All Of Us Are Dead: The Title Explains It All

This kdrama became an unexpected favorite of mine. It narrates the story of a group of trapped students desperately fighting to escape their high school after it's overrun by zombies. Starring a new generation of up-and-coming Korean actors like Yoon Chan-young as involuntary leader Lee Cheong-san, Park Ji-hu as loyal friend Nam On-jo, and Cho Yi-hyun as aloof class president Choi Nam-ra, to name some.

Despite their young ages, I wouldn't disregard these actors because they do an incredible job in this show. The casting was great because, unlike Hollywood, actual teenagers were hired to portray teenagers. They accurately showed the mannerisms and insecurities of high school students better than anyone. The characters weigh fighting zombies the same as confessing to a crush, which was surprisingly heartwarming to watch. A younger group of characters created an interesting perspective that isn't usually included in zombie franchises, which instead feature well-resourced and cynical adults.

I adored these characters, who quickly had to evolve from naive to self-reliant when realizing that no adults were coming to save them. It made watching their development so much more satisfying, as these traumatic experiences were mentally and emotionally maturing them. The show demonstrates the importance of teamwork, and how these students develop strong friendships with people they otherwise wouldn't associate with.

I never thought I would find a horror show about zombies funny until this one. The writers did a great job intertwining humor in a geniune way that wasn't awkward or forced. That humor made me realize the humanity of this show; even in times of fear and certain death, there can still be moments of enjoyment and connection with other people. From making me laugh to making me sob, I felt all the emotions when watching this. I'm really curious to see what the second season will bring after watching the first season's cliffhanger.