Believe it or not, “zombie reality show” is actually a well-worn subgenre. In 2008, Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker created the scripted series Dead Set, following the cast of a fictional season of Big Brother as they realize their isolation from the outside world has allowed them to be the sole survivors of a zombie apocalypse. Dead Set enjoyed a Brazilian remake called Reality Z, while its conceit was made “real” in the 2015 BBC reality series I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse, where everyday people tried to outsmart and outrun a horde of actors playing zombies.
But the best example of the weird collision of TV and zombies is the Korean reality show Zombieverse, which follows a group of celebrities trying to survive a (simulated) zombie outbreak, complete with life-changing decisions and heartbreaking casualties. Now, Zombieverse is back and more ambitious than ever, adding a plot and stakes to its reality show trappings.
