Hi, everyone! How are you doing? Today I came to talk about a series I’ve been waiting for a long time – “Newtopia” on Prime Video. And man, what an unusual combination: Jisoo from BLACKPINK, zombies, and romantic comedy all mixed together! When I saw the trailer for the first time, I thought “this is going to be epic or a complete disaster”. Spoiler: it’s a bit of both, but in a very fun way!
Jisoo Out of Her Comfort Zone (And How!)
First, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Jisoo from BLACKPINK doing a zombie series! After the success of “Snowdrop”, everyone was eager to see her back on the screens. And man, what a brave project choice! She plays Kang Young-joo, a young rookie professional who is trying to find herself in life – and in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
You have to give credit to the girl: she really threw herself into the action scenes. The director himself said that she spent almost a year filming and did an intense physical preparation. Imagine Jisoo running from zombies, fighting, doing stunts… It’s surreal! And you know what else? She did much better than I expected.
Park Jeong-min: The Heart of the Series
Now, if Jisoo is the surprise, Park Jeong-min is the emotional anchor that holds everything together. Man, this actor is PHENOMENAL! He plays Lee Jae-yoon, a guy who enlisted in the army a little late in life and is full of anxieties about the future. When the zombie apocalypse begins, he needs to become the leader of his squad even though he is the most insecure in the group.
The character’s transformation is beautiful to see. At first, he’s that guy who’s kind of lost in life, who’s only sure about one thing: that he loves his girlfriend. As the series progresses and he faces the zombies, he grows as a person and as a leader. Park Jeong-min delivers every nuance of this evolution brilliantly.
The Breakup That Came At The Worst Possible Time
The series’ premise is brilliant: Jae-yoon and Young-joo break up over the phone at the EXACT moment the zombie apocalypse begins in Seoul. Perfect timing, right? They were going through difficulties because he was in the army and she was starting her career, and the distance was causing friction.
So, literally on the day they decide to take a break, the city turns into total chaos with zombies everywhere. Now they need to fight to reunite and survive at the same time. It’s as if the universe said, “You want to break up? How about doing it in the middle of an apocalypse?”
Zombie + Romance = Zom-Com!
The series sells itself as a “zom-com” (zombie comedy), and man, this mix works better than I imagined! The moments of zombie terror are interspersed with hilarious scenes, especially involving Jae-yoon and his military colleagues. The humor isn’t forced – it arises naturally from the absurd situations they face.
There’s one particular scene where they’re stuck on top of a luxury skyscraper in Gangnam while zombies climb the stairs, and the guys are trying to maintain the military hierarchy in the midst of the chaos. It’s hilarious and tense at the same time!
The Dream Team Behind The Cameras
Guys, check out the team behind this series: directed by Yoon Sung-hyun (who directed “Bleak Night” and “Time to Hunt”), and script co-written by Han Jin-won (who worked on “Parasite”!) and Ji Ho-jin (from “A Shop for Killers”). With a team like that, you already know that quality is guaranteed.
And it’s not just the creative team that impresses. The production invested heavily – you can see it in the quality of the action scenes, the special effects of the zombies, and the cinematography. Each frame looks like a movie, not a TV series.
Seoul as an Apocalyptic Setting
One of the things that impressed me the most was how they transformed Seoul into a post-apocalyptic setting. Seeing well-known tourist spots in the city taken over by zombies is chilling! The series makes great use of Seoul’s geography, especially the Gangnam area where much of the action takes place.
The zombies themselves are well done – no cheap CGI. They are scary when they need to be, but they don’t overdo the gore. It’s an interesting balance that keeps the series accessible even for those who aren’t fans of the horror genre.
The Relationship That Wins (Gradually)
I’ll be honest: at first, I wasn’t completely convinced of the chemistry between Jisoo and Park Jeong-min. It seemed a bit forced, you know? But as the series progresses and shows more flashbacks of their relationship, things get much better.
The flashbacks reveal how they met and fell in love, and these scenes are genuinely cute. Seeing how the relationship developed helps to understand why they are fighting so hard to reunite in the midst of the apocalypse. It’s about true love, not just physical attraction.
Jisoo Growing As An Actress
I need to talk about Jisoo’s acting. Yes, she is still finding her place as an actress, but man, she has come a long way since “Snowdrop”! The action scenes especially show a more confident and determined Jisoo.
She herself said that she discovered how much she enjoys filming action sequences. And look, you can see it! There’s a scene where she fights zombies in a single take that is breathtaking. You can see that she seriously prepared for these scenes.
The Moments of Real Tension
Despite the comedy, “Newtopia” doesn’t mess around when it comes to tension. There are genuinely scary moments where you’re on the edge of your seat rooting for the characters to survive. The series manages to balance humor with suspense in a way that keeps you glued to the screen.
Especially the scenes in the skyscraper, where Jae-yoon’s squad is trapped and trying to find a way to escape. It’s like a claustrophobic action movie, but with touches of comedy that relieve the tension at the right time.
The Divisive Ending
Without giving away major spoilers, the ending of the series is kind of controversial. Some fans loved it, others were frustrated. It’s one of those open endings that leaves some questions unanswered and opens up space for a possible second season.
What I can say is that the reunion between Jae-yoon and Young-joo is exciting, but it comes with some twists you won’t expect. There’s even a mysterious supernatural creature that appears in the final episodes – because apparently zombies weren’t enough!
Comparisons with Other Zombie K-Dramas
It’s impossible not to compare “Newtopia” with other genre hits like “Kingdom”, “Sweet Home”, and “All of Us Are Dead”. Honestly, “Newtopia” is different from all of those. It’s lighter, more focused on romance, and has a more optimistic tone.
While other zombie dramas focus on horror and hopelessness, “Newtopia” is about finding love and hope even in the midst of chaos. It’s a refreshing approach to the genre that may appeal even to those who don’t normally enjoy zombies.
Is It Worth Watching?
The question that begs to be asked: is it worth watching? My answer is: it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want a hardcore, grim zombie series, maybe this one isn’t for you. But if you want a fun mix of action, comedy, and romance with a dash of apocalypse, “Newtopia” delivers.
The series has its issues – the pacing is sometimes uneven, some character decisions are questionable, and not all plots are well developed. But the charm lies precisely in its uniqueness. It’s a series that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s refreshing.
For Jisoo Fans and Newcomers
If you’re a fan of Jisoo or BLACKPINK, it’s definitely worth watching to see her in a completely different register. And if you’ve never seen anything of her as an actress, this can be a good gateway – it’s much more dynamic than “Snowdrop”.
For fans of k-dramas in general, it’s an interesting option if you want something different from the usual. It’s not a masterpiece, but it’s quality entertainment with an original premise.