Nate is a 16-year-old Korean American student who works at the Zombie Laboratory to save money for his college and future business plans. He attends the prestigious Clyde Hill Academy on a scholarship, creating a deep sense of shame regarding his working-class background among wealthy peers. Highly driven by a desire for financial security, he rigorously plans his future and idolizes prominent technology executives. When a privileged classmate offers him a massive cash bribe to deliberately fail his classes, Nate faces a major conflict between his ambition and his integrity.

Kate is an 18-year-old high school senior who takes a seasonal job as a zombie actor to save money for her own independence. Following the death of her mother, she lives in a massive mansion equipped with advanced technology but feels entirely isolated from her family. She loves theater and desperately wants to move to New York, seeking to escape her father's intense surveillance. She intentionally keeps her home life a secret from her new coworkers to protect herself from further emotional complications.

Robbie is the wealthy CEO of Digitools, a competitive company that manufactures home security and artificial intelligence products. He frequently travels for business, managing his household and monitoring his daughter through invasive technological surveillance. He views the arts as a soft pursuit and expects his daughter to follow his corporate path. He utilizes his vast financial resources to control the people around him.

Peter is an arrogant and wealthy student at Clyde Hill Academy whose father is an executive at a major technology company. He constantly targets scholarship students, using microaggressions to belittle his classmates. Viewing everything as a financial transaction, he attempts to pay his way to the top of the class rankings by bribing other students to fail.

Annie is a popular and wealthy student at Clyde Hill Academy. She previously spent her time with the scholarship students but recently distanced herself from them to socialize with more affluent classmates. She occasionally shows renewed interest in her former friends, causing confusion and frustration within their social circle.

Lucy is Nate's five-year-old younger sister. Her birth added unexpected financial strain to the family, causing occasional frustration for her teenage brother. She is highly creative and energetic, often seeking attention from her older sibling while adhering to their parents' strict household rules.

Nate's father is a first-generation Korean immigrant who works as an IT consultant. He holds traditional values regarding respect and duty, expecting obedience without feeling the need to explain his actions to his children. He struggles with sudden unemployment, adding severe stress to the household while refusing to discuss the situation openly.

Nate's mother manages the household and strictly enforces the family's communication boundaries. She cooks traditional Korean meals and uses a dry sense of humor to manage social interactions. She aligns firmly with her husband in keeping the family's financial struggles and extended family history a secret from their children.

Jaxon is a scholarship student at Clyde Hill Academy and one of Nate's closest friends. He openly resents the wealthy students at their school and provides a loyal support system for his peers. He views the social mobility of his classmates critically and stands ready to defend his friends against bullies.

Zach is a scholarship student at Clyde Hill Academy who forms the core of a tight-knit friend group. He regularly hosts movie nights at his house, offering his friends a comfortable environment away from the intense social pressures and financial stress of their elite school.

Raina is Kate's loyal childhood friend who understands the depth of grief following a family tragedy. She patiently gives her friend the space needed to mourn while gently encouraging a return to social activities. She provides emotional support without judgment.

Zoe is a freshman at New York University who maintains a close long-distance friendship with her high school peers. She actively encourages aspirations in theater and serves as a vital connection to life outside the confines of a strict, highly monitored household.

Jeeves is an advanced butler robot programmed by a prominent technology CEO. He conducts biological scans and manages household duties, often serving as the primary daily companion for those living in the otherwise empty Anderson-Steele mansion.