Prudential Corporation Asia (Prudential) and K-pop super group SuperM threw an unforgettable experience titled “PrudentialxSuperM We DO Virtual Concert & Fan Meet” for fans across Asia over the weekend on Saturday, 7 August. The event was exclusive to the winners of Prudential’s “We DO” campaign and Dance Challenges, as well as users of Pulse by Prudential, the company's all-in-one health and wellness app, across the region.

Beyond the blood and gore, there is much more to explore.

Stories of the undead are always well-loved for its exciting brain-blasting action, but in recent years, we’ve seen the zombie genre expand beyond the blood and gore. We cheer when they rise from the grave, but these zombie stories have also taught us a thing or two about mortality and the human condition.

Here’s a list of the best zombie shows on Netflix that holds up a mirror to humanity:

1. Kingdom: Ashin of the North shows us the evils of classism and greed.
In the first two seasons of Kingdom, we were introduced to the mysterious zombie infestation that took over Joseon. It is later revealed in Kingdom: Ashin of the North that the true plague that triggered the unfortunate series of events was not only a flower, but the greed and empty promises of a corrupted government whose subjects are riddled with poverty and hunger, with no way of getting out.

In the end, it is the prejudice and injustice that fueled Ashin to avenge her father and her village. Now that you’re acquainted with Ashin, it’s the perfect time to re-watch the first two seasons to discover the series through an all new lens.

2. Sweet Home illustrates how human desires turn us into monsters.
Thriller series Sweet Home sees humans turned into monsters that reflect their deepest desires and the remaining population must find a way to fight for survival, while battling to keep their humanity intact.

The ‘muscle monster’ was born out of the desire for vanity muscles, and it moves in a way that shows off its body. On the other hand, the ‘blood-sucking monster’ used to be a bedbound patient who moves slowly despite its fast moving tentacles because it has no strength in its other body parts.

3. #ALIVE is a commentary about our dependence on technology and modern life.
Would you rather live in a world full of zombies or a world with no Internet connection? #ALIVE will make you ponder just how much we’re all glued to our screens. We watch the characters switch to analogue in order to fly under the radar and gear up to fight to stay #ALIVE.

For more zombie shows that go beyond the blood and gore, explore them all on Netflix.

Image courtesy of Netflix

Gaho's concert will be aired via global K-POP platform 'Amazer' app. Amazer's 'History Live' series that started in April has received huge responses for global fans which allowing fans to e-meet their favourite artists through the virtual concerts or events. Thanks to huge response, Amazer expand to solo performance this time around. 

This August, all K-drama fans can binge on the latest K-dramas including romance-drama, suspenseful thrillers, crime action and family dramas on Astro via KBS World (Ch 392 HD), One (Ch 393 HD), Oh!K (Ch 394 HD), and tvN (Ch 395 HD). All episodes will also be available for streaming via On Demand and Astro GO, anytime, anywhere.

Police University [Same Day as Korea] [Premiere] 12 August, Thursday & Friday, 9.10pm
KBS World (Ch 392 HD), On Demand & Astro GO

This is about a detective who catches criminals with all his might and a former hacker who uses his intelligence to solve everything. The two meet at the Police University as a professor and student, and they cooperate to investigate a case together.

Check out the Event [Same Day as Korea] [Premiere]
Ha Song Yi (Bang Min Ah) has a bright and honest personality. She works as a coordinator of a botanical garden. Her boyfriend was Park Do Gyeom (Kwon Hwa Woon), but he suddenly broke up with her and she still has a broken heart from the breakup. One day, she learns that she won a couple trip event.

Song Yi and Do Gyeom participate in the trip, pretending that they are still a couple. Meanwhile, Seo Ji Kang (An Woo Yeon), who is an essay writer, becomes a guide for the couple trip. There, he meets Ha Song Yi and becomes attracted to her.

The Second Husband [Same Day as Korea] [Premiere]
10 August, Tuesday - Saturday, 5.50pm
Oh!K (Ch 394 HD), On Demand & Astro GO

Second Husband is a passionate romance story that revolves around Bong Seon Hwa (Uhm Hyun Kyung) and her family surrounding a confectionery company. She underwent an unfortunate childhood, but due to her strong and positive personality, she rises.

Growing up in same neighbourhood she had a long relationship with Moon Sang Hyeok (Han Ki Woong). But, when she unjustly loses her family due to a tragedy born out of an unstoppable desire, she pledges revenge in the mixed fate and love.

The Road: The Tragedy of One [Same Day as Korea]
Story of a tragedy between two families of the high society following a murder case that exposed ugly desires, secrets and ambitions of residents of the “Royal the Hill”, where only top 1% elites reside.

Lovers of the Red Sky [Same Day as Korea] [Premiere]
31 August, Tuesday & Wednesday, 8.10pm
One (Ch 393 HD), On Demand & Astro GO

Set during the Joseon era, Hong Chun Gi (Kim Yoo Jung), a talented painter, becomes the first female painter admitted to the palace’s royal academy of painting, Dohwaseo. One day, she meets Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo Seop), a government official who lost his vision after a mysterious accident when he was young but is well versed in reading the constellations. They soon find themselves caught in romantic entanglements and royal politics involving the free-spirited Prince Anpyeong and the scheming Prince Sooyang.

Kingdom: Ashin of the North is a special episode that serves as an origin story and shows audiences how the undead plague in the first two seasons of Kingdom came about. As a standalone prequel, you can watch it either before or after watching the two seasons. However, the experience is that much better once you have viewed all of the parts in order to better understand and enjoy the Kingdom universe. Check out some of the most striking revelations of Kingdom: Ashin of the North and how they tie into the greater story here.

Watch it first if you want to avoid seeing any spoilers! Spoilers below!

1. Min Chi-rok’s Lies
Min Chi-rok (Park Byung-eun) appeared in season 2 as the Head of the Royal Commandery. His character was much loved for being a righteous investigator who discovers the queen’s secret. He’s smart, brave, and intent on uncovering the truth. Therefore, it comes as a surprise when we see Min Chi-rok in Kingdom: Ashin of the North lying to the Pajeowi tribe about the deaths of their tribesmen and pinning the blame on the innocent Seongjeoyains. While we understand that Min Chi-rok did this in order to avoid a war from beginning, it is clear that he and other characters are not all morally black and white.

2. Ashin’s Trauma
We are first introduced to Ashin at the end of season 2 and it is obvious that she is responsible for spreading the resurrection plant all over the kingdom and contributing to the undead plague that ravaged the kingdom. However, as we get to know more about her childhood and life prior to these events, it becomes clear that Ashin is also a victim. Her family and everyone she grew up around get killed when her village is massacred by the Pajeowi. She becomes completely alone and vulnerable to mistreatment and sexual assault.

3. Ashin’s Heartbreaking Reunion
As if all of that wasn’t traumatic enough, Ashin realizes her father had been alive all along upon finding him during a spy mission. After a tearful reunion, Ashin relieves her father of his misery and sets out to find out the truth. Upon viewing official records, she realizes that Min Chi-rok had ordered her father to lie about a tiger being responsible for the death of the Pajeowi men. Min Chi-rok’s actions led to her village being massacred and her father being chained and tortured for all these years. This revelation instigates Ashin’s plans for bloody vengeance.

4. The Beginning of Ashin’s Revenge
Ashin quickly moves into action by killing and infecting unsuspecting soldiers. The infected soldiers help her swiftly achieve her goal of killing every soldier in the camp. Ashin definitely looks badass, deftly using her bow and arrows to kill any survivors trying to escape. While we can empathize with her character in desiring revenge after experiencing those traumatic events, it’s clear that she’s neither a hero nor completely a villain. Ashin is on a warpath and is determined to take everyone down, including innocent people.

5. The Extent of Ashin’s Revenge
It is revealed that Ashin used the resurrection plant on the deceased village members. Over the years she fed them animals, but now she promises to feed them more delicious food (humans). She vows to kill everyone and to join them once she has done so. Her plan begins when she intentionally shares the resurrection plant with physician Lee Seung-hui after finding him in Uiju. This ties into how Prime Minister Cho and Lord Ahn Hyeon utilized the plant to create zombies and win the battle against the Japanese.

Furthermore, this knowledge is used to resurrect the king later which leads to the undead plague. It all started with Ashin.

What’s Next
The special episode ends with Ashin facing Aidagan, the leader of the Pajeowi. We see Ashin shoot an arrow towards the group, but we don’t know what will happen yet. Considering Ashin’s hunger for revenge, it’s clear that she probably has a master plan in mind. Also, we know that Joseon is not actually safe since the new crown prince is infected. We can expect some major battles ahead as Ashin strives for annihilation while others will fight for survival.

While we “patiently” wait for what’s next in the Kingdom universe, be awed by the intricately woven plot as you rewatch the first two seasons and Kingdom: Ashin of the North, only on Netflix.

Image courtesy of Netflix