The right Kingdom watch order is season 1, then season 2, then the special episode Ashin of the North, in release order. Most of the confusion comes from Netflix filing Ashin as its own title rather than a numbered season, so it doesn’t sit in your Kingdom row the way you’d expect. Here’s why that happens and what each part actually is.
📌 Key Takeaways
- Kingdom watch order: Season 1 (2019), Season 2 (2020), then Ashin of the North (2021).
- Ashin of the North is a 92-minute special, not a numbered season three, and Netflix catalogs it under a separate title ID.
- No season 3 has been officially announced as of this article’s publish date.
This article is for: anyone starting Kingdom, or anyone who finished season 2 and can’t find what’s next.
The Right Order, and Why It Gets Confusing
Kingdom watch order is straightforward once you know the pieces: Season 1, Season 2, then Ashin of the North. What throws people off is that Ashin doesn’t show up in the same row as the two numbered seasons on Netflix. It’s cataloged as a separate title, so if you’re browsing by season number alone, it’s easy to miss entirely and assume the story just stops after season 2.
What Ashin of the North Actually Is
Netflix’s own language calls Ashin of the North a “special episode” and, in its press materials, “a sidequel from Kingdom season two.” Several outlets have described it as a prequel instead, which isn’t wrong exactly. It’s set earlier in the story’s timeline and explains the backstory of Ashin, the character played by Jun Ji-hyun who first appears at the end of season 2. But Netflix’s own term is sidequel, not prequel, and that distinction matters for expectations: this is a side story that deepens one character, not a fresh entry point into the world.
What Each Part Covers, No Spoilers
Season 1 sets up the outbreak and the crown prince’s investigation into it, in six episodes. Season 2 escalates the political fallout and the scale of the threat, also six episodes. Ashin of the North, at 92 minutes, steps back to tell Ashin’s origin story and where the resurrection plant at the center of the outbreak actually came from. Watching it after season 2 is what makes her season 2 cameo land the way it’s supposed to.
Is There a Season 3?
Not officially, as of this article’s publish date in August 2026. Series writer Kim Eun-hee said in a July 2021 interview that nothing was confirmed but that she already had an ending in mind. In February 2025, star Ju Ji-hoon said publicly that the writer was busy with other projects. Neither of those adds up to a greenlight, a cast, or a date. If you see a specific 2026 release date or announcement date circulating online, treat it with real skepticism — nothing that specific has actually been confirmed by Netflix or the production.
How Long Each Watch Actually Takes
We measured all six season 1 episodes directly off Netflix: they run 43 to 57 minutes each, 5 hours 7 minutes total, a real number since a 6-episode season is short enough for Netflix to list in full. Season 2 is also six episodes, though we don’t have a matching per-episode measurement for it. On our ratings table, Kingdom’s two seasons combine for 12 episodes averaging 51 minutes apiece, roughly 10 hours together, putting it among the shorter K-drama commitments on the list. Ashin of the North adds one more sitting at 92 minutes.
Where to Watch
Kingdom seasons 1 and 2 stream on Netflix in the US, along with Ashin of the North as a separate listing, as of this writing; check your own region since availability shifts. If historical horror with real scares is your thing, our review of Hellbound is a reasonable next stop once you’ve cleared the kingdom watch order above.
The Short Version
Kingdom watch order, settled: Season 1, Season 2, Ashin of the North. Ashin is a sidequel Netflix files under its own title, not a hidden season 3, and no real season 3 exists yet despite what you might find claimed elsewhere online. Watch the two seasons first, then Ashin, and you’ve got the whole story as it currently stands.
Sources
- About Netflix — Two of Korea’s Top Storytellers Unite for Kingdom
- About Netflix — Season 2 of the Epic Korean Original Series Kingdom Premieres on March 13
- About Netflix — A Bloodthirsty 92 Minutes Coming This Summer: Kingdom Ashin of the North
- About Netflix — Mysteries of Kingdom Series to Be Unravelled
- VIZ — The Kingdom of the Gods
- Hankook Ilbo — Kim Eun-hee on Kingdom Season 3
- Star Daily News — Ju Ji-hoon on Kingdom Season 3
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