Content Warning: The following article contains spoilers for the Netflix series All of Us Are Dead.
The compelling characters in Netflix’s All of Us Are Dead say some unforgettable lines in between fending off zombies. The riveting series has left fans with powerful quotes from its first season.
The best lines in the show almost always perfectly capture the characters’ personalities. While the quotes are sometimes funny, they’re more often than not moving and even tear-jerking. They’re said during tense life or death situations, which fans know are common in the riveting series. As viewers eagerly wait for more details about the second season of the hit zombie show, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of its best quotes so far.
Lee Cheong-san:
“You Have To Live For Them.”
Cheong-san and On-jo don’t have a flawless relationship, but they can always count on each other during tough times. After On-jo loses her best friend, she struggles to find the motivation to keep going and is almost left behind as the other students make their escape. Thankfully, Cheong-san is there to remind her there are still good things to live for.
He reminds her that he cares for her and On-jo’s father is still out there searching for her. She has to “live for them” if not for herself – it’s the small bit of encouragement she needs to survive another day.
Choi Nam-ra:
“I Heard That In Some Countries, They Mourn Adults More Than They Do With Children, And In Others, Children More Than Adults. Which Do You Think Our Country Is?”
When the group of young survivors realizes that no one is coming to rescue them, everyone is hesitant to talk about their situation – everyone except Nam-ra. She asks a hard-hitting question that obviously references their dire situation, and no one is happy to hear it.
It’s Joon-yeong’s response that completes the moment, as he answers by saying that “when kids die” people “lose hope,” but “when adults die,” they “lose their wisdom.” It’s a jarring scene that underscores the incredibly lethal circumstances the children are thrust into.
Nam So-ju:
“Whether You’re Rich Or Poor, Got Good Grades Or Bad Ones, Everyone’s Equal In An Accident.”
So-ju is one of the bravest characters, as fans know that he’s willing to do anything to save his daughter, On-jo. Even before his treacherous journey to reach her, he has helped her through his lessons about survival.
In a scene that speaks volumes about their good father-daughter relationship, viewers see So-ju remind On-jo to always make sure she’s safe and healthy. There’s no pressure to excel in school or choose a lucrative career, as “an accident” can end everything in an instant. Little do they both know that an unbelievable accident is coming their way soon enough.
Nam On-jo:
“I Didn’t Know I-Sak Was Such A Precious Friend. When I Thought She Was Gone, It Felt Like I’d Lost The Whole World.”
Although I-sak doesn’t get much screen time compared to other survivors, she still manages to have a heartbreaking death in All of Us Are Dead. On-jo’s moving quote about not knowing that she “was such a precious friend” highlights how these characters’ lives are taken from them before they can even fully develop their identities and relationships.
Fans may recall how she almost stays behind as her friends escape to a lower floor. I-sak’s death understandably overwhelms her, and it’s not the last heartache she has to endure in the show.
Lee Su-hyeok:
“If She Turns, I’ll Throw Her Out The Window, So She Can’t Attack You.”
Whether fans like their pairing or not, there’s no denying that Su-hyeok genuinely loves and adores Nam-ra. A tense moment between her and the rest of the survivors prompts Su-hyeok to come between them to defend Nam-ra.
He insists that Gwi-nam was not a zombie when he bit her, and promises he’ll “throw her out the window” himself if she turns. Su-hyeok even goes as far as beating up Cheong-san and then tying Nam-ra’s hand to his, which is exactly the kind of dramatic devotion that entertains K-drama fans.
Lee Cheong-san:
“Stop Acting Like Human Trash.”
Cheong-san is always brave in the face of impossible situations and frightening foes like Gwi-nam. It doesn’t matter to him that he’s a much more powerful zombie with impressive fighting skills, as he sees him as “human trash.”
It’s almost stressful to watch Cheong-san taunt the aggressive character, but fans likely can’t help but root for him at every turn. Even during their last fight, when Cheong-san is obviously at a disadvantage, he shows his fearlessness and mocks the antagonist for the final time before the explosion.
Min Eun-ji:
“I Really Wish The School Would Burn Down, Until Nothing’s Left.”
Although fans may have felt bad for Eun-ji during the first few episodes, it’s soon revealed that she longs to harm others the same way her bullies hurt her. In a chilling moment with Chul-soo on the rooftop, she tells him she wishes “the school would burn down.”
She gets the opportunity to fulfill her wish soon after that, which ironically ends up helping the other survivors. Her storyline may not be as fleshed out as the other characters’ arcs, but it would’ve been interesting to see her exact her revenge in more ways than burning down the school and destroying cellphones.
Assemblywoman Park Eun-hee:
“You’re A Firefighter. I’m A Politician. Do You Know When It’s The Hardest For People Like Us? Right Now. Because We Have To Save The Most People, Not The People Most Precious To Us.”
One questionable thing Assemblywoman Park does early on happens in the building she’s trapped in with other survivors. When So-ju tells her he has to go to save his daughter, she reminds him of his duty as “a firefighter.”
Despite being much more powerful and influential as a politician, there’s mutual respect between the two because of the similarities of their jobs. After she says her brilliant line about saving “the most people,” So-ju immediately understands that he has to stay, even though he wants nothing more than to find On-jo at that point.
Lee Byeong-chan:
“The Strong Are Now Ripping Apart The Weak. It Happens All The Time.”
The science teacher that’s up to no good reveals exactly how twisted his logic is when he’s being interrogated by Jae-ik. When the officer demands that Byeong-chan explain what’s going on, he says “the strong are now ripping apart the weak” before referencing his own son’s experiences.
Byeong-chan’s motivation for creating the Jonas virus is his son’s bullies, as he hates seeing how the young kid is unable to fight back. He thankfully realizes his mistake after seeing the zombies flood the station and arguably redeems himself in the end.
Jang Ha-ri:
“No One’s Coming To Save Us.”
Ha-ri is a badass character who has learned not to rely on adults for anything, especially not during a zombie apocalypse. When someone suggests that they stay put in the bathroom and wait to be rescued, she sternly reminds the group that “no one’s coming to save” them.
It’s the certainty in her voice that gets everyone moving again, as it dawns on them how the helicopters haven’t bothered to stop to pick them up. Ha-ri repeatedly displays how her independence and confidence come in handy during the zombie outbreak, not to mention her archery skill.