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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
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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