Baekhyunnn

It Was Hit or Miss

For me unfortunately it was a miss — It started out strong, both the ML and FL had strong personalities, while FL stood out to me more because of her dominating, bold and wise personality. However, the charm of the first five episodes quickly dissipate because of the reoccurring amnesia trope. I believe the past life shouldn't have been so brief, there were quite a lot of filler arcs, or arcs that could have ended in just an episode or two but were dragged, instead of that the past life should have lasted longer.

Basically I was Mu Qingge-baited into watching this because it was her who impressed me in the first half but she only returns briefly. The story had strong foundations but was executed badly. It just felt like they kept going in circles without making too much progress, and then returning back to square one.

The side couples were probably the sweetest part of the drama for me. Towards the end only the love story of the "villains" (Wei Jiu & Tu Jiuyuan) kept me going as the amnesia arc striked again. The side characters were cute I'd say.

However, the Immortal Sects seemed to be the most useless element of the drama. They served no purpose other than igniting more fire into the chaos. One would assume the leaders of these sects to be wise and strong but they were as gullible as kids being told children's stories. Only used their heads when they were to head the wrong direction. How did they not even have strength in numbers? It seems like they were set up only to be sacrificed—like ants being trampled—whenever needed by the writer.

Some of the actors did impress me — Julia who plays Mu Qingge/Xue Ranran, her depictions of both characters were easily distinguishable having opposing personalities. And another would be Chen Xinhai, I've only watched two of his dramas before, and the characters weren't as impactful as a sweet guy turned into villain. [these remarks are subjective]

An alternative version could have explored more into their past and how their relationship bloomed, instead 3 years just passed by within minutes. I was actually expecting it to be quite entertaining as Su Yishui tries to defeat Mu Qingge in order to get out but falls in love slowly, but it just flew by and didn't have much impact.

I'm disappointed for the loss of a badass queen we could have got as Mu Qingge (she still was even if briefly). Maybe I'm just another Su Yu obsessed with her *sigh

Oh I'd like to add — Tia Ray's Ost for this drama is so good. Her voice is magic!

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Disguised Misogyny

Someone might think I'm crazy for this claim but bear with me. The FL was in enemy territory and she wanted to save her home too which is absolutely fair but the ML would get mad at her for thinking of her people and would have to be put some sense into him by his grandmother and others. Reverse the roles, if he would have done something for his home and people while staying at her kingdom he would have thought of himself clever, and I don't even think the FL would reprimand him because IT'S FAIR since they were enemies to begin with.

I actually paused this drama for a while because I just couldn't get past his foolishness and anger issues. The one incident I remember very clearly is the one I watched rn; neighbouring states attacked and he found out she had secret tunnel or escape route made and he got mad at her for that. No secure and confident man would have got mad at her for thinking of her safety and the safety of her people. Instead she had to go out of her way to make him understand that she's still on his side and that what happened before was different from the present. Anybody mature would have understood that without having her to risk her life. Yes, it did help in the war but she was doing that thinking he doesn't trust her instead but if he had shown that he did trust her she would have still done it as her duty as a queen.

Also, even though the FL was clever and smart in her own right, all her ambitions were shifted to her trying to uplift her husband instead. Like a good little wife men expect women to be. That was clear subordination of her to the ML. She started talking about family and kids and stuff even though her home still wasn't completely secure which was so uncharacteristic of her.

He can do whatever he wants and she'll praise him or try to understand him but even when she does valid things he gets mad and sulks around. Lmao why is this drama so hyped up. Did people watch this with their minds turned off?

It also dragged so bad. I saw everyone saying it's a perfect enemies to lovers while they legit started feeling for each other very soon and were all lovey dovey all the time. And once they got together it was all melodrama from one scheming woman to another. What is even good about this show? Nobody can convince me otherwise.

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A Thrilling Reflection of Human Nature

Happiness isn’t just another zombie drama—it’s a sharp and thought-provoking social commentary disguised as a thriller. Set in a quarantined apartment complex during a deadly virus outbreak, the drama explores human greed, privilege, morality, and survival instincts when society is pushed to the brink.

One of the drama’s greatest strengths is how it portrays the ugly truths of human nature. While the infected pose a threat, the real danger comes from the residents themselves. Fear breeds selfishness, power corrupts, and the battle for survival exposes class divisions and moral dilemmas—mirroring real-world crises where people’s true colors emerge.

At the heart of this chaos are Yoon Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo) and Jung Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik), whose relationship stands in stark contrast to the selfishness around them. Built on trust, respect, and unwavering loyalty, they show that even in dire circumstances, some people choose to protect rather than exploit. Their dynamic adds an emotional depth that makes the story even more compelling.

Unlike typical zombie thrillers, Happiness isn’t just about survival—it’s about what survival turns people into. The drama masterfully highlights how fear, hierarchy, and self-interest shape human behavior, making it eerily relatable. With a tight, well-paced story and a perfectly satisfying ending, it delivers a complete, impactful experience that lingers long after the credits roll.

⭐ Rating: 10/10 – A gripping and thought-provoking thriller that reflects the best and worst of humanity.

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