Although I used to be an ardent enthusiast of “The Kingdom” in my youthful hipster days, it’s worth mentioning that it requires prior knowledge of its esteemed cult status to survive beyond the first episode. Commencing as a poorly shot soap opera, the narrative weaves supernatural mysteries on top of the medical drama as a pretext to explore the bizarre behaviors exhibited by the hospital’s staff. In this regard, it’s easy to draw parallels to “Twin Peaks”. The comparisons to “The Office” for the documentary-alike camerawork are also understandable, especially when employed to accentuate the deadpan comedy. While the premise initially appeared dull and fragmented, the series gradually gained momentum, culminating in an absurd ending that alone justifies the time invested.

In contrast to its inaugural season, the second season showcased an enriched awareness of the series' comedic potential, recalibrating the already limited screen time allocated to the horror elements. While the individual moments of both comedy and horror generally feel more convincing, the broader canvas paints a panorama of narrative meandering, as characters and subplots forge ahead propelled more by inertia than purpose. Although I’m aware that the subversion of audience expectations has been part of the fun, it’s hard to find motivation when every cliffhanger resolves in nothing. This evolving pattern, while perhaps a deliberate choice to mock soap opera conventions, gradually tests the plausibility of a cohesive message or an overarching theme.

Just like David Lynch resurrected "Twin Peaks" a quarter-century after its cancellation, Von Trier decided to keep treading the same path with his medical alternative. Despite the passage of time and the passing of the original protagonists, this latest incarnation of "The Kingdom" managed to faithfully recreate the original series' atmosphere while also pointing out that the world has changed in the meantime. It accomplished this by employing a self-aware form of humor rich in metatheatrics. The new lead character, Karen, is a dedicated viewer of the original series who voluntarily confines herself in Denmark's craziest hospital in a quest to unravel all the lingering mysteries. Needless to say, she will bring more chaos than closure. Meanwhile, the "Mini-Me" of late Dr. Helmer storms in to follow in his father's footsteps and restore the Swedish supremacy in Denmark. Needless to say, he will end up becoming yet one more embodiment of the hypocrisies of modern society. The social critique continuously flirts with boomer humor, yet manages to amuse effectively on many occasions.

Just like in the original run, the series just keeps meandering without a clear narrative structure, oscillating between comical moments and low-budget supernatural quirks. Although the level of self-indulgence manages to set the bar even higher than in the original series, I must admit that my interest kept growing steadily. Once you get used to the slow pace of the first couple of episodes, things are only going to get denser and crazier, culminating in that beautiful mess of a final episode.