Summary
The wait forAll of Us Are Deadseason 2 doesn’t seem to be getting any shorter, but there are plenty of other K-dramas to help pass the time before its release date is finally revealed. Starring Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Lomon, and Cho Yi-hyun,All of Us Are Deadjoins the likes ofThe GloryandSquid Gameas one ofNetflix’s best K-dramas, thanks to its depiction of high school students caught up in a zombie invasion.All of Us Are Deadhas received critical acclaim for its intense first season,and its next installment promises to continue its success.
All of Us Are Dead’s triumphs come from incredible performances from its young cast, a tightly written script, and a character-driven narrative that thrives under the show’s harsh conditions. However,All of Us Are Deadseason 2 will be very differentas it expands its universe outside the confines of Hyosan High School. Although the exact details of season 2’s direction are unknown, it will certainly be entertaining. In the meantime, there are many other K-dramas with similar themes and familiar faces that can easily helpAll of Us Are Deadlovers find their next K-drama fix.
K-dramas Perfect To Watch Before All of Us Are Dead Season 2
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I Think I Know How All Of Us Are Dead Season 2 Will Bring Back Cheong-san (& I’m Not Ready For It)
Yoon Chan-young’s Cheong-san will likely return in All of Us Are Dead season 2, but I’m not ready for how the Netflix K-drama will bring him back.
Duty After School
Cast
Duty After School is a South Korean drama series that follows high school students drafted into a military training program to combat alien life forms threatening Earth. As they balance their combat duties with academic responsibilities, they face the harsh realities of war and personal growth. The series highlights themes of courage, teamwork, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Duty After Schoolfollows inAll of Us Are Dead’s footsteps by depicting what life could be like for high school students who are thrust into the world of survival against their will.Duty After Schoolreplaces zombies with aliensand throws its cast into a strange war against an unnamed alien race. These high school students find their past lives and their uncertain futures in conflict, making for an entertaining story that isa perfect choice for fans who love the survival aspect ofAll of Us Are Dead.
The K-drama does well to stay true to its original webtoon but doesn’t delve too deeply into the context of the student’s strange situation. As a result, this givesDuty After Schoolmore focus on its characters and the various ways they attempt to cope with their new life and death situation. Though its second half doesn’t quite match the brilliance of its first,Duty After Schoolis a great post-apocalyptic K-drama that fans ofAll of Us Are Deadare sure to love.
Revenge of Others
Revenge of Others follows Ok Chan-mi, who transfers to Yongtan High to investigate her twin brother’s mysterious death. Suspicious that Park Won-seok did not commit suicide, Chan-mi meets Ji Soo-heon, a witness, and uncovers a vigilante targeting bullies, potentially tied to her brother’s fate.
Revenge of Othersis Lomon’s follow-up toAll of Us Are Deadand sees him return to a high-school environment to tackle an intense story about bullying. The K-drama follows Ok Chan-mi (Shin Ye-eun), who transfers to her twin brother’s high school to uncover the truth behind her brother’s death. Here, she becomes involved with Ji Sung-heon (Lomon), who helps bullied students take revenge on their enemies for a cash sum despite the dangers that come with it.
Revenge of Others’s Shin Ye-eun won a coveted Blue Dragon award for her earnest portrayal of Ok Chan-mi. Her unspoken chemistry with Lomon was another particular highlight of the series, which has received critical acclaim for its concept. Shin Ye-eun and Lomon heighten this epic murder mystery and give it the same bolt of adrenaline that fans ofAll of Us Are Deadwill come to love. However, its entirely different context makes it a much more refreshing and engaging watch from start to finish.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
Though it will be a while beforeAll of Us Are Dead’s second season is available for streaming,Squid Gameseason 2is just around the corner. Therefore, there is no better time to watchSquid Gamebefore both series return for their next installations. The new cast will feature both old and new faces in the K-drama industry, such as Lee Jin-wook (Sweet Home), Park Gyu-young (Celebrity), and Im Si-wan (Hell Is Other People). They will also be joined by familiar faces such as Gong Yoo, Wi Ha-joon, and Lee Jung-jae, who will continue this epic story.
Squid Gameseason 2 is expected to air at the end of 2024.
Squid Game’s overwhelming success paved the way for K-dramas such asAll of Us Are Deadwith its frank and gruesome approach to children’s games. The series is as thrilling as it is devastating, and its varied societal criticisms speak volumes about some of the darkest aspects of modern life.Squid Game’s castis full of talented performers such as Lee Yoo-mi, whose short-lived performance in the thriller K-drama paved the way for her to become one ofAll of Us Are Dead’s most interesting characters.
Night Has Comeis a high school thriller with a dark twist on the popular mafia game. Students of Yoo-il High School are forced to play the infamous game while on a field trip, which has gruesome real-life consequences. What follows is a violent psychological battle that sees students fighting for survival as they try to figure out how to stay alive while putting a stop to such a violent game and each other.
Much likeAll of Us Are Dead,Night Has Comefeatures a cast full of new faces that bring a vibrant new energy to such a twisted concept. While it doesn’t have the most original storyline, it is incredibly thrilling, particularly as more students become victims of the seemingly harmless game.All of Us Are Deadfans will love its thriller undertones and character-driven narrative, which make some of its twists even more shocking.
Alchemy of Souls
Alchemy of Souls is a South Korean TV series set in the fictional Daeho kingdom, following the lives of mages whose fate is altered by the practice of soul-shifting. Directed by Park Joon-hwa, the series stars Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, and Hwang Min-hyun, weaving together themes of magic, mystery, and destiny as characters navigate their intertwined lives under the influence of powerful spells and political intrigue.
Alchemy of Soulsis a welcome change of pace for those looking for something a little different fromAll of Us Are Dead. Instead of zombies,Alchemy of Soulsfocuses on the threat of soul-shifters, who can implant their souls into another person’s body. Thanks to this unique concept,Alchemy of Souls' is easily one of thebest fantasy K-dramasout there. Its story of magic, humor, action, and politics is wholly gripping throughout its two seasons and comes with some shocking plot twists.
Alchemy of Soulsfeatures an incredible cast, which includes the likes of Lee Jae-wook (Extraordinary You), Jung So-min (Because This Is My First Life), and Hwang Min-hyun (Live On). The supporting cast is equally impressive and includesAll of Us Are Dead’s Yoo In-soo, who acts as the show’s comic relief, Park Dang-gu.Yoo In-soo’s role inAlchemy of Soulsis the exact opposite ofAll of Us Are Dead’s antagonist, Yoon Gwi-nam, and is an excellent addition to a series that is a must-watch for any K-drama fan.
As aK-drama based on a webtoon,Weak Hero Class 1excels in elevating its source material on-screen. Starring Park Ji-hoon, Choi Hyun-wook, and Hong Kyung,Weak Hero Class 1deals with the widely covered issue of high-school bullying and focuses on an unlikely hero who fights back against those who threaten his peers. Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon)’s strategic mindset and sharp whip make him a strong foe despite his weak appearance, as he and his friends attempt to eradicate bullying from his school for good.
Weak Hero Class 1season 2 is expected to be released on Netflix in January 2025.
Weak Hero Class 1joinsAll of Us Are Deadas one of the very best K-dramas of 2022. From start to finish,Weak Hero Class 1’s classic tale of an underdog fighter is captivating, yet its bullying context makes it all the more profound. Director Yoo Soo-min brings out the best of the series' source material, makingWeak Hero Class 1such a compelling yet intense watch. Plus, the show’s themes of friendship, loss, and betrayal mirror that ofAll of Us Are Dead,making it ideal for fans of the series.
Kingdom
Based on the webtoonThe Kingdom of the Gods,Kingdom is a 2019 South Korean historical drama-horror series created for Netflix. Lee Chang, the crown prince of a fictional interpretation of 16th-century Korea, is forced to stand in for his ailing father as a plague begins to ravage their homeland, all while fighting off would-be-usurpers to the throne.
Kingdomis another example that demonstrates South Korea’s expertise in zombie-related stories. Based on the webtoonKingdom of the Godsby Youn In-wan,Kingdomthrusts a zombie outbreak into the historical context of Korea’s Joseon periodand mixes this supernatural element with royal life and political intrigue. What results from this is an incredibly well-crafted K-drama that takes the zombie element that many love fromAll of Us Are Deadinto a spectacularly different environment that sees storytelling at its very best.
Social commentary is rife throughoutKingdomas it brings to life the struggles of social hierarchy and the impact this can have on people who are considered to have a different social standing from others. However, what ultimately makes this K-drama soar is its horror elements.Kingdom’s production value spares no expense, and its story is full of shocking twists that add to the shock value of the series, making it an intensely enjoyable watch from start to finish.
Little Women
Three sisters, struggling with financial hardships, become embroiled in a complex conspiracy involving influential elites. As they navigate this treacherous world, they confront moral dilemmas and the bonds of family loyalty, challenging their unity and resilience against the backdrop of greed and power dynamics.
Little Womenmay not feature zombies, butit is an incredible mystery K-drama that starsAll of Us Are Dead’s Park Ji-hu. Loosely based on Louisa May Alcott’s novel of the same name,Little Womenfollows three sisters, Oh In-joo (Kim Go-eun), Oh In-kyung (Nam Ji-hyun) and Oh In-hye (Park Ji-hu) as they become embroiled in a scandalous hunt for the truth. This journey sees them go up against the wealthiest members of society and in a vicious battle that exposes more than they bargained for.
Kim Go-eun is a particular stand-out as she delivers some of the most harrowing yet terrifying performances from the naive eldest sister.
From a spectacular storyline to beautiful cinematography, many elements have gone into makingLittle Womena success. However, nothing quite tops the acting performances that this K-drama invokes. Kim Go-eun is a particular stand-out as she delivers some of the most harrowing yet terrifying performances from the naive eldest sister. Similarly, Nam Ji-hyun and Park Ji-hu make the series continue to soar as they both bring entirely different energies to the K-drama, making it hard to guess what will happen next.
Happiness
Happiness (2021) is a South Korean drama series directed by Ahn Gil-ho. Set in a post-apocalyptic world plagued by a deadly virus, the plot centers around a group of people quarantined in an apartment complex as they navigate survival and psychological challenges. Park Hyung-sik and Han Hyo-joo lead the cast, portraying characters who face moral dilemmas and societal breakdowns while striving to maintain their humanity.
Happinessis one of thebest zombie K-dramasof recent times, as it delves into the psychology behind such an intense survival situation. Though a zombie outbreak plagues South Korea,Happinessfocuses on its effects on one apartment block. As such, it delves into several well-crafted storylines that heighten tensions between the various residents, who are a bigger threat to each other than the zombies outside.
Happiness' character focus is what makes it such an incredible K-drama, as well as a great match forAll of Us Are Deadlovers. Every character serves a unique purpose, and their varied and often mysterious personas make every scene intensely engaging.Happiness' simple premise makes way for some incredible performances from its ensemble cast, who ultimately glue the K-drama together. However, it’s Han Hyo-joo’s tenacity and a uniquely different performance from Park Hyung-sik that givesHappinessthe grounding it needs to succeed.
Sweet Home
Sweet Home follows the story of Hyun-soo, a reclusive high school student who moves into the Green Home apartment complex after losing his family. When a mysterious epidemic turns people into monstrous creatures, Hyun-soo and the residents of Green Home must band together to survive, confronting their inner demons and the horrifying threats outside.
Four years after the overwhelming success of its first season,Sweet Homefinally delivered its third and final season on Netflix. The series, which follows teenager Cha Hyun-su and the residents of the apartment block Green Home fighting against a mysterious monster virus, rose to Netflix fame back in 2020. Though its following two seasons could not quite live up to its incredible first season, it is still one of thebest K-dramas of all time. Plus,Sweet Homemirrors a lot of the same themes asAll of Us Are Dead.
Sweet Homereplaces zombies with monsters and teenagers with survivors of all ages.Sweet Home’s cast is full of big names such as Song Kang, Lee Do-hyun, and Go Min-si, whose complicated portrayal of their character’s unique developments makesSweet Homesuch an appealing K-drama. Plus,Sweet Home’s expansion into the world outside of Green Home gives hope forAll of Us Are Deadand the direction it could go in its next season, making it the best K-drama to watch beforeAll of Us Are Dead’s latest season is released.
