By: JUSTIN ONEAL
Staff Writer
Warning: there are spoilers, you have been warned
All Of Us Are Dead is a South Korean modern-age zombie apocalypse horror Netflix series and webtoon. Lee Jae-Kyoo and Kim Nam-Su directed it; starring Park Ji-Hoo, Lomon, Cho Yi-Hyun, and more. After being released, the show mainly got positive reviews from critics for its unique ways of differentiating itself from the other zombie apocalypse shows and movies. All Of Us Are Dead has an interesting character arc and unpredictable and tear-dropping moments.
Besides the show’s achievements when released; the show has a problem with killing off characters and wasting their potential for no particular reason. Lee Na-Yeon was once a character that the writers put a lot of time and effort into investing into her character. In the start, Na-Yeon is selfish, only saving herself in the process and doing anything no matter the cost to prove she is right. Even going as far as murdering Gyeong Su by infecting him with the handkerchief to prove to the others that Gyenog Su will turn. Unfortunately for her, she got caught in the act and left the group with Mrs.Park.
After disappearing for a couple of episodes, it shows that Na-Yeon going through a variety of delusional guilts. Griefing in her guilts due to her past actions, even hallucinating Gyeong-Su reminding her time after time that she murdered him. This supposedly should’ve been the start of the redemption arc for Lee Na-Yeon in All Of Us Are Dead. After the writers put so much time and effort into Na-Yeo’s character, Na-Yeon was quickly killed by the asymptomatic zombie antagonist, Gwi-Nam.
Lee Na-Yeon’s death was lazy and such disappointed. It begged the question if the writers hadn’t killed her off, how would that affect the story of All Of Us Are Dead? I believe Sceenrant said it best, “How the group of students would react to Na-Yeon’s return and whether they would accept her help is a moment that All of Us Are Dead wasted by killing the character. There could also have been a focus on how Na-Yeon would continue to deal with the enduring guilt of killing Gyeong-Su throughout the end of the season”(Lelte 4). Not mentioned that writing off Na-Yeon, also take away all meaning of Mrs. Park’s grant sacrifice. Hate her or like her, we can all come together and agree that the writers of All Of Us Are Dead wasted the underrated potential of Lee Na-Yeon’s character.