Season 1, Episode 8 of Newtopia, directed by Yoon Sunghyun and written by Han Jinwon and Jee Hojin, serves as the season finale, focusing on the 1st Platoon’s successful escape from the 77A Building and the long-awaited reunion between Young-joo and Jae-yoon. Their time apart, driven by the demands of survival and the devastating zombie outbreak, finally comes to an end. The episode highlights the heartbreaking toll the outbreak has taken on Seoul, transforming the city into a den of bloodthirsty monsters.

At its core, this episode is about friendship and love. The surviving members of the 1st Platoon unite to help Jae-yoon find his girlfriend, Young-joo, ultimately leading to her rescue. The love between Jae-yoon and Young-joo, and their determination to survive for each other, is moving—even amid the trauma they’ve endured from relentless battles against the undead. Their reunion is made possible not just by their bond, but also by the strength of the friendships within the group. Together, they push forward in a world falling apart, proving that love and camaraderie are powerful tools for survival.

The 1st Platoon’s Success

At the 77A Building, The current members of the 1st Platoon include Private Lee Jae-yoon (Park Jeong-min), Private Ra In-ho (Im Sung-jae), Corporal Kwak Gye-young (Bong Chan-wook), Sergeant Kim Young-man (Kim Sang-hyeol), Private Hwang Kyung-sik, Oh Soo-jeong (Hong Seo-hee), and Aaron Park (Kim Junhan). Together, they engineer a zipline to help the team descend safely from the 77A Building—except for Jae-yoon, who is already on the first floor.

However, tragedy strikes when Sergeant Kim Young-man refuses to use the zipline, having been bitten by a zombie. Over the radio, he says a final goodbye to his comrades and remains behind to face his fate alone. It’s left ambiguous whether he turned into a zombie or ended his own life.

Another blow comes when Private Hwang Kyung-sik, overwhelmed by the loss of his friends, leaves the group to venture on his own. Despite these losses, the remaining members continue their journey to Suseo Station by car. Their path changes when Jae-yoon receives a phone call from Young-joo’s mother, who informs him of her daughter’s whereabouts after a recent call from Young-joo herself.

The Survivors (44:46)

At the Express Bus Terminal, Kang Young-joo (Jisoo) has found shelter with the help of another survivor, Park Eun-chae (Lee Cho-hee). However, Eun-chae mysteriously disappears. Young-joo is soon rescued by Jae-yoon and his group, who fight through hordes of zombies to reach her.

Jae-yoon and In-ho later search for Eun-chae, only to discover her decapitated corpse, confirming she had been dead for over ten hours. The painful truth is that Young-joo, heavily traumatized, had hallucinated her encounter with Eun-chae.

The group continues toward Suseo Station, passing through a city teeming with the undead. They are no longer the same people they were at the start of the season—hardened by loss but still holding onto hope. Just as they near their destination, a radio broadcast informs them that Suseo Station has been overrun and instructs survivors to head to the emergency shelter at Incheon Port. The group changes course once again, hoping to find safety.

Newtopia: Zombie Comedy

Newtopia has stood out as a unique blend of zombie horror and dark comedy—distinct from the bleak tones of The Walking Dead or The Last of Us. While some viewers have criticized its comedic approach, preferring more tragic depictions of zombie apocalypses, Newtopia offers a refreshing take. It doesn’t follow the conventional formula for a zombie series. Instead, it balances humor, romance, and tragedy, reflecting the highs and lows of survival.

As the series progresses, the comedic tone gives way to more serious themes. The stakes grow higher, and the casualties more personal, leading to a finale that is both heartbreaking and hopeful. Although it remains unclear if the show will be renewed for a second season, the ending offers a sense of closure.

In the end, seven members of the main cast survive:

Private Lee Jae-yoon – Hopeful for the Future
Despite everything he’s been through, Jae-yoon remains optimistic. His reunion with Young-joo gives him a renewed sense of purpose, and he looks toward the future with hope.

Kang Young-joo – Haunted by Hallucinations
Still reeling from trauma, Young-joo struggles to distinguish reality from delusion. Her hallucination of Eun-chae reveals the psychological toll the outbreak has taken on her.

Private Ra In-ho – Still Hilariously Unfiltered
Even in the darkest moments, In-ho brings levity. His humor remains intact, providing much-needed comic relief in an increasingly bleak world.

Corporal Kwak Gye-young – Hopelessly in Love with Oh Soo-jeong
Kwak continues to wear his heart on his sleeve, shamelessly infatuated with Soo-jeong. His loyalty to her is unwavering—borderline comedic, but endearing.

Oh Soo-jeong – More Soldier than Civilian
No longer just a VIP lounge employee, Soo-jeong has fully embraced her role as a survivor and fighter. She’s proven herself just as capable and fearless as any soldier.

Aaron Park – Infected, but Enduring
Still infected and keeping the virus at bay with alcohol, Aaron walks a fine line between survival and collapse. His condition remains unstable, yet he presses on.

Private Hwang Kyung-sik – Missing in Action
After succumbing to grief and choosing to go his own way, Kyung-sik’s whereabouts remain unknown. His fate is one of the show’s lingering mysteries.

Rating: 9/10