Rose

A female survivor. During an emergency evacuation, she is separated from her daughter, Anna, due to her husband's injuries, marking the start of her ordeal. Initially, she displays a frustratingly emotional side—fleeing in terror from her zombified husband, stopping James from shooting a group of children at a school simply because they are kids, and weeping while clinging to James whenever he rescues her.

Anna

A female character. She is Rose's daughter who was separated from her mother after boarding a transport truck first.

Spears

A male survivor. While being transported to a camp by soldiers, he kills the soldier guarding him, steals his uniform and pistol, and escapes. He joins the story after rescuing Rose from her zombified husband. He is the only truly capable combatant among the initial group.

Ryan

A male survivor. He is deaf and communicates through sign language. He appears to have an intellectual disability as well, shown when he looks at a drum with curiosity and tries to play it. He is a gentle and pure-hearted young man who tries to help others.

Lance

A male survivor. While his physical stats seem to be among the highest in the group, he is the most cowardly and somewhat slow-witted, with combat skills effectively at zero. He flees the moment a zombie appears, often getting separated from the group, but his running ability and sheer luck are top-tier, allowing him to survive any situation and eventually reunite with the others.

Kyung-sun

A female survivor. A survival expert and North Korean defector who crossed the Tumen River alone and eventually made it to the U.S. Despite her background, she speaks in a standard South Korean dialect. She is the most virtuous member of the main cast, trusting others and performing small acts of kindness. She burns with a will to survive, dreaming of the day she can reunite with her mother. Her main 'frustration factor' is the communication barrier; excluding singing and a very basic self-introduction, she speaks English fewer than five times (including 'Thank you', 'Why', and 'No'), speaking Korean for the rest.

William

A male survivor. Having lived and worked near the town, he is familiar with the local geography and knows the way to the Stadium. Though he has a hot temper, he is fiercely loyal and the most human character, flatly refusing Phil's suggestion to throw Kyung-sun to the zombies to escape and standing alone against three men to protect her. He is a fan favorite due to his lack of frustrating behavior. Despite struggling to communicate with the Korean-speaking Kyung-sun, by the end, they reach a level of 'telepathy' where they understand each other while speaking their own languages. He retains his humanity until his departure from the series.

Sophie

A female survivor. She is the type to assess situations quickly and act coldly for survival. Despite her gentle appearance, she can be surprisingly selfish, largely driven by her intense fear. She has short black hair, dark skin, and deep-set eyes, and wears a dark purple hoodie with a scarf.

Mance

A male survivor. The leader of a group clashing with Nazeri's group. His group consists mainly of people of color, including Asians, Native Americans, and Black people. After constant conflict with Nazeri, he eventually travels with Natalie and Jace. Jace is a woman wearing a crimson knit jacket over a pinkish-red T-shirt. Natalie is a woman wearing a light blue jacket, a thick and voluminous padded coat suitable for the cold weather.