Newtopia

A Schlockfest That Will Please Zombie Fans

Newtopia is not for the faint hearted but those who like zombie themed shows and movies will enjoy it. Show is a send up of the zombie genre and it does this extremely well.

The thought of an anti aircraft battery on top of a luxury hotel was interesting. It opened the door on those many kdrama taglines regarding incompetence, clashing with the classy people and how we are all the same when the chips were down.

It is fair to say that the first couple of episodes were a bit wobbly, which is why I marked it down a fraction. However, it quickly unfolds into a show that has its theme the importance of sticking together in a crisis.

The special effects, makeup and sets are first rate. What they achieved with the budget was phenomenal. Some scenes were very clever and well done.

At times, it was frustrating regarding the soldiers reluctance to use their weapons. However, it could be argued they were scared witless! The two female heroines were superb. One with their engineering skills, the other a crack shot.

Aaron Park almost stole the show. The drunk, zombie infected hotel manager really lifted the show and became the beacon of light that pulled the main team together.

The FL’s journey to find the ML was well done. In my view, one of the show’s strengths was showing each others path, their journey to a greater understanding - isn’t that what we all love about kdramas?

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"Newtopia" is a dark comedy drama about people trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.

The story revolves around two groups in different parts of Seoul, one with Young Joo and the other with Jae Yoon. The two are lovers, Jae Yoon is in the army and Young Joo basically spends the entire drama trying to get to where he is. I have to admit that I didn't expect the girl to be this badass, but I have to applaud her for killing the zombies with the chainsaw! It was amazing.

Ji Soo's acting isn't anything spectacular, she made me laugh several times, but in the more serious moments, she couldn't keep a straight face, like in the train scene, but since the drama focuses on comedy, this doesn't end up being very relevant.

Arron Park is amazing, he ended up stealing the show several times. And is it really true that he didn't end up transforming because he was drunk? But does that mean he needs to drink all the time? The moment his body no longer has alcohol, he will probably transform, like what happened to that boy who was with Young Joo's group.

Speaking of Young Joo, it seems like the girl was tripping on acid during this zombie apocalypse, everything that happened to her seems impossible. The zombies talked to her, shouting her name the whole time and she was even saved by the ghost of a train station employee. Oh, we can't forget how she suddenly met Jae Yoon's favorite singer and he was just singing, in the middle of all this and the worst part is that we can't even say it's a lie, because she has the tape signed by him. HAHAHA'

I don't know if there's a need for a second season, I even liked that they didn't explain much about how the outbreak started, we just saw all the chaos it caused. I didn't expect anything from this drama and I ended up being surprised, it's very fun.

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Good Enough

Korean Drama '' Newtopia '' is a horror comedy with a lot of action scenes.

The drama is centered around the romance of the two leading characters, which is the prompt for all the action, but also quite enjoyable in the end, even though the first episodes weren't that great.

Also, the zombie part was fairly basic, with the utilization of many tropes of the genre, but it was entertaining nevertheless. The final episodes were, in addition, very emotional, as the teams finally bonded.

On the other hand, the story was moving way too fast, and the humour was not as enjoyable as the rest of the genres.

Finally, the performances were all great by everyone in the cast.

So, overall, six out of ten.

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Overall, worth the watch

I’m a super zombie fan, and one of my fav sub genres of horror is satire. I think this drama did really well at keeping dark moments light thanks to the soundtrack and bright sets/colors. The acting was great, first time seeing jisoo act and she did amazing!! i would love to see her in more horror.

The story itself is interesting, two people caught in a misunderstanding and circumstances that make it hard to communicate, shit hits the fan and they realize the last thing they want is losing each other. We meet a lot of cool, likable and unlikable characters. Its very upsetting that a lot of the “sad deaths” felt kinda meh bc the characters werent well developed nor had big emotional moments for the audience to get attached. the only time i felt something was when gyeong sik shoots his commander, and we see their backstory about how he was a father figure for him or the watch on the train tracks. I really wish we got more moments like that for the other sad character deaths. the last few eps kinda felt rushed and when i finished episode 8 i was like thats it? if their purpose was to release a s2 then fine, but it felt too sudden. maybe im used to the typical 16 ep dramas. regardless, i feel like its worth the watch. 8/10 ; 9/10 if we’re supposed to get a second season lol

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Not a Typical Zombie K-Drama show

I really like zombie shows, especially when it comes to kdrama. If you came here to watch something similar to Kingdom, Train to Busan, All of us are Dead; basically every typical kdrama zombie shows, then this may not be for you. Newtopia/Influenza falls more into comedy and a bit of old school romance so it doesn't talk about how the zombies were created but more about the characters surviving.

The first three eps were not giving much but it was allowing us to get to know the characters and what's their situation. So I do understand that if you have start, you will be bored. However, if you continue, you will start seeing some actions and more funny stuff. Ngl, the comedy in this show wasn't as funny, it's more "if you get, you it" type of stuff. I only continue to watch this because I really liked how the characters were played. Honestly, that was the ONLY thing holding me to finish the drama. The plot though....it's unexplainable. I feel like I wanted more from the plot and to know more about how the zombies started.....but again, this is not a typical zombie show. If you are interested in getting to know the characters or how to survive a zombie apocalypse, this could be for you.

I'm also a fan of Jisoo so you might think my rating does not count. I just like her acting in Snowdrop, however, that drama is more political. I'm excited for her other drama!!

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A confusing, sometimes entertaining mess

The show that doesn't truly know, which identity to choose for itself, which results in a very weird tone of the series.
It has very, very over-the-top slapstick comedy, especially at the beginning, which didn't really work for me. Later on, it gets a bit better, but when this type of comedy, zombie apocalypse and the romance that suppose to be highlighting how hard it is for relationship to survive, when the guy is going through mandatory military training, get thrown in together, it is way to much and the storylines are not coherent at all. Finding new ways of killing zombies and escaping from them by the characters is the only saving grace of this show and I very much enjoyed the combination of comedy and gore there.
The acting is a hit or miss for me. It sometimes feels like actors do not match each other and that results in probably even weirder tone of the show overall.
The ending clearly suggest that the show can continue, but I won't be watching anymore of it. Waste of time.

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This show just served to convinced me I'd be so mean during an apocalypse

First part of the series was pretty boring but it got better as time went on. I kinda didn't realize the series ended until I went to check for another episode and it wasn't there but to be fair there isn't much else the show could do besides finding a way to get rid of zombies for good.

Yeongju ended up in some of the worst situations possible from just being too nice. Nearly getting ran over by a train to save a grandma and then almost getting killed by said grandma like girl. Also that woman she met at the very end seemed so suspicious I was so sure Yeongju was about to be beheaded by her or have the beheading group led to her by that woman.

Lowkey feel like Yeongju and Jaeyoon didn't go through much development as characters. They kinda feel the same as they were at the beginning of the show. Highlight of the show was for sure whenever they were fighting zombies. Overall Newtopia was a fun watch as it was entertaining and had its comedic moments.

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The only time alcoholism can save you.

Running and climbing zombies? Uh, no thanks.

I love a good zombie show; I always have and always will. That being said, I haven’t seen a zombie show quite like this. The humor and comedy elements add to the story without making it seem ridiculous (Although the alcoholism repelling zombies was hilarious). The comedy aspects bring a certain levity to the show and saves it from being your average, drama-filled, depressing, world-is-ending zombie show. That doesn’t mean certain scenes don’t hit hard and don’t surprise you. I was caught off guard by a few of the deaths that happened. The flashback episode showing Young-Joo and Jae-Yoon solidified the existing relationship for me. In the first few episodes, I found it hard to like them as a couple because we had no basis for their relationship, but the flashbacks of their relationship, both pre-relationship and post-relationship, helped. The reactions of the characters, while dramatized for comedy’s sake, felt real. While we as viewers know how to kill a zombie and that when you get bit, you inevitably turn, it’s easy to put yourself in that situation and wonder what you would believe if someone you knew or cared about got bit and if you would be able to end the danger before or even after they turn.

I do not like Jin-Wook; he’s such an irritating character. The actor did an amazing job portraying a character like him. The fact that we don’t get to visually see his death makes his death sadder, in my opinion, but I’m glad because his death was brutal. Certain scenes of this show will live rent-free in my head forever. I adore Soo-Jeong and how she is the best soldier in their little group, and she isn’t even a soldier. Tripeater/The Student saying excuse me to the zombies as he pushes by them to reach Alex’s car will never not be amusing. I love Aron, and his staple gun will always be the greatest zombie-killing device ever. I can’t forget the epic way Young-Joo killed zombie grandma. The first Sergeant’s death and Alex’s are tied for most saddest death for me. Never mind, Tripeater getting out of the car and tricking/forcing Jin-Wook to drive away because he knew he was turning and didn’t want to hurt them made me tear up.

The zombies are freaking terrifying though! The special effects makeup was spectacular, and that one bodiless zombie crawl running toward the group in the Hotel will give me nightmares.

I enjoyed the acting and all the actors, I think they all did a really good job. This is my first movie/series of Jisoo’s, but her performance when she gave up her spot on the train to the little boy only to find out it was overrun, was heartbreaking. The sets and props were amazing, it felt like you were actually in Seoul during a zombie apolypcse.

Overall, I loved this show, and I had a blast watching it. I very much hope we get a season 2 because I have so many questions.

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Newtopia: Comedy, Carnage, Chaos, and The Most Fun You’ll Have in an Apocalypse

The world of zombie dramas is a crowded one, filled with grungy aesthetics, desperate survivalists, and the same overplayed beats of impending doom. But Newtopia? Newtopia is a different beast entirely. It struts in, fully aware of the tropes it’s about to skewer, dressed in bright colors, blasting a euphoric soundtrack, and delivering a spectacle that swings between slapstick comedy and gut-wrenching tragedy with surgical precision. It’s a show that invites you to laugh at the absurdity of a teddy bear-clad soldier fighting off the undead, only to punch you squarely in the heart when you least expect it.

At its core, Newtopia follows Lee Jae-Yoon (Park Jeong-Min), a soldier who joined the military later than his peers, plagued with anxieties about his future. His girlfriend, Kang Young-Joo (Kim Ji-Soo), is a brilliant engineer trying to survive her mundane job when an unknown virus suddenly sweeps through Seoul, turning the infected into ravenous zombies. What ensues is a frantic, hilariously chaotic, and surprisingly heartfelt attempt by Jae-Yoon and Young-Joo to reunite amidst the carnage.

The brilliance of Newtopia lies in its controlled chaos. Unlike traditional zombie dramas that drench their worlds in bleak grays and desaturated despair, Newtopia bathes its scenes in vibrant hues and cheerful soundtracks that make the carnage feel like a fever dream. Bright neon-lit streets play host to gruesome zombie battles, and rather than eerie, tension-building scores, the show opts for lively, almost comically upbeat tunes that create an intoxicating contrast. It’s a bold artistic choice that pays off—this isn’t a world that demands to be taken seriously, and yet, when it lands an emotional punch, it lands hard.

The comedic trio of Park Jeong-Min, Im Sung-Jae, and Kim Joon-Han is an absolute highlight. Jeong-Min balances comedy and heartfelt sincerity with ease, making his character someone you genuinely root for. Im Sung-Jae, as Jae-Yoon’s successor, provides a perfectly timed comedic relief that never feels out of place, even when facing off against flesh-eating monsters in absurdly impractical costumes. Meanwhile, Kim Joon-Han, playing the perpetually drunk hotel manager, rounds out this trio with a no-nonsense attitude that makes every interaction hilarious. These three deliver some of the most enjoyable character dynamics in recent memory.

Kim Ji-Soo, in her second leading drama role, is a mixed bag. When she’s slashing through zombie hordes or screaming while knee-deep in guts, she’s fantastic—her comedic timing and action sequences are surprisingly strong. However, when the script demands emotional depth, her performance falters. It’s an unfortunate weakness, but not one that derails the show entirely. Given her relative inexperience, there’s promise in her future roles, and Newtopia does well to highlight her strengths while minimizing her weaker moments.

What sets Newtopia apart from similar genre fare is its willingness to embrace deeper emotional storytelling without ever losing sight of its absurdity. It’s easy to dismiss a show that features teddy bear-wearing zombie killers as pure comedy, but Newtopia doesn’t shy away from the horror that comes with the territory. Sacrifice plays a central role in the narrative, and when characters go down, they go down in moments that are both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. The show understands that the best way to make an audience feel something is to lull them into a sense of security with laughter before pulling the rug out from under them.

The gore, when it comes, is satisfyingly over-the-top. Limbs fly, heads are crushed, and faces are mangled in a way that feels more cathartic than gratuitous. It’s all part of Newtopia’s perfect balancing act—never too grim, never too ridiculous, but always entertaining. The show knows exactly when to push the comedy and when to let the horror sink in, ensuring that neither element ever overstays its welcome.

Its short eight-episode run is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it keeps the story tight and prevents unnecessary filler. There are no meandering subplots, no out-of-place dramatic diversions—everything moves at a rapid, almost breathless pace. On the other hand, the pacing does feel off at times, with too much time spent on world-building in the earlier episodes rather than diving straight into the action. For a show that thrives on momentum, these early moments can feel sluggish in retrospect.

There are a few gripes beyond pacing and uneven acting. The lack of a dedicated OST is a disappointment—while Newtopia nails its background music choices, there’s no standout song that lingers after the credits roll. And then there’s the case of Kang Young-Seok’s character, a selfish survivor archetype who somehow manages to stick around far longer than he deserves. Thankfully, his eventual demise is satisfying enough to make up for the frustration of his continued presence.

Perhaps the most brilliant decision Newtopia makes is how it concludes. It manages to give a satisfying sense of closure while still leaving enough room for a potential sequel. Whether or not we get a second season, the show respects its audience enough not to leave them hanging in an unsatisfying cliffhanger, a rare feat in today’s drama landscape.

At the end of the day, Newtopia isn’t trying to reinvent the zombie genre, and it doesn’t have to. What it does, it does with confidence and flair. It’s an incredibly fun ride from start to finish, bolstered by a stellar comedic trio, fantastic use of color and music, and an emotional core that sneaks up on you just when you least expect it. It’s unfortunate that the drama stumbles in a few areas, but none of its shortcomings take away from its sheer entertainment value. If you’re looking for a Zombieland-esque K-drama with an unexpectedly emotional punch, Newtopia is well worth the watch.

Verdict: Newtopia is pure, controlled chaos at its finest. It doesn’t strive to be groundbreaking, but what it delivers is immensely entertaining. It’s a bold, colorful, blood-soaked rollercoaster that will have you laughing, cringing, and unexpectedly emotional in equal measure. While it’s held back by minor missteps, it still manages to be a standout addition to the zombie genre, proving that there’s always room for innovation—even in an undead apocalypse.

A solid 7.5/10

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