Happiness

If conforming to madness is a way to achieve happiness, you can give this a try.

/ Actual Rating: 7.5/10

/- I find it a long drag determining the turn of events between the chaos and the development of the characters during their lockdown. The writers probably cannot figure out where they will put the plot twists especially with the "psychopath stereotype" fiasco it had at the latter part of the show. I seemingly thought I will have the suspense of what I had with Money Heist Korea (might just be the intro similarities).
/- Nevertheless, they missed the opportunity to develop Kim Se Hoon's character. Poor guy.
/- Lastly, Lee Bo Ram had the chillest role on the rooftop.

P. S. Commendable if this was filmed at the height of the emerging CoVID-19. They did a great job with the normalcy of the setting.

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Badass leads, sloppy writing, wasted potential.

This is a zombie-ish series with two badass mature leads—FL is an anti-terrorist specialist, and ML is a cop. Together, they make an insane duo for a zombie-themed plot. The twist? There’s a drug that turns people into zombies, but after a while, they just… turn back to normal. Instead of eating people, they drink blood like vampires. Kinda gives All of Us Are Dead vibes, but with adults.

Now, onto the good stuff. The leads have insane chemistry, and their action scenes? Fire. They’re not perfect, which makes them more human, but at the same time… they make some questionable choices. Like, FL is a trained anti-terrorist officer, yet she casually opens a truck full of zombies in episode 2 to save one person. Then she touches blood on the wall like it’s some mystery substance—girl, you’re a cop, do you really need to sniff it to confirm?!

The side characters? Straight-up annoying.

The lawyer? Only cares about money.
That rep woman? Acting like it's an election.
The two cleaners? Just as irritating as everyone else.
The doctor? Absolute trash—cheated, killed his wife, and basically got half the people killed.
The biggest problem? The writing. This is a zombie series with adults, but the characters act dumber than high schoolers. Like, come on, they’re professionals, not some clueless teenagers. The final twist? A letdown. The so-called biggest villain is just some serial killer? And the ending? Suddenly, everyone’s immune and cured within a year? Yeah, right. COVID was harder to contain than this so-called zombie rabies.

This show had so much potential, but the writing killed it. Fun watch, but don’t expect logic.

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Zombie Slowburn Drama

HAPPINESS (2021) was a pretty good zombie series with aspects of drama and romance as well.

"An apocalyptic thriller that takes place in a time in which infectious diseases have become the new normal."

For a zombie thriller, it had some really good moments, but it was sort of drawn out in certain places, and that slower pacing effected the tension and overall thrilling atmosphere.

On the bright side, I enjoyed the premise and story, as well as the characters. The visuals were also really well done. Overall, this series was a decent watch. It was worth a chance.

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Expected more

The series starts pretty slowly. The first quarter is mostly setup, but I actually liked the premise: the fake marriage, the new tower block, and the idea of everyone being trapped inside while the situation outside gets worse.

Unfortunately, I found most of the characters pretty boring apart from the two main leads and the little girl. A lot of the characters also seemed unbelievably stupid, including the two leads. These are two experienced combat-trained people, yet so much of what they do is just patrol random corridors. Why not actually formulate a plan? Keep everyone inside their apartments, establish some basic rules, and have one person do regular checks at set times. It felt like the characters were deliberately making things more difficult than they needed to be.

I also didn't really like the serial killer storyline. It was obvious from pretty early on that they were setting him up to be important, but then all of the bodies were discovered around the same time, and his whole endgame of getting everyone to turn the electricity back on was basically dealt with in two episodes. I think it would've been much more effective if the bodies had been discovered gradually throughout the series, with everyone slowly realising that someone was secretly picking people off inside the building. That could have created a much better sense of paranoia and tension.

Also, how did the guy in the car even get bitten? He was inside the car and the windows weren't smashed. Maybe I missed something, but that really confused me.

One thing I did like was the ending. I actually prefer that the bad guys weren't just killed and instead ended up on trial. Death would've been too easy, and having them face the consequences of what they did felt more satisfying.

That said, I wish the ending had given us more time to sit with it. We basically just see them in court, and then it's over. I would've liked even 10–15 minutes showing what life looked like for everyone after the incident, maybe seeing how the survivors were coping and what happened to the people who caused everything. The ending wasn't bad, I just don't think we got enough time to actually process it.

Overall, I liked the premise and the two leads, but I think the show had a much better setup than execution.

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I have a thing for zombie kdramas, this is my best one so far cause it was kinda realistic. There was a cure and the zombie disease was progressive which makes sense. I didnt like the lack of romance, like I understand that there is a virus that causes people to turn to zombies and your life is in danger but you could just give us a kiss ?????. I loved the girl boss vibe sha. The acting was really good, even though the romance wasnt as much as I would’ve hoped, there was tension between the leads which lowkey made up for it. Would definitely recommend and rewatch.

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Great Potential, Sad Let Down

I had high hopes for Happiness. The premise of the show was exciting and unique for a K-drama. The lead actors were great, with fantastic chemistry and good supporting actors. However, the plot tanked this great project for me. There are many gaps in the story-telling that took me out of the drama too often. Characters would do these outlandish, reckless, and unrealistic things time and time again. The plot armor was aggravating. The main leads relationship is the only reason why I managed to finish the series but I don't recommend this to anyone unless you have nothing else to watch.

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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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