Despite the abundance of zombie films and TV shows, there's always a twist to look forward to. In the case of the webtoon-adapted zombie K-Drama, All of Us Are Dead, some humans do not turn into a zombie. So what is a hambie in All of Us Are Dead?
Let's discuss it here.
What Is a Hambie in All of Us Are Dead?
The big twist in All of Us Are Dead is that not all who get bitten by a zombie turn into one. Instead, they become what is called a hambie (or a halfbie, if you're watching the English dub).
They are also alpha zombies who have gained enhanced strength, hyper senses, and agility. They also have rapid healing abilities.
Once they get bitten by a zombie, they experience immense pain like regular people do. And after a few minutes, they experience the usual bone-breaking action that those who turn exhibit.
And as a hambie, they still have human flesh cravings. The desire to sink their teeth into a human companion becomes so intense that they salivate at the thought.
Why Do Some Turn Into Hambies Instead of a Zombie?
At this point, it is unclear why some people turn into hambies instead of a zombie.
Some people think that a person is naturally asymptomatic to the effects of the Jonas virus.
Meanwhile, there are also theories that those who turned into a hambie is because of their determination to do a certain objective at the time of getting bit.
This theory doesn't seem too implausible. As we saw in the characters who become hambies in All of Us Are Dead Season 1, each one has a strong motive.
Not to mention, the virus' creator, Lee Byeong-chan (played by Kim Byung-chul), explained in the first episode that an organism's "will to survive" is what classifies it as living. He also points out that one's motivation to live may be strong enough to overpower the virus.
It's also worth pointing out that some of the characters who died on the show and turned into a zombie were sacrificing themselves for their loved ones.
Ms. Park (played by Lee Sang-hee) allowed herself to be killed for Na-yeon (played by Lee Yoo-mi). Cheong-san's mom (played by Lee Ji-hun) and On-jo's dad (played by Jeon Bae-su) did it to save their kids.
As shared by All of Us Are Dead's Fandom page, the director was inspired by the effect of COVID-19 on some people. He was referring to the fact that some exhibited symptoms right away while others were asymptomatic.
We will have to wait until the second season to know more about this theory.
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Who Became Hambies in All of Us Are Dead?
In All of Us Are Dead Season 1, only a handful of characters get turned into a hambie. It's possible that the second season will explore more about the mutation as Nam-ra (played by Cho Yi-hyun) says there are more like her.
So who are the characters who became a hambie and why did they become one?
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Gwi-nam
Gwi-nam (played by Yoo In-soo) is the first character in the show to become a hambie. If we follow the theory of a person's drive overpowering the virus, Gwi-nam was bitten by a zombie when he was focused on catching Cheong-san.
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Eun-ji
Eun-ji (played by Oh Hye-soo) also becomes a hambie in the series. She was on a mission to destroy the phones of her classmates when she was feasted upon by the zombies. At that time, she was angry and tired of all the bullying she experienced and also wanted to take revenge on her classmates.
Eun-ji tries her best to prevent attacking anyone. But when she couldn't control her thirst, she ended up biting a professor who never took action despite all the bullying complaints she told him. After biting him, Eun-ji vomits.
At the refugee camp, Eun-ji bites her friend.
Nam-ra
Nam-ra is the class president who also becomes a hambie. She was bitten by Gwi-nam while she was intent on protecting Su-hyeok (played by Park Solomon).
Later, her desire to bite Su-hyeok's neck becomes too much for her. Instead, she decides to bite herself.
Bonus: Cheong-san (Fan Theory)
There are some theories that Cheong-san could still be alive and would return in the second season as a hambie. At the end of the first season, Cheong-san was fighting against Gwi-nam. He also got bitten by Gwi-nam before they both fell to their death in an empty elevator shaft.
Of course, we don't know for sure if he is still alive. It's possible though that if he manages to return in the second season, Gwi-nam could also still be alive.
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Bonus: Byeong-chan (Fan Theory)
There are some theories that believe Mr. Lee is a hambie. He was, after all, the person who created the virus. He might have sacrificed himself knowing exactly what to do to prevent himself from turning into a zombie.
We're already excited to see who "the others" Nam-ra was referring to at the end of the show. There are already some characters we're hoping that secretly got turned into a hambie.
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