Namhyeok supremacy
I have to start this off with my favorite part of — Suhyeok and Namra, who totally stole the show, both individually and together. I just loved Namra's character arc in particular, and though romance is by no means a main focus of this show, their scenes are the ones I keep going back to rewatch.With that being said, I think it was really good that romance wasn't a main focus, and yet it was there in certain light-hearted moments, reminding us that these characters are still kids who deal with crushes and first kisses and butterflies. I think both of the main relationships were done absolutely beautiful and we got just the right amount for them.
I think my main criticism with this is just the massive amount of unnecessary characters there are. I liked the two main groups for sure (although I admit some of those characters felt extra — it was as if they were to die in case someone needed to be killed off) and some of the peripheral characters like parents, and I anxiously awaited moments where their paths would cross. But other than that, there were a lot of other character groups and arcs that took up time and got incomplete arcs like the politician, the livestreamer, or the pregnant girl; I either didn't care for those or were downright annoyed with them. Even some of the characters that were more relevant kind of had their character development swerving off-kilter in a non-sensical way.
I also felt like the last episode was really rushed; I felt like taking out some of those unnecessary characters and spending more time with the main group could have given the changes in the last episode more screentime — I also wouldn't have been opposed to having this be a full 16-episodes so we could see more about the aftermath and maybe get an ending that was more satisfying. It currently stands a bit bittersweet and I have mixed feelings on that.
In conclusion - watch for Suhyeok and Namra.
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Highschool of the Dead ?
Are you dead in this zombie year? 💀IF Not, I think every zombie lover and no lover should watch this mainly because of its top-notch VFX.
Though I find some of the acts are little sloppy but the overall story is well executed. I waited really long for the first season but it didn't disappoint me. I wish there is a second season.
But why are zombies are so sensitive to sound in every movie or series?
Some people just don't listen to what others had to say on the other hand some don't speak up for themselves.
I think Covic turn us into some kind of zombie that's why I like this series very much.
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This review may contain spoilers
Students Fight For Their Lives Inside Of A School Overrun By Zombies
From the moment the series begins, All of Us Are Dead hooks viewers with its intense atmosphere and deeply emotional narrative. It’s more than just another zombie drama; it’s a layered story that delves into the harsh realities of adolescence, social pressures, and human resilience, all set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse.The show wastes no time immersing us in the daily struggles faced by its young protagonists. The South Korean educational system, infamous for its relentless academic demands, becomes the stage for a gripping tale of survival. The series sheds light on the emotional toll these pressures take, with bullying, mental health struggles, and societal neglect forming the core of the characters’ pre-apocalypse lives. This grounded realism elevates the story, making the characters’ fight for survival all the more impactful.
One of the show’s standout elements is its exploration of relationships. Each character brings unique perspectives and motives, and their interactions—whether strained, supportive, or heart-wrenching—add layers of depth to the narrative. The camaraderie, conflicts, and sacrifices they share make them feel incredibly real. You can't help but root for their survival, mourn their losses, and celebrate their small victories.
Thematically, All of Us Are Dead shines by addressing societal issues faced by youth, not just in South Korea but globally. The narrative doesn't shy away from heavy subjects like bullying, depression, and the unforgiving pressures of academic excellence. These themes are woven seamlessly into the story, creating a poignant reflection on the struggles of modern youth.
As the zombie outbreak takes hold, the series shifts into an adrenaline-fueled thriller. The chaos, desperation, and heartbreak of the students’ fight for survival are depicted with unrelenting intensity. The relentless pace, paired with exceptional storytelling, keeps you glued to the screen.
The parallels to the Covid-19 pandemic are impossible to miss. From quarantine measures to the fear of infection and the divide between personal concerns and societal demands, the series captures the uncertainty and tension of living through a global crisis. This connection makes the story even more resonant, as viewers are reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of community and hope.
On the technical front, the series is a visual masterpiece. The cinematography captures both the beauty and the horror of the unfolding events. The special effects and makeup are stunning, particularly in portraying the terrifying transformation of infected individuals. Every frame feels deliberate, adding to the immersive experience.
Despite its brutal moments, the show never loses sight of its emotional core. The acts of love, friendship, and selflessness scattered throughout the series create a powerful contrast to the violence. These moments of humanity serve as the heart of the story, reminding us that even in the darkest times, compassion and connection endure.
The finale of All of Us Are Dead leaves a profound impact. Without giving away spoilers, it’s a conclusion that feels both devastating and hopeful, offering closure while leaving room for reflection. It’s a fitting end to a series that balances horror with heartfelt storytelling.
In summary, All of Us Are Dead is an unforgettable journey that combines action, emotion, and social commentary. It’s more than just a zombie drama—it’s a reflection on the resilience of the human spirit and the complexities of growing up in a harsh world. This series is a must-watch, not only for fans of the genre but for anyone seeking a story that stays with you long after the credits roll.
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All Of Us Are Dead review
First, the whole production is on another level as expected of netflix korea! the whole cast really did well, there were some parts that are kinda lacking but overall I really like Cheongsan and Suhyeok’s chemistry especially when they’re fighting the zombies! Also I like Namra’s character, she’s so badass and cool. The bullying issues and the way the school tried to cover it up resulting to the science’s teacher’s experiment to make his son stronger so he can fight those who bullied him. The sacrifices each character made was so tear jerking :( they’re parents and friends turning into zombie was so sad. Tbh I was so mad at Gwinam why can’t he just die, he had to bite Cheongsan and poke his eye (this part was so heartbreaking) then one by one they’re getting bitten, maybe that’s reason for the title :( but the ending got me so hanging like yeah kdrama usually end it like that but hopefully there’ll be season 2 cause I don’t want Cheongsan to die like that :’(Was this review helpful to you?
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A succession of gore and betrayal
I’ll start by saying that the production is very good, but it’s not a surprise as there is nothing less to expect from Netflix. All the actors did a great job.They tried hard to come up with a fresh story about zombies. In brief, the drama Is the typical survival race against zombies with a mix of gore & korean school issues such as bullying, teen sex, etc.
From the origin to the virus to the end with Nam-ra & “others like her”, it is poorly explained and doesn’t really make sense.
The drama could have been good, but unfortunately, It is overall a disappointment. The characters aren’t developed and it became a succession of unfortunate events, of useless fights between the characters, of human beings at their lowest points, etc. It feels they tried so hard to go against cliches that they just made the worst happened to “surprise” you.
Some characters & scenes are useless to the story & it feels that some scenes were added to add length to the story but definitely failed to add depth. The teenager who had a baby. On-Jo’s father who spent 10 episodes to look for, but died after 1,5 min he reunited with her, The bully that stays alive (but we don’t know how) & spent all episodes to run after ML to finally gauge his eye out and died with him. Etc, etc...
It reminded me a lot #Alive but with schoolmates rather than neighbours. The drama format was issueless and they could have made a movie out of this story, it would have probably avoided all the unnecessary added scenes.
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This review may contain spoilers
Promising Outbreak but Questionable Ending
The premise of "All of Us Are Dead" like the korean title "지금 우리 학교는" or "Our School Now" is centered on students who tried their best to stay alive from being trapped in their school through zombie apocalypse. All of Us Are Dead has 12 episodes with 1 hour long duration. Some viewer might find the story dragging, but I didn't at all. How and why I find this drama fun and engaging? Mostly because I got to watch the story from several different perspective, desperate teen survivor, detective and his framed science teacher, also military and political government.[ Promising Outbreak ]
Unlike most of zombie series that started with main character's everyday life and the sudden zombie outbreak, All of Us Are Dead began with the background story of the virus itself. The starting plot is around a student who get bullied and how this character developed the virus from his science teacher father who helped his own son from death. It is then unfold from his laboratory room and how the infected bring their zombie virus from inside and outside the school. I appreciated how the writer put the issue of school violence into the root of the zombie virus. The emotional story from the parents of surviving student was also my favorite. I always love how South Korean included 'heartwarming' family plot onto their series and ended it harshly for tearjerking scenes.
The story is shifted from time to time but it is all still connected into one because the school background setting is labeled ground zero for the outbreak. They blend the detective, military, and the political side into the story pretty well. We got to see the view on characters who truly wanted to help surviving people, who just wanted to save the non infected citizen, and who wanted to save their own ass on status seat even in harsh condition. Back to the main characters and their zombie battle at school. The main characters here are the surviving Hyosan Students, that funnily were all in the same class. What is the possibility of you and your classmates to survive together in zombie outbreak? This drama writer be like, "Hell yeah, 99%. It is fiction so of course there would be impossible events, what would you expect?"
[ Questionable Ending ]
It wasn't an ideal one but I didn't know a better way to end this drama. The drama has an open ending like our real life Covid-19 situation, there is no light to see the end. I must mention i noticed there is some reference on "Sewol Ferry" accident in episode 12 where the survivors are being interrogated. If you don't know about it, try google search. It was heartbreaking real life tragedy of high school students who was abandoned by the official staff and government by leaving them drowning on sinking ferry. The student victims trusted the adults too much that they had to die in the end. So the dialogue "Why did you abandon us?" and "I won't ask adults ever again, don't ask us to cooperate." hit me in the feels. Not a perfect ending of course, afterall especially in our pandemic situation, which government have done a perfect job on taking care difficult problem? None.
But, how about the fantasy side from the virus and zombie? Yeah like when Nam Ra jumped from high school building, they once again left us with cliff hangers. I didn't get bothered by it, but I just wished to see more depth into their characters before the ending. What I find disappointing was how they started the 'virus making' well but they unfortunately leave the 'mutant making' with full of hanging reasons. There was definitely a chance for them to show more of background stories from Half Zombie characters "The Bully Guy", "The Sexy Girl", and "The Students Pres". Unfortunately we didn't get them until the end and we only could imagine and assume by ourselves.
[ Characters... Are Dead ]
I personally really hate the romance between main characters. It is as if they tell us, we have to crush on someone to be the main characters. Will it be okay without it? of course. If only their focus is more about friendship than love story, I think it will be more moving and affecting in a good way. Like my favorite scenes from the farewell between Cheong San and Gyeong Su, On Jo and Yi Sak throwback, and also Na Yeon character development story. I also find the supporting roles are more interesting, the two archery ladies, crybaby Na Yeon, chicken part timer wannabe Gyeong Sang, the realistic Ji Min, 2nd rank student ( i forgot his name ), the brother in law guy, and more! In comparison, the four main characters are more bland than the supporting characters to me.
Is their acting good enough? At first, both female lead actress looks awkward in my eyes, but they get better each episodes when they are mourning deaths and countering difficult situation. Male leads chemistry are the best, I like their bromance and I wish to see them in other projects. All of the supporting casts and the minor roles have amazing acting and they delivered their emotion admirably. I must mention the zombie stunt are perfect, plus point on cracking bones acting.
[ Zombies... Are Alive ]
Instead of creepy or dark atmosphere, All of Us Are Dead zombies are more gory full of blood ripped flesh and average people would find it disturbing. Most of them are executed on VFX and negative side we can actually notice it because the overall bright cinematography. There would be some plot hole in their action scenes and some people could get bothered by it. Like how the heck those zombie didn't get killed from third-floor fall but immediately died from a single arrow, but I personally didn't mind it because it was all for "plot armour" and just passed it by. I myself hardly get scared with zombie genre and I find most of the zombies here are hilarious. Believe me, I laughed a lot on suitcase, traffic cone, scissors, and kindergarten zombies. I repeated their scenes for comedic relief.
[ Music... Are Splashed Everywhere ]
I don't know what to say here. I don't remember any single background music in All of Us Are Dead and I just remember all the special sound effect of tearing flesh, splashing blood, and purking. But that is what made me focus on their action and dialogue between characters.
[ Overall... Watch it When You Are Alive ]
One you can expect from south korean zombie series is their focus on survival. I like this show from episode 1 to 12. It is a fun experience to see all perspective of students victim of harsh accident trying to get into safety in school area. There are a lot of cool extraordinary action scenes when they tried avoiding the zombies. The thrilling moments and in between relief of breath are exciting for me. The overall cinematography are also excellent, they have this green color grading perfect for image's depth, contrast, and contour to support the story's atmosphere. The behind production team is top notch. I didn't read this drama webtoon because I didn't want to get disappointed like I did with Sweet Home. That was my choice and I think that was the best decision for me. Because in the end, I mostly enjoyed All of Us Are Dead from the beginning until the end.
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Disastrous show
What to say about this train wreck of a show… I disliked every single aspect of it. I’m a huge fan of korean zombie shows and movies but this drama is just an embarrassment. I don’t understand how it became popular in the first place, as it has 0 redeeming qualities to it.I’m truly infuriated and disgusted with myself for having even watched it until the end. I guess I was hoping for the plot to deliver what it promised but it was full of clichés, repetitions, stupid useless scenes and characters, anti-climatic outcomes and everything bad a story can have. I’ll forgive the acting (the older actors were good though) because most of these people are pretty new in the game and they’re young, but the acting was pretty bad too. The characters were useless, unlikeable, unrealistic, their actions made no sense and their worries (crushes????like wtf????) were meaningless most of the time. And the inconsistencies with the way the infected acted (how long it took them to turn etcetc) just pissed me off. The way the story was told as a whole isn’t coherent or interesting.
To be fair, it could have been really good if they had wasted less time with irrelevant storylines, if had organized the way it’s presented in a more thrilling way, if they had made the characters and their reactions more realistic and logical… I could go on for a whole hour. But maybe it would have been a decent drama had it been released in 2014 or something. The thing is, especially if you compare it to actually amazing zombie movies and shows, namely Train to Busan and Kingdom, this is honestly just ridiculous.
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A treat for Zombie Thriller lovers ....
(Non Spoiler Review)No matter what, always stick to the orginal content, there is no compromise in the story and its very brutal, Netflix Orginal drama doesn't disappoint us these days. Every month they brought something really worth for time. All of us are dead probably one of the best zombie thriller i have had watched in recent time. The concept of zombie is now become a cliché, even though this whole drama was a different experience.
This is a webtoon adaptation with same name, the episodes numbers were increased which was unusual for a Netflix Orginal drama also some episode length were little bit high. Some people may feel little dragging in the middle and its understandable because they slowly making this whole atmosphere more and more intense. The making was one of the key factor. Its just unbelievable every time when you watching a zombie thriller. The performance of all those zombie looks scary, here also it's insane.
I didn't felt much of a dragging in the screenplay as i already mentioned they slowly developing the seriousness of the situation. May be we can predict almost every scene that coming next but still some breathtaking moments were there, which gives you a different experience for sure. The performance of the leads was good especially some stories like this, there is always have one or two annoying character who gets all attention, that feels super cliché. But eventually you get annoyed and that's what the makers want.
The emotional scenes, Friendship, little bit of romance also little bit of love triangle, everything was good and perfect fit. Overall all of us are dead is a must watch drama if you are a zombie thriller fan. Every episode is thrilling and engaging till the end. Try it
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This ain't no Train to Busan!! Skip it!
I am a huge zombie movie/ drama fan and this show was a waste of 12 hours of my life. Poorly written, poorly acted- the only reason anyone is watching it is because it is a Netflix production,Unnecessarily includes sexual assault (which isn't in the original story) and nudity of a minor. If this was necessary to the arc of the story I would understand ... but it isn't so it seems to have been shoved into the story for shock value and probably some misogyny on the part of the director. Then the end game for this bullied student is SUCH A WASTE.
Same goes for teenage pregnancy and a girl with no sign of being pregnant seemingly and with no issues gives birth to her baby in the toilet and after this is good to go and run around town ... how is this relevant to the story? Who knows?
Poor character development and no one makes you want to root for them- in the end you hope all of them will be dead ...
Such wasted potential for a zombie drama set in a high school ...
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Watch if you can stand loopholes, idiocracy and unserved justice
Acting is great not gonna lie.The main issue i have with this drama was how they presented multiple themes/backstories but left them all hanging/unsatisfiable.
Seriously, the bullies’ outcome aint equivalent to what they delivered to their victims.
Also, there were quite a few unnecessary sacrifices, omg, all the character development for them to be written off so badly..
If you can stand illogic, stupid and selfish decisions made by the survivors, do go ahead!
Brace yourself to take everything lightly if not this show will seriously give you anxiety and hair-pulling moments.
(Think i've gotten myself high blood pressure from screaming at the screen whenever the survivors do something WITHOUT common sense.)
Nevertheless, its pretty fast paced and addicting.
Also, KUDOS TO THE ZOMBIE CGI!!!
The choreography of the infected turning into zombies is so beautiful and creative!
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its good enough
I understand they are young actors, lets put that acting aside. I have only one complaint, all the characteristics are annoying, stupid, dumb and impulsive. The story itself feels like what if i am teenager in the zombie apocalypse by a adult. They had so many chances to escape and save if only they properly coordinated with each other, but what did they do, all they did was complain, discuss love, and a bunch of crazy stupid things.Ok i got bored and finished the series, its good enough, i was a little harsh above, as I only watched the 1 episode, don't mind that. The content is engaging and keeps you on the edge throughout the series as i finished the series.
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This is how you write and direct a zombie TV series
This is way far better than all The Walking Dead seasons combined. Highly recommended for both who likes the zombie genre and those who doesn't like it.This isn't your usual, ordinary, zombie show. It's full of character development, real life and realistic drama, and lessons in survival and life itself.
In this show, they truly captured how high school students would have acted and think. While maybe, some characters and situations were annoying, you would realize that's how you and your classmates would have been at that age of your life. They also did not shy away from showing the very difficult task of making decisions, and best of all, how in the middle of fear, uncertainty, and death, humanity still can trust and support each other at the end of the day.
It's not all running. There are stories behind every episode, every character, every scene. Something you don't see in majority of zombie films and TV series.
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