1 Year Before The Last of Us, Netflix Released a Better Zombie TV Drama

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Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us is widely praised as one of the most emotionally impactful stories ever told in a video game. It raised the standard for gaming by combining a terrifying, post-apocalyptic world with deeply personal character development, and many critics consider it a masterpiece. When HBO turned it into a TV series, expectations were incredibly high, as the story felt perfect for high-quality television. Given its gripping, suspenseful, and intense survival story, it’s not surprising that both new viewers and longtime fans loved the adaptation.

Although The Last of Us has become the most popular zombie TV show recently, Netflix released a surprisingly good one a year earlier. All of Us Are Dead, which came out in 2022, is a thrilling South Korean series about a zombie outbreak that traps students inside their high school. It’s a clever and exciting drama that actually surpasses The Last of Us in a few ways.

The Last of Us Went Slightly Downhill With Season 2

All of Us Are Dead Doesn’t Face the Same Issues As Season 2

Wow, Season 1 of The Last of Us really delivered! It’s set twenty years after a devastating fungal pandemic wipes out most of the world, and follows Joel, a tough survivor, as he’s given the job of getting a young girl named Ellie across a dangerous country to a group called the Fireflies. Their journey is filled with threats – from hostile people and terrifying infected creatures to armed military groups. But honestly, while the world is incredibly brutal, the show is really about the connections people make. Of course, the heart of it is Joel and Ellie’s growing bond, but the episode focusing on Frank and Bill? That was something special – easily one of the most powerful and moving hours of television I’ve seen in ages.

The story of Ellie and Joel picks up five years after the first season, in Jackson, Wyoming. They’re trying to repair their complicated relationship when a violent event throws everything into chaos. While the second season received generally positive reviews, many viewers felt the pacing was uneven – some episodes dragged, while important character developments felt rushed. Changes to the storyline from the original game also frustrated fans, particularly the way Ellie’s character was portrayed. In the game, Ellie undertakes a harsh and grim journey of revenge, but the second season of The Last of Us softened this significantly.

The ‘Long Long Time’ episode of Bill and Frank was a refreshing change of pace from the main story of The Last of Us, but Ellie’s part of the story didn’t resonate as well with viewers. In contrast, All of Us Are Dead fully leans into the typical dark, violent, and depressing elements of the zombie genre. While The Last of Us is often slow and thoughtful, All of Us Are Dead keeps you on the edge of your seat with its fast pace, constant chaos, and increasing danger. The Netflix series takes familiar zombie ideas and creates a thrilling, emotional experience that maintains its intensity throughout all twelve episodes.

All of Us Are Dead is a Very Different Kind of Zombie Drama

There’s No Holding Back in Netflix’s Show

Inspired by the webtoon of the same name by Joo Dong-geun, All of Us Are Dead centers on students caught in a terrifying outbreak after a science experiment goes wrong at their school in Hyosan City. The series is a fast-paced survival story that mixes thrilling action with the emotional challenges of growing up. Unlike some similar shows that focus on just a couple of main characters, All of Us Are Dead follows many different students, showing how each one reacts to the crisis in their own unique way.

The series creates a sense of urgency and chaos, and also offers a look at broader issues like fear, social status, and bullying. Students will stop at nothing to survive, completely cut off from the outside world, but no one is truly safe, as the system repeatedly fails them. Unlike The Last of Us, which was known for its subtlety, All of Us Are Dead fully embraces classic zombie themes and scary visuals.

Unlike some zombie shows that focus on quiet, character-driven stories, All of Us Are Dead delivers intense, fast-paced horror with a lot of variety. It throws you right into the chaos of survival and focuses on genuinely dark and frightening situations. This approach makes it more gripping for many viewers and, for some, even more compelling than The Last of Us.

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2026-05-25 00:05