tetsuwanatom

The producers could have incorporated this story into an episode at the beginning of season 3 -- if there is one. It's a side story to the main plot and the backstory of a new character that was introduced at the end of season 2. The actress, Jun Ji-hyun, is well known and it makes sense to give her a two-hour movie and her character a big launch. The question is whether the character and this side plot do anything to advance the story of the series? Not really, and nothing in the action warrants this two hour addition, either.

If you're a completeist and Kingdom fan, you'll want to watch to say you have. Otherwise, you can skip it and get caught up later.

@uberificbrownie In fact the women featured as Hendrix' friend and lover have come out publicly to declare the film is very inaccurate in several ways. You can read for yourself on the real Linda E.'s web site. She said that Ridley took bits of events that she wrote about in her autobiography and turned them around to fit his modern-day vision. I think she's right in some ways, certainly if you look at Atwell in the movie she's portrayed as being rather common and juxtaposed against Poots' character who is a posh intellectual/romantic.

You see what he's doing right off; Linda E. is the "old" Jimi who played juke joints with few noticing, Linda K helps him find the new Jimi who will be remembered forever. His process going from a back-up blues man to a legend was very likely a lot more complicated than that, and took more than a few notes from a friend to make him what he became.

But that's the Hollywood formula biopic, it encourages simplification of complexities. And sometimes, unfortunately when it comes to observing African American figures, the script may often have a White hand leading the Black hand along (see also 12 YEARS).

The other thing to note is that Ridley does seem to be a political conservative. They tend to observe black and white (not talking about race) more than grey.

It isn't hard to get things right like Hendrix' tone of voice (yes he was soft spoken) or his clothing and hair. Getting the rest "right" is likely harder.