Happiness

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.

Read More

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…

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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

Read More

I know I'm very late in watching this drama but it's been on my list since it aired and I finally watched it. AND I LOVED IT!
It has a capturing start and without wasting time on background stories, the drama jumps right into the main plotline. It shows the imperfection of humans in such an amazing way. How greediness and selfishness comes to surface when you are put into such situations.
Yet the two main leads show us the true meaning of being selfless and living for others. The male lead is so gentle but good at his job ad the female lead show she cares about herself first but we find that she also puts herself last. Although mostly all of the residents are bad in one way or another, the main leads don't hold a grudge against them and help them and do their best for everyone until the end.
Even though this drama isn't focused on romance, I love the way main leads portray their love without any words. Also them being married makes everything ten times better in my opinion.
A lot of the scenes did have my at the edge of my seat. It wasn't exactly gory but it was enough to make you jump.
In the end I really thought that Yi Hyun died because I had not seen any spoilers thankfully. I couldn't have been any more happier for the happy ending.
One thing I really hoped to see was what happened to Han Tae Seok and his wife in the end. I understand showing the cure would stretch things too far but to see his ending would have been nice because I actually liked him.
Overall I enjoyed the drama and would recommend it 100%

Read More

If you expect an AOTD like scene then it's not like what you expect

I love how they create new type of zombies that's fresh and not to common to watch . The story mainly goes around the apartment and the two main actors . What i remember the most is my anger to Mr Oh and you'll find it out in the drama. Also it's more on saving people and choosing the right thing to do . There's so many things that will happen in just a second and prepare to be shock every minute. I will also recommend you to prepare for the last scene how it make me go NOOOOOO ! Hehe i love the cast and over all they made a great job naking this drama (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤

Read More