South Korean zombie comedy series Newtopia is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Coupang Play from February 7 to March 21, 2025, and has entertained audiences to the fullest. Directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, based on Han Sang-woon’s novel Influenza, the series is written by Parasite writer Han Jin-won and Ji Ho-jin. Starring Blackpink star Jisoo and Park Jeong-min in the lead roles, this eight-episode series combines zombie horror, comedy, and romance into a fun package. How is this series? Let’s see a real, human review in Telugu!
What’s in the story?
Set against the backdrop of a zombie outbreak in Seoul, the story revolves around a broken-up couple, Lee Jae-yoon (Park Jeong-min) and Kang Young-joo (Jisoo). Jae-yoon joins the military at the age of 26, while his girlfriend Young-joo starts a new job as an engineer. Due to arguments and distance between the two, they decide to break up over the phone. But that same day, a zombie pandemic begins in Seoul! Plane crashes, blood on the roads, a national emergency—the entire city turns into a bit of hell. Jae-yoon gets trapped in a skyscraper with his military unit, and Young-joo embarks on a risky journey through the zombie-infested streets of Seoul to meet him. Will they reunite in this zombie apocalypse? Will their love story survive? That's the rest of the story.
How's the series?
Newtopia hooks you from the very first episode with its fun, fast-paced vibe. It's not a heavy zombie drama like Train to Busan, but rather a Zombieland-style rollercoaster ride that mixes comedy, romance, and light horror. The backdrop of Seoul city is super cool—the skyscrapers, crashed planes, and zombie-infested roads are visually shocking. The zombie fight scenes are well choreographed, but the real highlight is the comedy! The dark humor of Jae-yoon's squad and the scenes where Young-joo deals with zombies are laugh-out-loud funny. Episode 6 has a chef character scene, Aaron Park's entry is a total reaction-worthy! The second half is really at its peak—the comedy, emotions, and character moments are all spot on.
However, the series has some minor flaws. While the first episode is good, episode 3 feels a bit slow and filler. The Jae-yoon and Young-joo romance feels a bit flat at first, and the dialogues in some of the love scenes are cringe-worthy. The zombie cure storyline and the beer drinking solution in the final episode feel totally silly and far from logical—there are a few laughs there but also a feeling of “seriously?”. The weekly episode release seemed to break the pace for some—this series will be an even better hit if binged-watched. Young-joo's overly reckless decisions were a bit irritating. However, the story picked up speed in the second half and the emotional connection was worked out well.
Cast, Technical Team
Park Jeong-min led the series as Jae-yoon with his comedic timing and energy. He was impressive in the funny scenes with his squad, and also connected well in the emotional moments. Jisoo surprised in the role of Young-joo! Her performance showed a big improvement compared to Snowdrop—especially in the second half, her fight scenes and emotional sequences were super impressive. Im Sung-jae, Hong Seo-hee, Lee Hak-joo, and Kim Jun-han do well in supporting roles, but Aaron Park’s character is a total show stealer in the second half—his scenes are laugh-out-loud hilarious!
Technically, the series scores well. Yoon Sung-hyun’s direction stylishly portrays Seoul as a zombie apocalypse—the cinematography is top-class, and the zombie fights are awesome. The background score carries the comedy and thriller mood well, but the songs aren’t that memorable. While the CGI zombies are good overall, they look a bit cheap in some scenes—it could have been even better with a bit more budget. Editing is fast and crisp in the second half, but the first two episodes feel a bit dragged.
Highlights
Funny zombie comedy, romance mix
Jisoo, Park Jeong-min chemistry, second half performance
Seoul city visuals, cool fight scenes
Aaron Park, supporting cast highlight scenes
Cons
Slow start, dull moments in episode 3
Romance is flat at the beginning, some cringe dialogues
Silly zombie cure solution, logic gaps
Weekly release may break the pace for some
Who can watch it?
Newtopia is a full enjoyment package for those who like zombie comedies like All of Us Are Dead and Zombieland. Jisoo fans, those who like light-hearted horror and funny moments will binge this series. However, those who are expecting intense zombie dramas like Train to Busan may find it a bit light, as the comedy dominates heavily here. It is not something to watch with the family as there are bloody scenes and gore, so beware! Telugu viewers can definitely enjoy this series with subtitles on Amazon Prime Video. There is no update about season 2 yet, but the final episode ended open-ended, so we can expect a continuation!
Rating: 3.25/5
Newtopia is a fun, fresh zombie comedy with a total blast in the second half! Jisoo and Park Jeong-min's performances, stylish Seoul visuals, and laugh-out-loud moments make the series super entertaining. Despite minor flaws like a slow start, some cringe-worthy dialogue, and a silly zombie cure, overall it's a light, feel-good ride. Those who like zombie comedies and a K-drama vibe should binge—fun guaranteed!
Streaming: Amazon Prime Video, Coupang Play
Release Date: February 7 - March 21, 2025
Cast: Park Jeong-min, Jisoo, Im Sung-jae, Hong Seo-hee, Lee Hak-joo
Director: Yoon Sung-hyun