Zombie Detective Full Review: A Fresh Take on the Undead Genre

As we know zombie genres are full of action, thriller and survival tension. Having apocalyptic chaos is very common in a zombie drama or movie. But today I am going to tell you about a zombie drama that will not give you goosebumps but will make you laugh out loud. I am talking about the K-drama Zombie Detective. Now I am writing an article on Zombie Detective full review. This drama is head-to-toe a fresh delivery on the genre of Zombies. 

Zombie Detective will surely be kind of your drama if you are bored with the same kind of drama of your favorite genre. So let me help you to explore this new kind of drama for you, and I am sure you will not regret it. Because this drama is a perfect combination of comedy, mystery and emotion. Okay then, let’s start. Let’s explore a new face of zombies that you have never seen before. 

Plot summary of Zombie Detective

Kang Min Ho is a young man who one day wakes up and out of nowhere, he finds himself in a weird condition. He discovers himself as a zombie who has no past memory. He goes to the human community and gets to know about their lifestyle and finds out there is a cosmetic called makeup that can hide any kind of scars. How he trains himself how to talk like a human and how to walk like a human. He also hides his scars with makeup products and starts living among humans. As someone assumes him to be the private detective Kim Moo Young he lives as the private detective. And like this, he becomes a zombie detective. And now he tries to solve the mystery of his past and present.  

Through this journey Kang Min Ho meets a stubborn yet talented former investigative journalist Gong Sun Ji, she somehow manages to become Kang Min Ho’s part-time assistant. Together they disclose so many secrets and solve some serious crimes.  

Character Depth and Performances

In this part of Zombie Detective full review, we are going to talk about the characters of the drama. All the characters here in this drama did an amazing job in making the intensity of mystery and comedy even more strong. All of them are worth mentioning but here I will mention some of them and to know all of them you have to watch the drama.

Kim Moo Young (Choi Jin Hyuk)

Kim Moo Young is the protagonist of our drama Zombie Detective. This role was played by the amazing and talented actor Choi Jin Hyuk. Kim Moo Young is the most unusual zombie that we have ever seen. As I previously said, he has no past memory, the only thing he knows is he is not a human anymore. But he goes to the human society and adapts their life and he is successful in doing so. As an actor Choi Jin Hyuk did a brilliant job to balance humor, vulnerability, and intensity. He played this role with so much ease that you will laugh throughout the drama and still you will feel the pain and emotion of the zombie.

A zombie who tries to be a human by putting on a lot of makeup and practicing mannerisms is the authenticity of the drama plot and the comic timing ensures the character feels refreshingly human.

Gong Sun Ji (Park Ju Hyun)

Gong Sun Ji used to be a Journalist but now she somehow managed to be the assistant of the Zombie Detective. Park Ju Hyun shines in the role of Gong Sun Ji this much that you can’t imagine anyone else in that role. You can find determination, warmth, and a dash of quirky charm in the character of Gong Sun Ji that directly compliments the character of Moo Young. Together they become an unbeatable duo. Park Ju Hyun proved her ability to switch between comedy and emotional scenes making the character of Sun Ji more strong.

Supporting Cast

The supporting character of this drama was an absolute push to the comical essence of the drama, you also put them as the comic relief. Their subplot made this drama a comedy drama, as they make you laugh out so loud. Let’s meet some of them.

World King Agency

The World King Agency belongs to two private detectives who are the most hilarious characters in the drama Zombie Detective. Their agency was opposite Moo Young’s office and they were suspicious about Moo Young’s activity from the first day. Even if they were the competitors of Moo Young but at the end of the drama we see them helping Moo Young out in his investigation. 

Gong Sun Ji’s Family

Like The World King Agency’s detectives, Sun Ji’s family also played a significant role in making Zombie Detective a successful comedy. Sun Ji’s sister and his brother-in-law both had very good comic timing but also they supported Sun Ji in many ways. 

Humor Meets Mystery

The blending of humor and mystery for sure is the key element that made this drama a successful one. As a comedy drama Zombie Detective stands out in the midst of other comedy dramas. But while most of the zombie related dramas focus on horror, action and thrill, Zombie Detective takes a back and focuses mainly on the refreshing and light-hearted elements that make us laugh and also the mystery behind the reason of a man becoming a zombie keeps our mind busy. 

Comedic Moments with the Zombie Twist

As the drama begins we see a young man who became a zombie out of nowhere is trying to act like a normal human being. Even in deeper thought, you can feel his struggle to do so but in the exterior outlook, you laugh out loud in various moments as you see him struggling to do the basic human behavior. You can thoroughly see how hard-working the actors are as even in a sensitive moment the humor never feels forced. The zombie’s awkward smile and even his unsuccessful struggle to eat are literally comic gold. Choi Jin Hyuk portrayed the role very wisely which made the audience hooked on the screen.  

Slapstick and Witty Dialogues

The interaction between Moo Young and Gong Sun Ji is also praiseworthy. Sometimes their bond is like Tom and Jerry and sometimes they are each other’s biggest support. Their partnership is kind of fun as Moo Young’s personality is mostly a contrast to Sun Ji. Moo Young tends to avoid noise and people on the other hand Sun Ji is an extroverted one who loves to talk and has a bright personality. Together they deliver a lot of witty dialogue which makes this drama meaningful. 

The Detective Mystery Element

As the drama is about a detective, you know they must have some crimes to solve. Despite the comedy and laughter, mystery and crime also makes its place to focus on. The tension during solving each case is so real. If you put the comedy aside, the twists and turns, the dark revelation of each case make it a successful crime and thriller drama. The connection between each case and the reason for Moo Young’s mystery is mine blasting. 

This drama keeps the viewers fascinated by the amazing balance of humor and genuine stakes as Moo-Young uncovers the truths behind each crime and solves crimes in the human world.

Themes Explored

In this part of Zombie Detective full review, we are going to talk about the hidden themes of the drama. But before that let’s think, is Zombie Detective just a comedy drama? No, it’s not. Zombie Detective is a drama that goes beyond being just a comedy-mystery drama but on a deeper level, it deals with some meaningful themes. And these themes directly give the drama its emotional depth and make it one of the most memorable dramas for the fans. 

So what are the themes? Let’s see:

• Identity and Self-Discovery: Without any doubt, Zombie Detective is a story that gives emphasis on self-discovery. At the beginning of the story we see, there is a zombie who does not know how he has become one. He is determined to search for his real identity. He wants to become a human again and that’s why he does his best to find his nature, both as a zombie and a human. 

• Humanity and Acceptance: We all know Moo Young is now a zombie, but his activity shows his innate human nature. He desires to protect the innocents and having a soft corner for every victim highlights the idea of him being more a human than a flesh-eating zombie. Also, the human nature of trust and friendship is vivid in his personality. 

• Justice and Morality: As we all know, Moo Young is a disguised character of Kang Min Ho, the zombie, but still not only by the disguised name he becomes a detective but he also works like a real detective. Moo Young becomes a protector of justice as well as truth. This drama sets a question before the audience that, “Is it really possible for a monster to become a hero?”

Now I am going to end my article Zombie Detective full review, but before that I want to ask you something. Are you still not convinced that you should watch this drama? I guess you should. Because, Zombie Detective is a gem in Kdramaland that offers a superb blending of humor, mystery and emotion. The characters here are for sure quirky by the storytelling and themes are meaningful. Zombie Detective is a drama that is listed in the zombie genre but unexpectedly adds comfort, warmth and laughter. This unusual blend of genres is for sure the key element that made this drama stand out.

Not only the drama plot and themes, but also the actors’ captivating performance also deserved a lot of praise. The talented actor Choi Jin Hyuk and the energetic actress Park Ju Hyun gave life to their scripted character. 

As a viewer when I started watching this drama I had no idea about how it was going to be, all I knew before watching the drama was Choi Jin Hyuk, the actor. But I was not a bit disappointed, I loved this drama so much that I even made my bestie watch it too, and she also loved it. And I am sure you will like it too. But if you already watched it then let me know how it was. 

Zombie Detective is a drama that promises a ride that is both memorable and entertaining, so I don’t think there is a room for regret for the fans. Well if you love comedy dramas then do watch it, If you like mystery dramas then do watch it too, and if you are just curious about trying something new then this drama is definitely for you. 

I hope my Zombie Detective full review helped it even a bit. Thank you and happy watching.