Happiness

Losing humanity in an attempt to restore it—when zombies don’t represent death, but the living

We know zombies as cruel creatures that know no limits. Heartless and inhumane, mere shells of past human lives that once-upon-a-time also feared zombies themselves. In a case where the world would meet its end through this fate, it would be unquestionable to resort to whatever is essential for survival and the restoration of humanity. But what would happen if zombies were not completely stripped of their morals? What if they were not devoid of emotion? ‘Happiness’ is a dystopian series that questions conventional ethics, offering a thrilling twist on popular conceptions to challenge the usual divide between good and bad. Blurring this division brings an alternative to commonalities within its genre, focusing on the zombie’s struggles: the loss of control, the insatiable hunger for more, the helplessness of hanging on a thread between life and death....

A mysterious drug is to blame for the rapid, chaotic spread of an incurable disease in South Korea; one that turns people into blood-thirsty, zombie-like creatures. In the midst of this chaotic pandemic, Yoon Sae-Bom, a fearless counter-terrorism agent, and Jung Yi-Hyun, her longtime friend and a righteous police detective, finally tighten their bond. They decide to file marriage paperworks to benefit from a work promotion that promises an apartment in a newly built complex. But as the virus continues to spread, and the building becomes isolated in a strict military-run lockdown, a new threat arises: the residents themselves. Slowly, the series shifts its lens to a danger less-obvious than the violent zombies, and the outbreak becomes a mere backdrop for social commentary and reflection of human behaviour when on the brink of death.

Is it wrong to suppress your human side, by avoiding feeling remorse and empathy towards the infected, if getting attached and involving emotion in your decisions risks your own safety? In this apocalyptic dystopian Korean series, the horror derives from pain. The infected are left to die on the streets, treated like wild animals, despite not wishing to inflict harm on anyone and being embarrassed by their own episodes. Meanwhile, the people in their lives—family members, friends, colleagues, or mere neighbors—are mentally exhausted, torn between letting their fear and fight for survival drive them, and their dissipating sense of humanity.

When this zombie epidemic takes place, the human is removed from all. Everyone, even the non infected, grasp onto the little part of sanity and humanity they have left in them to fend for themselves alongside a small group of people whom they don’t know if they can trust. Because of their proximity and need to trust them for survival, the same people they surround themselves with are the only ones capable of tricking them and betraying them. As the episodes progress, this most feared betrayal of all intensifies, leading them to become even less human than the zombies themselves—fighting amongst each other and trying to take control of power and wealth while the zombies cower in fear or whimper in pain. With these dual complexities to both sides, who are the true victims?

In this series that questions morality, we see the many different ways humans react when faced with the end of the world, and watch as humanity dies in an attempt to restore it by doing what is believed to be conventionally right. Those who are natural leaders and heroes reveal themselves, as do those who are hungry for power, those who are selfish, and those who are selfless. In a new world where there is no determining line of right and wrong, even a lawyer's words feel empty and ridiculous in the context of the outwordly situations and trials the characters face. Everyone is slowly losing themselves as days go on, locked up in this building where, interestingly enough, everyone has concerns despite the zombies, who are scared of themselves, hiding their thirst and fearing their own death.

The apartment complex in which the individuals whose lives are followed are stuck isn't only like a petri dish to check for virus mutations. Instead, it's a small part of the world where authority, competition, personal values, thriving to survive, capitalism, societal class clashes and more all manifest themselves, with each single individual a portrait of a portion of the world with variations in age, jobs, background, wealth, etc. This is an example of the virus serving greater purpose than merely being a virus, it's a dual meaning to depict human flaws and study nature in the face of a crisis. In the introspective series ‘Happiness’, the virus isn't the main focus—it is rather a tool used to arise intense emotion from the complex characters and in turn drive the story forward.

Finally, what does it mean to truly be alive? Are the zombies alive? Viewers are almost forced to ask themselves this question, as it is what forms their opinion on the characters and on whether some of their actions are favorable or not. They are in this state of thirst and only wanting more, which is what sets them apart from being human because of its intensity. This scares others, when in reality, it is only a mirror of their own selves, constantly wishing for more—more money, more followers, more popularity...they aren't only striving to overcome the zombies. Surviving means overcoming it all, and only those who are emotionally mature and aware enough to do so will manage to make it out alive. Because surviving doesn’t equate to living, but perhaps having morals and knowing where to stand your ground to be able to confidently take the next step is.

By the end of the series, the tension between the complex tenants is palpable, everyone torn apart in one way or another. The fear is no longer centered zombies. Its goose-bump raising scenes shift from thrilling zombie chases to those involving people who, at first, seemed like the safest ones you could surround yourself with. It steps farther away from the science fiction of creatures and further into the realm of dystopia, where greed overthrows even common sense, and people willingly turn themselves into zombies or pretend to be infected to justify crime or satisfy their hungry desire for money. A particularly chilling scene that signals the series' step closer to the real world—while still bathing in thrill, almost a direct call out to the society we live in today—is when a member of building's cleaning service voluntarily trades his conscience for luxury, and finds himself sitting in a pile of wealth, gone mad, but not because his mind was overtaken by poison. Instead, he screams for thirst while stuffing his insatiable hunger for money with items he monstrously fought to keep, even choosing to stay over claiming his own freedom.

Corruption poses great risk to Jung Yi-Hyun and Yoon Sae-Bom, who finally get their happy ending after going through long lengths and many hardships that reveal what has let them withstand it all—even in the midst of collapse of civility: empathy, compassion, and love.

2025-07-12

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Plays Like a Bad American Horror Movie!

If this series had been a comedy, I probably would have laughed more and also in more of the right places. Unfortunately, it’s not a comedy. It plays like a bad American horror movie where the sheer level of stupidity that dominates the characters is the primary source for the laughter; the absolutely clueless and absurdity is not to be underestimated. If you've ever seen an American horror movie, you know how often characters make really dumb decisions, and when they're killed off, you just shake your head because their own stupidity did them in.

A disease has broken out the causes the infected to attack and bite the victim in order to satiate their unquenching thirst. However, once bitten, the victim becomes infected. It’s like a cross between a vampire and a zombie. However, unlike Train to Busan, this series as virtually no suspense whatsoever.

Yoon Sae Bom is a member of an elite anti-terrorist unit. She’s sassy, capable, and has dreams and aspirations of moving into a nice new apartment complex; a complex that requires the applicant to have enough “points” to qualify (recommendations, marriage, etc.). She marries her childhood friend, Jung Yi Hyun, a detective who had aspirations of becoming a professional baseball player. They marry for the convenience of being co-owners of the apartment. However, we already know that Jung Yi Hyun has loved Yoon Sae Bom since they were in high school together. Yeah, we already know where this is going.

Yoon Sae Bom quickly finds out just how shady the residents are in the apartment complex. There is really nobody good. And this is what she dreamed of, eh? We have a doctor who’s killed his wife. A seemingly affluent woman who wants to be the resident business leader of the complex. Power and money become the sole driving force of nearly every resident. This doesn’t even change when the complex comes under quarantine due to the disease. Soon, residents are fighting over food, water, or any means of trying to get ahead. Oh, and we also have a serial killer among the residents, as if everything else wasn’t quite enough. How so many “bad eggs” can all be in one place at the same time is like rolling “snake eyes” in Vegas twelve times in a row.

The lockdown aspect was intriguing until we find out that the infected only reach a “ravenous state” for about fifteen minutes. Meanwhile, a military colonel is trying to find a cure without letting the higher-ups know about it, as he’s afraid that they will use their perpetual greed to control the cure, and the colonel’s wife is one of the infected.

Yoon Sae Bom and Jung Yi Hyun try their best (well, not really!) to control the crazies and the situation. Ironically enough, for two people in law enforcement, they consistently make horrible decisions.
First, we have Dr. Oh Joo Hyeong who’s being arrested for the murder of his wife just as the lockdown takes place. However, instead of taking him into custody and at least locking him in a room, he’s given free reign to move around. Of course, knowing that he’s likely facing a prison sentence, he does everything in his power to subvert and plot against Yoon Sae Bom and Jung Yi Hyun. And each time they stop him, he’s STILL given a license to move about freely. Talk about stupid! This was one of the comedic elements that wasn’t really funny. I was simply laughing at how inept and pathetic our two main characters were.

Next, we have “Andrew” the serial killer. It’s funny that neither of our two leads suspect him for anything, given that he never shows his face which is constantly hidden behind a mask, and that the face on the ID card is scraped up so that you can see the photo. Now, it’s understandable that this story takes place on the cusp of COVID. It’s already been scientifically proven that masks do not have very much of an effect in preventing you from catching a disease. It’s more of a suggestion which is why so many people still believe that they do. However, given that Andrew goes to great lengths to hide his face, especially when eating or drinking, you would think that this might be a “red flag” to our two veteran members of law enforcement (three if you count Jung Yi Hyun’s cowardly, inept partner, Kim Jeong Gook who can only whine, cry, and complain at every turn).

We also have Oh Yeon Ok, the woman attempting to become the elected representative who is more worried about losing her position than anything else. She frequently goes into frantic rages when it becomes clear that she’s willing to do anything (even commit murder) to be elected. Bae Hae Seon plays her a bit over-the-top, and our two resident cops allow her to walk all over them rather than take charge of the situation. Instead, they try to be political rather than act like officers, which makes everything even worse.

The first six or seven episodes are quite good when the viewer is trying to figure out everything that is going on, but when the infected all but disappear, and the focus shifts to the residents and their power plays, the whole script falls apart, and we no longer really care what happens to most of them.


The last episode attempts to drag things out with an absolutely pathetic ending; all done for effect, of course. Jung Yi Hyun has been shot and taken captive by Andrew after Jung Yi Hyun somehow fails to disarm him (who knew a kid without any fighting skills could out-fight a cop who’s shown his hand-to-hand prowess up until now?). Jung Yi Hyun is on the ground being held up by Andrew but only covering his lower half. Yoon Sae Bom has a clear shot at Andrew. Instead, she shoots herself in the arm in order to get the infected Andrew to transform. Talk about making a really dumb choice! He staggers toward her, allowing Jung Yi Hyun (who has reclaimed the gun) to shoot Andrew in the head. Never mind that he’s already weak and also ignoring the fact the Yoon Sae Bom still has her own gun but shoots anyway, even though she’s in the direct line of fire. Talk about being lucky!

Yoon Sae Bom and Jung Yi Hyun are about as believable as cops as Donald Trump is of being president. Yes, that’s how bad these two were. It's sad that this is a wasted effort because both characters are likable and I like that Yoon Sae Bom is a strong woman who is no wallflower by any stretch of the imagination.

I was glad that this series only went 12 episodes. It should have been cut down to half that. The writer should be drummed out of the business for breaking one of the most basic and cardinal rules: never change a character for the sake of moving the plot. In other words, never make a character do something they would never do just to make the plot work. Yoon Sae Bom and Jung Yi Hyun make so many bad decisions, it’s a wonder they live to tell the tale. Well, when you have a writer who can make it happen, then that’s the blessing of it!


What’s sad is that most of the performances were pretty good, despite having some of the most depraved and sick people occupying one apartment complex (and no, I’m obviously not talking about the infected). These people should have been quarantined long before any disease entered the picture. Frankly, this series should be quarantined to the basement shelves too.

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Sadness

The drama began on a promising note, depicting the inception of their journey with great detail. However, as the plot unfolded, the emergence of the disease became the central focus, leading to relentless battles with infected individuals until the final episodes where the cure was discovered, concluding the story. While I was eager to witness the chemistry between the leads, their interactions were disappointingly sparse. Nevertheless, both the lead actors and actress delivered exceptional performances. Despite their efforts, I failed to find any joy throughout the entirety of the drama, ultimately deeming it dull and unengaging.

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Crazy how many unlikeable characters can fit into a drama

I honestly don't know how many times I've tried to watch this drama and always dropped it around ep 2 or 3 because of the boring atmosphere, the slow pace, the unbearable and bossy FL and the weak and annoying ML. Didn't like both of them, especially since both were abusing their power as members of the police/special force unit so often. They were acting sometimes so reckless, know-it-all and stupid that it was hard to imagine that both went through a professional training and are actually civil servants who were bound by law. Later I learned that the male actor has a huge fan base. Well this explains the extreme high rating.

Now I tried to watch this drama again since I needed badly something to watch and this time I completed it. I guess for every drama you just need to be in the right mood.

It was overall a good drama, rated it with 7.5. If you love survival stuff and you are a zombie veteran like me you will also like this new approach on a zombie apocalypse. New that it doesn't focus so much on gore and explicit themes. Sometimes the pace was so slow that it felt like a slice of life drama. So not your typical action filled thriller. Unfortunately there were many plot holes, infuriating and unbelievable scenes (like when the stupid FL jumps into a truck full of zombies and doesn't get bitten at all?!), dumb descisions and dubious and weird motives (like the secret behind Andrew's identity was so disappointing and didn't fit all). And like always you would wonder why the villains were so slow and not killing the hero and heroine asap... The music also didn't fit always and the ending was so rushed and disappointing and with many unanswered questions. Wish they would have focused on Han Tae Seok instead of that cringey scene in the epilogue.

The acting was overall good, but weak from the FL (her facial expressions weren't really strong). The ML did a decent job especially in the last episode when he showed his more vulnerable side. Both didn't have much chemistry. The acting of the side characters, though many of them were really dumb, was excellent, especially the crazy house represent and the doctor. Overall a well done thriller with a couple of scary scenes (like the truck scene or when the FL was stuck in the bathroom) but many many unlikeable characters. Even the child was annoying.
Most likeable characters: the brother and the sister.
Well appreciated: no dumb drunken scene.

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Good start but getting worse

As usual, I didn’t read anything or watch trailer before watching this show. I only knew it was a survival genre, a bit similar to Sweet Home. I didn’t even know casting.

Things of first episodes I’ve enjoyed the most:
- Han Hyo Joo as FL : for a long time I wanted to watch a drama she stars. Her acting skills are very good ! Even if she looks nice and sweet, she portrays a strong/badass character very well !
- Park Hyung Sik as ML : even if I didn’t like Dr Slump, I think is a great actor (loved him in Soundtrack #1)
- High level of action and intensity from the beginning/first episode of the show. It’s been a while first episodes of a drama hooked me that much.

But from ep4 action level lowered. There was more resident relationship scenes than survival (residents vs infected) scenes.
The show is mainly focused on manipulations, lies and plots… almost every man for himself.
It shown the worst side of human nature/behavior (I really don’t like this kind of drama, it is hard for me to watch this. I’ve almost gave up at ep10…but only 2 episodes left so I kept watching).
To finish, the « Andrew » twist is from my point of view a total nonsense ! And the 2 last episodes have been rushed (so predictable/cliché)

This is sooo disappointing because I really expected « action/survival » drama (safe vs infected) and I haven’t got :(

About leads chemistry, it is very good. FL and ML portray lead couple in a very natural way (one of the best couple I’ve seen among a lot of dramas).

A few songs of OST are good enough to be added to a playlist.

To summarize, I’ve watched this show, it is not one of my favorite and I won’t rewatch it…

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A Gripping Thriller with Stellar Performances and Thought-Provoking Themes.

I recently watched "Happiness" and thoroughly enjoyed it. This series expertly blends thriller, horror, and social commentary. What stood out to me most was the way it explored human nature under extreme circumstances, making it both thought-provoking and entertaining.

Story:
I loved the tension and unpredictability of the plot. The confined setting of the apartment complex added to the sense of claustrophobia and urgency, and I found myself constantly wondering what would happen next. While I felt some subplots could have been developed further, the overall narrative was engaging and kept me hooked.

Acting/Cast:
The cast was phenomenal, and I was particularly impressed by Han Hyo-joo and Park Hyung-sik. Their chemistry was electric, and they brought so much depth to their characters. Han Hyo-joo’s portrayal of a strong, resourceful woman was refreshing, and Park Hyung-sik’s calm yet determined demeanor was equally compelling. The supporting cast also delivered strong performances, making the story feel even more immersive.

Music:
The soundtrack perfectly complemented the series’ tense atmosphere. The background score heightened the suspense, and the occasional softer melodies provided a nice emotional balance. While it wasn’t groundbreaking, the music added to the overall experience.

Rewatch Value:
I can definitely see myself rewatching Happiness. The intense moments, compelling characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a series worth revisiting. While some of the initial suspense might fade on a second viewing, the nuanced performances and social commentary would still make it enjoyable.

Overall, I highly recommend Happiness to anyone who enjoys thrillers with depth. It’s a gripping, well-crafted drama that left me thinking long after the final episode.

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Great Leads, Disappointing Writing

My 4 categories are Acting/Cast, Writing, Direction/SFX/Music, Entertainment Value.

I decided to watch this drama because I saw a clip from the opening scene. Dramas that start with a “jumper” scene get me hooked. Don’t ask...I like depressing shit.

Acting/Cast: A solid cast with good acting. Too bad most of the characters aren't likable at all. Easily, the best thing about this drama is the leads. Actually, it may be the only thing I liked about this drama. Uh oh... Well, there were two other characters that I really liked...but apparently the writers didn’t. Their stories didn’t play out so well… 7.5/10

Writing: This isn’t really a zombie plot. They’re more like vampires. And the story is more about the psychology of the people in the apartment building rather than the infected, vampire people. So this drama is not very scary and the infected people aren’t much of a threat. I was only scared once, which was during “The Thing” scene (if you know, you know). I did like that they were more like vampires that struggle to curb their thirst for blood and are able to stay human if their willpower is strong enough. I thought that was an interesting concept because there’s still a chance for that character to survive and continue to interact with healthy characters while creating different dynamics between characters. I also like how the relationship between the two leads developed. They had a really sweet best friendship that slowly turns into something more. Seriously, it is relationship goals for me…I’m jealous. Okay, now for the bad, which is everything else. I really like “trapped in a building” plots and “hostage plots” because I like seeing a group of various characters develop through the course of the drama and learn to work together to survive (My favorite K-drama is White Christmas if that tells you anything.) This drama has that kind of plot, but instead of getting well-developed characters that grow on me as I watch, I got mostly unlikable characters that get worse over time and a couple likable characters that get neglected or completely ruined. It was so disappointing for me. The two leads are the only decently written characters that stay that way throughout the entire drama. The “villains” in this drama aren’t typical either. Is there really a true villain? There’s so many characters in the drama that are terrible people. It’s to the point where I really don’t give a shit about the security of the building. Let them all get infected. They deserve it. It reminded me of that movie The Mist (I hated that movie). There’s this stupid twist toward the end of the drama...that’s when the drama really lost me. We already have so many “everyday people” turning into murderers, we don’t need any more thrown into the mix. Just...why?? I guess you would call that an “overkill”. The writers killed the story with that stupidity. I mean, the cops letting a known murderer run loose around the building from the beginning was stupid enough. Oh yeah, they also kept referencing COVID in the drama, which really annoyed me. As if COVID is anywhere near comparable to this infection. 2/10

Direction/SFX/Music: This drama is well-produced. The SFX is well done. I was also pleasantly surprised to see some cool actions scenes from the male lead, Park Young Sik (박형식). The soundtrack is so good. It’s rare for me to say that. It has a fun, action-y vibe to it. Maybe the soundtrack is the reason why I enjoyed this drama as much as I did. 8/10

Entertainment Value: Despite the lack of likable characters, it was entertaining. I binged this drama. I got pissed off by the end though, which drastically lowered its score for me. It was like a beam that broke the camel’s back, so to speak. After all that work I did overlooking a lot of smaller irritations here and there, the writers rewarded me by punching me in the face. Thanks for that… 5/10

Overall, I gave this drama a 5.5/10. Even though the writing was bad, I really liked the leads and their chemistry together. Their relationship was so sweet. But, are the leads alone enough for me to recommend this drama? I don’t think so.

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Chef's kiss

I don't usually write reviews because I haven't really found a drama that is worth the time put into it but damn happiness is truly a master piece. I loved everything about it from the plot, to the execution and even the cast
Unlike most kdramas a lot of the plot wasn't so predictable and it wasn't an overly romantic and long drama. I loved the fact that even though some episodes where slow paced and had little action it didn't feel dragged or boring in any way
I hardly watch horror or zombie thrillers because I'm prone to having nightmares but happiness is a series that i would rewatch again and again no matter how much I get scarred. The antagonist perfectly executed their role so much that anytime i see them in other dramas i can't help but hate them. Most of them were truly narcissist and self-centered to the core. And please don't get me started with the main leads from the Mal's deep love for her to her slow and steady falling for him. It was also rare to see a badass female lead who wasn't overly self-righteous and knows how to play the bad guy. The ML was also good at not allowing his character to be overshadowed by the FL. And last but not the list the little girl who lived with the main leads . It was so touching to see that even though she was scared and sad to be away from her parents she tried so hard to remain though so that she wouldn't be a burden. So all in all it was a perfectly executed piece.

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A New Light Shed on the Eternal Search for Happiness

* On a starting note:
You would wonder why I gave an overall score of 9 when I rated the story 7.5! My numbers don't add up because this work is just as complex.
* "Happiness" is a depressing apocalyptic take on the classic Search for Happiness, I thought it would be another survival story but it was so much more.
I would say the story is the weakest factor this drama has, while the acting, twists, and characters are one of the best I've seen taking into consideration it's a 12 episodes show.

* After the Ending note:
I feel dizzy.. like I know it's a 12 episodes drama but dang I wanted it to last longer.. guess the producers did everything they could to cook such a deep show in only 12 episodes.
Even with all the plotholes, I still rated this a solid 9/10 for the drama, characters, and development! It's been a while since I got this immersed on a show! I even was waiting for someone to jumpscare me until the very end of the credits 😂😅 cuz I was already so traumatized over all the jumpscares.
My favorite part is how much you would see from each character and the development of many - be it for the bad or the good-! The twists were quite good too! The acting was superb that almost every character had its own light. I sobbed a few times and was fumming at others.
I liked that this time it wasn't poor people are good, rich people are bad, this time the drama adapted the reality approach that a person cannot be judged until you have lived with them!
People's true nature isn't something easily discovered nor judged. This is the core charm of Happiness for me.
And of course another charm was showing us what is the real HAPPINESS whithout mentioning it once in the drama!
This work kinda reminds me of webtoon I've read years ago called DeadDays, I can't remember the details but I totally get the dejavu.

* just wanted to end this saying that you will be left thinking and appreciating the Happiness you have in your life through the misery of HAPPINESS

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