it again, with my now renewed expectations for the storyline and content, then I would probably rate it a higher (maybe 9?) however, this is the rating for my first watch that carried all of my hopes and expectations.