Newtopia’s lead actor,Blackpink’s Jisoo, is great in her new comedy K-drama despite the criticism she has received. With Park Jeong-min joining Jisoo in thecast ofNewtopia, the 2025 series is a lighthearted and funny take on the popular horror subgenre.Newtopiasees a young engineer, Kang Young-ju, and her boyfriend, Lee Jae-yoon about to end their relationship. Young-ju, however, isn’t ready to let her boyfriend go, so she embarks on a journey to his barracks but is stopped when Seoul is invaded by zombies.
Jisoo’s performance in thezombie K-dramacurrently streaming on Prime Video has received some criticism, particularly regarding her delivery and the way some scenes come off as too over the top. It is worth noting thatNewtopiais Jisoo’s second K-drama, the first beingSnowdrop. Despite what seems to be an exagerated performance, Jisoo actually perfectly embodies her characterNewtopia,and she is one of the reasons why the show works.
Jisoo’s Performance In Newtopia Perfectly Fits The Tone Of The Show
Jisoo Was Able To Show Her Versatility In Newtopia
Unlike most zombie K-dramas,Newtopiais funny and does not take itself too seriously.Because of this, Jisoo’s performance as Young-ju perfectly fits the tone of the series. There are several scenes in the show where Jisoo nais her character’s expressions in the funniest ways. For instance, her display of horror after an eyeball fell into her hands when a person her boss had hit went through the windscreen was perfect. Jisoo didn’t underplay or overplay this moment but instead hit the right notes for what a comedy drama should look like.
AfterNewtopia, Jisoo is set to star inBoyfriend on Demandfor Netflix.
Another good example of how great Jisoo’s performance is inNewtopiais the scene where she gets drunk so that she can pass through the horde of zombies undetected. In that particular scene,Jisoo’s character is funny and relatable, which is not something you would expect from a zombie show but totally works inNewtopia. While most of the scenes inNewtopiahave Jisoo displaying some exaggerated emotion, there are also times when she tones it down and is serious, like when she cries after finding out that Jae-yoon is safe.
Don’t Forget, Newtopia Is A Comedy K-Drama With Bizarre Moments
The Zombies In Newtopia Are Hilarious
Horror K-dramaslikeAll of Us Are DeadandKingdomhave set the tone for what zombie Korean shows should be like. However,Newtopiais a completely different series when it comes to how the story is narrated and the show’s overall tone. While Newtopiais a romantic K-drama at its core, it’s also a comedy with several hilarious and bizarre moments. The zombies in the show are slow but weirdly difficult to kill, how they attack people is overly exaggerated, and the fact that they seem unthreatening is a testament to what kind of showNewtopiais.
NewtopiaEpisodes And Release Dates
Episode 8
Friday, June 13, 2025
Even the theory that the only way for the undead creatures inNewtopianot to attack and kill humans is if people are drunk is hilarious.Most zombie K-dramas also include some sort of commentary on human nature, whether it’s how the rich always have the upper hand when there is a crisis or how people show who they really are when their survival is on the line. So far,Newtopiahasn’t really delved into serious issues or touched on heavy themes.
Jisoo’s Young-ju Is The Right Protagonist For A K-drama Like Newtopia
Young-ju Is The Perfect Character For Jisoo
Lead female charactersin romantic K-dramasusually have the same characteristics; they are funny, strong, compassionate, and can stand up for themselves when the time calls for it. Jisoo’s Young-ju embodies all these traits and more. When her boss gets too friendly, she puts him in his place and when he isn’t compassionate to the newest member of their group, she stands up to him.The fact that Young-ju is willing to risk her life to get to her boyfriendcontributes to what makes her the perfect protagonist.
My Favorite K-Drama Of 2025 So Far Reminds Me Of How Much I Miss All Of Us Are Dead
2025’s newest zombie K-drama reminds me of how much I miss All of Us Are Dead, which premiered three years ago and has yet to return for season 2.
Amidst the chaos of the zombie attacks inNewtopiais a love story about a young man and woman who want to find a way to each other. It’s in these moments, like how devastated Jisoo’s character was when Jae-yoon refused to date her, that prove not only that she is a great protagonist, but that she also has incredible chemistry with her co-star. Young-ju overreacts when she needs to but also has a soft side to her; this and more, makes her the perfect lead character for a bizarre zombie comedy K-drama likeNewtopia.
Newtopia
Cast
Newtopia is a South Korean thriller centered on Jae-yoon, a late military enlistee, and Young-joo, his estranged girlfriend. As a zombie outbreak triggers a national emergency and traps Jae-yoon’s unit atop a Seoul skyscraper, Young-joo braves the chaotic streets to reunite with him.
