Kingdom (2012)
Synopsis
In the Warring States period, young orphan Xin vows to aid King Zheng of Qin in his quest to unify China by becoming a general himself.
Network
NHK G, NHK BS Premium
Episodes
The Boy With No Name
Shin and Hyou are two slaves who have grown as sword training buddies and pseudo brothers with a common dream of growing up to be great generals.
Fated Meeting
Xin discovers Ying Zheng, the young King of Qin, who's fleeing his half-brother's uprising. Piao's killer arrives to murder Ying Zheng. Xin, who's learned that Piao died serving as Zheng's stand-in, must decide which to help and which to kill.
Friend!
Xin and Zheng entrust their escape to young Diao, who knows a secret way out of Heibei Village. Xin still blames Zheng for Piao's death, and even as this simmering conflict boils over, a new and deadly pursuer takes up the chase.
The King and the Sword
Fleeing pursuit, Zheng and Xin struggle with exhaustion and with each other. When they reach the appointed meeting site, there's no sign of Zheng's sole supporter, Lord Changwen . . . and the murderous tracker Mu Ta is hot on their trail.
An Unbreakable Heart
Xin, who's vowed in the name of his own ambitions to help the King, must singlehandedly face the treacherous assassin Mu Ta. Meanwhile, General Wang Yi brings a piece of tribute to the Court that seems to spell the end for all young King Zheng's hopes.
The Path to a Great General
Xin hears a tale of Piao's heroism during Wang Yi's ambush, but he also learns that King Zheng has even fewer allies than he'd been told. With little time left to forestall a civil war, Zheng decides on a dangerous path, to seek out unlikely allies.
The Terrifying Mountain People
Xin sets out into the western mountains with Zheng and his handful of soldiers, seeking the aid of the mountain king. The mountain folk, though, have little liking for flatlanders, and when he meets them, King Zheng is forced to make a perilous choice.
Each One's Dream
In the stronghold of the mountain folk, Zheng treats with their king, who seems determined to kill the young King of Qin in retribution for longstanding grudges. And the arrival of Xin and his companions pushes this confrontation to its crisis.
Now, to Xianyang!
Zheng and Xin return to where Lord Changwen waits. They make ready to ride to the capital, but they'll need remarkable strategy to overcome the terrible odds. Meanwhile, in the capital, Jie Shi has raised a vast army to face the formidable Lu Buwei.
Invading the Royal Capital
Zheng, Xin, and their companions arrive at the gates of Xianyang, capital of the Qin Kingdom, with a force far too small to assault such a great fortress. A stratagem may get them inside the walls, but they won't reach the Royal Court without a fight.
The Fierce Fighting Begins
Blocked by Wei Xing's elite crossbowmen, the forces of Zheng and the mountain folk split up. Xin accompanies a smaller force to seek out the usurper Cheng Jiao in the palace... but their way, too, is blocked, by the deadly assassin Zuo Ci and his men.
The Ultimate Blade
Xin, Bi, and the breakaway force, fighting to reach the throne room, face the seemingly invincible Zuo Ci in the "Right-Side Dragon" corridor, while outside, the King and Lord Changwen hold out against Si Shi and Wei Xing.
The Roar of Lankai
The breakaway force reaches the Throne Room, only to find the traitor Cheng Jiao guarded by his monstrous "pet," who's seemingly impervious to weapons. Ba Jio reveals a previously unseen savagery, but can he contend with the brute strength of Lan Kai?
The Power of the Sword
His companions battered, Xin must rise to face the monstrous Lan Kai; in doing so he learns something of the true nature of the sword. Outside, Zheng's desperate fight is interrupted by the unwelcome arrival of the mysterious and powerful General Wang Yi.
Qualifications of a King
A face-off with Jiao Cheng awaits, but before that can come, Zheng Ying, facing death at General Wang Yi's hand, must convince the "Strange Bird of Xin" that his vision of the future makes him a worthy successor to his great-grandfather, King Zhao.
Lü Buwei
The recalcitrant and powerful Lü Buwei finally makes his appearance, accompanied by his more-than-formidable "Four Pillars." But condescension and a scarcely veiled threat of violence show right through his half-hearted show of respect to King Zheng Ying.
First Campaign
Xin's first true campaign as a soldier comes at last, but when Wei makes a surprise move, the battle doesn't go as he expected.
The Threat of the Chariot Corps
The battle heats up as Wei's forces bring out their trump card. This isn't going to be a fair fight--but luckily, Xin isn't looking for one.
A Blazing Battle
The Fourth Army's victory against the chariots gives Lord Biao an idea. How far can he push behind enemy lines if the infantry's survival is no object?
Wang Qi Intrudes
Just when it seems the battle on the She Gan Plain is finally going their way, Qin's forces are suddenly surprised by the advent of three generals: their own, the enemy's... and one who's not even supposed to be there!
The Meaning of General
Xin has his very first conversation with a true general, and Wu Qing of Wei and Lord Biao of Qin are finally batting each other in earnest.
Wise General vs Courageous General
Lord Biao and Wu Qing are both fighting all-out, and whoever wins this one-on-one battle also wins the war.
Night Tale
Xin learns some things about Qiang Lei's past, and Diao has to make an important decision about the future.
A New Trial
When Xin approaches Wang Yi looking for a mentor to make him stronger, he discovers that the great general doesn't make things easy.
Appointment
Just as Qin is successfully waging war with one of its neighboring kingdoms, Han, another neighbor makes its own attack against Qin.
War God Pang Nuan
Xin and his comrades march into battle together again, this time under the command of the great general Wang Yi. Meanwhile, the Royal Court begins to suspect that Wang Yi has his own ulterior motive for taking on this particular battle.
Birth of the Feixin Unit
The battle against Zhao is underway, and both sides have tricks up their sleeves. In recognition of Xin's growth as a commander, Wang Yi gives his squadron a special mission that could determine the outcome of the war.
Wang Qi's Flying Arrow
The Fei Xin Force is up against a brilliant tactician in their very first mission. Xin and his men may be good, but is Feng Ji better?
Sudden Change in the Tide of Battle
Xin has his first taste of fame, and Wu Meng is back to leading the Qin offensive. Will it go the same way as the last one, or does Wu Meng have a trick up his sleeve?
Disaster
Wang Yi smells something fishy about Zhao's sudden retreat, but his endgame remains the same: find and kill Nuan Pang. Xin and Qiang Lei give him a little inadvertent help.
The Power of a Group
Nuan Pang is still unleashing the wrath of the gods on all around him, and at this point he seems almost untouchable. But this is the Fei Xin Force's camp, and they're not giving up without a fight.
The Feixin Unit Flees
The Fei Xin Force scatters, running deep into the mountains with Wan Ji in hot pursuit. This time they're on a self-assigned mission: protect their leader at all costs.
Wang Qi Takes to the Field!
The original 100-man Fei Xin Force is down to 36 men, and Zhao's generals are closing in. However, morning has dawned, and Wang Yi is on the move.
Central Performers
King Zheng Ying receives some disturbing news about Zhao's forces, Diao and Meng Yi learn the true identities of their fellow spectators, and the war begins to take a new turn.
Confrontation of Supreme Commanders
Wang Yi and Nuan Pang begin their showdown at last. Meanwhile, Lord Changwen tells Zheng the truth about Liao.
Wang Qi and Liao
Nine years ago, Wang Yi, Lord Changwen, and Liao shared a secret with the King that altered the course of one woman's life and death.
I Am at the Verge of Death
The plot to slay Wang Yi takes a turn no one was expecting.
Succession
As the war between Qin and Zhao comes to an end, the Middle Kingdom witnesses the dawn of a new era.
Cast
Trailer
Details
Original Title
キングダム
Status
Returning Series
Seasons
6
Episodes
155
Production
Pierrot, St.Signpost, NHK Enterprises
