Happiness (2021)

From the title happiness, I feel that it is titled like that because it is the happiness of a person that guides the infected so that they become more conscious and they are more resistant to the thirst for blood. From the character and performance of the performers, this is a fantastic narrative. This 2021 kdrama comes highly recommended. I was a little disappointed with the finale since it felt like the drama was ending in the last minute, but it was lovely. It's fantastic.

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Hell is other people.

Happiness is a tv show about the inherent horror of having to quarantine in close proximity to other people! Initially, I refrained from putting this show in my To-Watch list because I thought watching a show about quarantine while I’m stuck in quarantine for the nth wave of the covid pandemic, might be a bit too much on my psyche but I am glad I ended up watching it. It was worth it. Weirdly validifying too. Like, yeah, I have to deal with jerks in my quarantine too. Thanks for acknowledging my struggles!!!
Let me give you some rundown: this is not a zombie apocalypse show, nor is it a survivalist show. This is a show dedicated to the complex and unexpected developments of human behavior and psyche when people are forced to stay put in one place due to a crisis. A study of humanity in high-stress situations which is also sprinkled with jump scares, actions scenes, zombie attacks, and so on, yes, but those are the conditions that provide for the real goal of the story: The plague is humanity!
I really enjoyed this show, even though I hate gore and thriller stories and never touch zombie stories. They really scare me because to me nothing is worse than twisting into a monster that no longer has the ability of human thought and control. It’s just terrifying to watch a human distort their body in all the wrong directions, snarling and groaning and making grabby-hand gestures, okay?! But this show was so graceful about it. Because it showed all the ways that humans can lose their ability to think and control their worst urges and instincts while looking perfectly normal. You really don’t need to be a zombie to suck the life out of the people around you! The real zombies are the bad company! (I love all these ah-ha! takes I can have about this show! lol) I just love how this show displays just that.

You should check this out if you can handle:
1. Zombies
2. Humans acting like monsters
3. Seriously. There’s some heavy psychological deterioration displayed in this show
4. Effortless chemistry and romantic dynamic that is super subtle and not overly-emphasized
5. FOUND.FAMILY. (YAAAAAAASSSSSS!)
6. Quarantine shows
7. Thrillers, horror, jump scares, gore and blood
8. People being stupid
9. Regressive narratives (no one is really having a personal growth here in that cathartic way that hallmark-level romcoms will provide with convenient monologues and stuff)

Summary: The story follows three characters: Yoon Sae Bom, a special task force member who after a difficult childhood is desperate to have a home of her own™, Jung Yi Hun, her best friend, and an ex-baseball player who is now a detective and is desperately and secretly in love with her, and Han Tae Seok, a Machiavellian out-hire in the military in charge of containing and managing a new and bizarre disease spreading through Korea. Long story short, people are becoming zombies. Sae Bom and Yi Hun have just moved into their new, fancy little apartment and want nothing but to live a happy life but all that is put on the back burner when their entire apartment complex gets quarantined for being the epicenter for the disease. What comes after is just…human horror!

Plot: If you’ve had the displeasure to come into contact with a little story called “The Lord of flies” then you’ll have a general idea of just what this show is trying to achieve. A definite nod and modernization of that same premise, this show is the most current concept out there, dedicated to all the terrible ways that quarantining and having to stay in closed spaces with other people can just suck the life out of you! The show puts a bunch of characters with personal motives and unique kinds of hidden skeletons in one apartment building where as time goes by, everyone just transforms into a more exaggerated version of their initial vices or rise to the occasion to reveal hidden depths. It’s all about the study of human behavior. Because from the get-go the story presents the zombie situation as a disease, then the show is not about blowing zombie heads off for brownie points but instead, it constantly goes to lengths to highlight the humanity hidden behind their situation. This distinctly differentiates it from a zombie apocalypse story. Because it’s not an apocalypse. I think the whole thing is an allegory. Although the show mentions covid by name, really the zombie disease is also covid. From people who refuse to follow health protocols to those who want to get out of the quarantine even though they have nowhere to go, to the essential workers who have to go out against their better judgment, to those who are just looking to make profits from a dire situation, it's all so familiar and real. The show goes to some dark places about humanity and if you can handle those stuff, it can be so interesting.
And to top it all off, even though this is not a romance show, there is such a dynamic chemistry between the leads, and their harmony with each other and their deep love and care for the other is what carries the show. It’s just a sweet treat in the heart of an upsetting story. At the same time as this, I'm also watching a show, explicitly marketed as a romance and that's just giving me nothing while this show's barely-there romance plot is so profoundly lovely.
I also want to add that the side characters are all so interesting and the more you watch them, they all reveal more of themselves and become more defined in a way that encourages you to care about some and just hope the others die in the most violent way possible... (Plot twist: the viewer becomes a zombie in the process of watching jerks do jerk-stuff!)
Lastly, the show does a great job of highlighting class divisions and social caste systems. I’ve come to notice that Kdramas are particularly good at telling stories about class and this show is another good example of it. There are so many detailed nods to it here and there and it was morbidly delicious to watch it all unfold.

Acting: Everyone did an amazing job in their roles. The show had clear main characters and those guys were awesome with Han Hyo Joon and Park Hyung Sik having some of the best chemistry I’ve seen all year but the show is also an ensemble affair so it matters that the supporting cast members are good in their roles as well. I think they achieved that for sure. This might seem like a super random shoutout but Hong Soon Chang was a delight in his role as the elderly neighbor. His character was not even particularly likable but his manner of speech and body language were just so natural and interesting that he felt like an actual person you can meet in real life. I really enjoyed his screen time.

Music and production: The music was very good. It helped elevate the emotions of that every moment without being too predictable The zombie attack theme was so heart-throbbing but also it wasn't just the same horror movie beat. The music also stopped in all the right places so as to add to the gravitas of certain moments. The production was also very good. It just looked very nice and cool and I don’t know, I liked it.

Rewatch: I don’t really rewatch so probably I won’t but at least I can acknowledge that the 12-episode run makes it accessible. I usually lose interest in kdramas around episode 12 of 16(Unless they have 20 episodes, then I’m fine!!!). That’s where I pause a lot of them, check out my on-hold list, lol. So, it was a great delight that this show ends right before I could get bored/irritated.

Negatives: Um, I saw some people nag that the show’s premise is not realistic and ask for a scientific explanation of the disease…sweetie, it’s a drama...about zombies!!! It’s not a scientific article! It’s all fake. Zombies are fake, sorry if that’s a shock so…don’t expect realistic science from it?! Idk, I can’t believe this has to be said. The characters do stupid things, they are mean and evil occasionally and bad stuff happens a lot and there’s probably a good amount of plot holes but none of it will really affect your enjoyment of it if you are inclined to like this. There’s also the matter of the ending. I already said this in a comment but this is a petri dish story. A bottle episode, if you will. The plot doesn’t care about the cure, it cares about the humans in that very specific, simulated situation and ends right after the situation is no longer held together. It might feel a bit like the ending is left open without a closure. So just prepare for that.

Overall: This is more like a long movie rather than a short show. It has the same beat and flow as a movie and it’s also just a very interesting story. I wanted to give it a lower rating, a 9 or a 9.5 but ultimately, I really did enjoy watching it. It does infuriate at certain points but that’s kind of the point. I think this show captured our very bizarre and traumatic times by creating an even more bizarre and traumatic allegory and I appreciated that. I also liked that, ultimately it had a heartwarming message. At one point in the story, one of the characters says that they won’t catch the disease because they haven’t done anything wrong, and that is very ironic in many, many different ways but it also brings up an interesting concept; that bad things should and will happen to bad people. Not necessarily. Not really. But it sure does feel good when you watch good people overcome bad things just because they are good.

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must watch !!

This is an another epic of Asian dramas. The cast crew was very awesome they made me to feel their character and really impressed by park hyung sik comeback after a long time. If I were there in the story I will really kill that doctor ahjusshi. The story was very addictive like I can't wait to watch next episodes. the concept is what we already watched in other zombie movies but till the end of the drama there were full of twist and turns that you will never think this would happen. 1st I started to watch happiness because this is park hyung sik's comeback after strong women do bong soo. he never made me feel disappointed in both of these dramas. han hyo joo's comeback was also really great after watching in W (the two world) she done her job as a female lead here super awesome well! she made me yto fell for her once again. I don't know what are others opinion but this is really worth to watch it. please don't miss it out

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came for phs and hhj, stayed for the show and everything else

Before I get into the review, this show isn't for people who get angered easily or are weak-hearted. With that out of the way, let's get into this so-called review (it's basically a mess lmao)

I started Happiness with absolutely no expectations. I absolutely hate horror and supernatural stuff, and it wasn't too scary for me. I basically just started watching for Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Joo since it had been a while since their last project. I naturally came to love this show so much, like A LOT. It's always gonna have a special place for me. Some things I loved: (keep in mind, these are just my opinions and I'd love to know what you think as well)
1. Our main leads' relationship: I loved their chemistry, the way they looked out for each other, everything. So even if it's just for the romance, go for it. You might love the story for what it is, like me.

2. The soundtrack: It was unique and I loved the music so much. My favourite is Isaac Hong's 'Pain'. I've been replaying it nonstop since it came out, I actually fell in love with it at first listen.

3. Some people seem to be having issues with how the female lead behaves but I don't agree, I feel like how she behaves is justified given that her main objective is to keep the people she loves safe.

4. A lot of people have a problem with the residents' behaviour and honestly yes, I agree. Although it was anger-inducing, it reflected reality, we see that a lot with the current pandemic situation.

Tbh, I'm not even sure how I should put out my thoughts into words. I probably missed out a lot of stuff, so my apologies.

In all seriousness, you're missing out if you don't watch this so I hope you atleast give it a chance.





*SPOILER ALERT*
For those wondering, it's a happy ending!

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What is happiness

Thisssss dramaaaa is definitely one of the best drama in 2021.....
If you're looking for thrill and a tiny bit romance then this drama is for you...
I have to say this Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Jo has the best chemistry everrrr...???
They look so adorable.. And I loved their moderate skinship...
Every episode was mind blowing .. Amount thrill they put I loved it ... I was so tensed about when who was infected....
Our leads didn't have much skinship but they gave me butterflies everytime ... ???
The warm hugs was really heart touching...
The kiss in last episode was bonus for us.....
No more about romance stuff ?
Let's talk about the villains....
A huge salute for those actor - actress for playing negative character...
They really made me hate them....
The acting was so real ...
They really did a great work ...
Oh Hyung ju ??? this character really made me so mad .. I really wanted to kick him ...
His acting was so good .. And 12th floor Ajumma too
How can I miss Andrew ... I won't talk about him .. Because there is a big spoiler ...
This drama remind me about COVID Quarantine ....
People really become so selfish in these situations..
As far I remember in my country during quarantine some people made their parents die in hunger ... Because they was infected.. So you can imagine that how selfish people are during these times ... And in this drama successfully portrayed that ...
Whatever let's not spoil our mood because these breasts...


This is a good drama ... If you're thinking about watching this drama then stop thinking just give a try
You won't be disappointed...☺️☺️☺️
This a full package....
I wish there was another season
Wait a minute there is a only one complaint about this drama that is 12 episode didn't fill my hunger ...
I thought this drama has 16 episode ....
When I realised that it has only 12 episode I was heartbroken ???
Well I wrote a lot about this drama ... I should stop writing because if I Keep writing it will become a essay ??

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Definitely not a typical kdrama & a must watch for thriller lovers.

This drama can actually hook you up. After sweet home I've never seen a drama like this where they question humanity "What it means to be human?" "Will you only think about yourself how to survive in this tough time and ignore others or will you think about people around you and help them to survive together?". Although I hate horror genre but this type of drama totally catch my eyes. It's not like ur typical horror drama. There's different people in a same apartment but their mentalities are different. Both the leads are trying their best to keep everyone safe as civil servants & struggling with explaining the situation to residents who aren't ready to understand anything. Thriller, emotional, horror, a pinch of romance, kind of slice of life, Humanity, little bit politics, family. You can find every genre in this drama. It's not like ur typical kdrama. Happiness deserved more hype. Undoubtedly one of the best drama of 2021 with the best cast. The plot was truly amazing. It was enough nerve wracking from episode 1-12. There wasn't a single boring or cringe moment. I feel bad for those who dropped it saying it is unrealistic. Sadly enough you can't find any drama more realistic than happiness in this situation. The way each & every character was portrayed, it didn't feel like any of the character was unnecessary. Sorry to say you just missed a masterpiece. Osts were also good. I'd definitely love to rewatch this.
#SaeHyun our best couple

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Okay I might be going a little to generous with the 10 rating but everything about this show was so amazing to me.
I wanted to watch this as it was airing but I knew I would drive myself nuts waiting for each episode every week. I know it took me a while to actually watch it when it was complete (don't ask why, I don't know. It just happened) lol
But once I started, I didn't want to move until it was complete. I devoured every second of this show and I thought I would know the outcome because lets face it... zombie movies and shows are pretty cut and dry when it comes to how it happens and how it ends.
Happiness took zombies to a whole new level and made them incredibly unique, which blew my mind completely. All through this show I really thought I knew where it was going only to be shocked. I mean come on, the government is never trustworthy in these shows and what happened there ... I didn't expect it. Lol but it was amazing none the less.

I still can't get over how different this show was. I mean don't get me wrong, the drama among humans were still there (as to be expected) -- I sometimes feel like the real enemies are the people. Lol usually never goes well in that area, least when "rich/power" people are involved.

I'm SO freaking glad they has Isaac Hong on this soundtrack!! I swear if he or The Vane are on the soundtrack of a show, it is guarantee for me that it will be a show that will be a roller-coaster but such a AMAZING hit that I won't be able to shut up about it for years. (I mean, I still talk about Strangers From Hell if that gives any idea how much of a fan I am. Lol) I haven't seen a show I didn't like when they were on the soundtrack. (dear life, that is not a challenge. Please don't pass me a show I will hate lol)

The actors all did a amazing job and I can't tell you how many times I wanted to reach through and slap so many of the characters. Lol Not to mention, a lot of times I forgot this was even a show, it felt like I was right there. They're all so talented and whoever casted them needs a raise because I doubt anyone could have played them better. Don't get me wrong, I hated 90% of the characters lol but lets face it, they were meant to be disliked. XD

I wish I could forget I watched this just so I can rewatch it again and experience everything like new again. I will settle for rewatching this at least 5 more times. Haha

If you have been eyeing this show curious if you should watch it, YOU SHOULD!!! This is your sign! Watch it nowwww!

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Absolutely amazing, totally worth it.

Plot - the plot is written with some very tiny loopholes but its interesting enough to keep you engrossed into the drama. Starting from the post covid era to a sudden outbreak that could not be contained within the building, they make a lot of parallels with covid and this virus. Even though both are different in many ways, human survival instincts acts up in both cases.

Characters - you could see how humane they were. (except for the occasional psychos.) but yes, no matter how annoying you found they residents, each and every one of them were humans who got desperate and went crazy when the situation turn to kill or die.
We had characters of all sorts living with all sorts of people. The infected themselves being made to feel human and giving them time to regain their humanity to the point that by the end we were left with infected people who could control their thrist very well.

Main Characters - Both of them. I love Them. Where Sae beom hestitated, Yi Hyun backed her up and vice-versa. No lovey dovey in the middle of crisis like bloodbath and theyre kissing, no. They kept their cool, they found ways out.
I also love how Yi Hyun gets infected at the end and we see him struggling, how even though he could control himself, he let himself bite the villain AND threw up the blood right after.

A Scene I Will Forever Remember - When Yi Hyun smears blood on Oh Ju Hyung's face and watches him scream. It was real. The most realistic expression of desperation.
Say during covid - when people were going out without masks, it made me crazy. It made me crazy that people i know were dying, were struggling and they had no remorse walking around. I wanted them to feel what I was feeling.

All in all, Genius. Amazing. Probably one of the best potrayals.

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A post-covid blood sucking zombie survival drama called Happiness? Yes, Please.

"Happiness" seems like an odd title choice for a drama about blood-sucking zombies but it actually makes perfect sense. Like most popular zombie/plague/monster invasion stories this drama is less about actual zombies and more about human nature and survival instincts. The concept seems pretty far-fetched when you read it but the way it plays out is pretty realistic. Since we can all relate to how out of nowhere this covid pandemic felt, the randomness of "madman rabies" seems pretty legit and timely. I don't like to add too many spoilers, but I think anyone watching should know at least the basics of what they are getting into. If you're a fan of movies like "Train to Busan" or "The Mist" then you will probably love a lot of things about "Happiness". The story can be a little cliché at times, and more eerie than scary, but what I enjoyed most were the characters, especially the main leads Han Hyo Jo and Park Hyung Sik.

First, I have to applaud Han Hyo Jo as Yoon Sae Bom. If you are looking for a drama with a strong bad@ss female lead you found it and she will not disappoint. Sae Bom is impulsive and hilariously reckless, but her bravery, loyalty, and smarts make her the clear hero of this story. She is matched with Park Hyung Sik as Jung Yi Hyun, who is an equally brave and impressive hero, but it's clear from the beginning his first thought is always the safety of Sae Bom his "lifesaver". Some may wonder if this drama is at all a romance. I would say yes, but not in the way you may expect. These leads have amazing chemistry throughout, from the very beginning, but there are no cutesy moments that distract too much from the main story. Instead, it just adds more depth to their friendship, and higher stakes to what motivates them as a team. Seeing even the small ways they cared for each other made me care even more about them.

The rest of the cast is filled with many over-the-top and duplicitous characters. They are hilarious, and frustrating, and reflect the good and bad in all of us, sometimes to the extreme. I know that everyone would like to think that in a situation like this they would be considerate, responsible, brave, empathetic, and heroic but stories like this reflect what we may not always want to admit, how selfish, greedy, fear-driven, and irrational we all have the capability of being when it comes to our own survival and happiness. Good people may make bad choices. Bad people may save lives. This is what makes this drama fun to watch and hard to predict. You can't always tell what the characters will do or read their true intentions. There are a few clear villains that are fun to hate, but I think almost every character (besides cute Seo Yoon) did something that made me want to yell at them through the screen at some point.

Would I watch this again? Definitely. The story would probably be less exciting the second time around, and some parts of the plot are messy and choppy, but I think it's a great survival thriller with a great, although slightly heavy-handed message about happiness and what makes life worth living. It's also a great bingle length. I was a little sad when it was all over but at the same time, 12 episodes felt like the perfect length. I also appreciated the ending even if it felt rushed.

It's worth mentioning that the soundtrack is really great and compliments the various moods in the plot well.

Overall, this drama surprised me. I wouldn't call it my favorite drama of the year or even add it to my own favorites list but I understand why it's so popular. It's the perfect drama for these quarantine times. It's not too scary, and it leaves you with the perfect amount of schadenfreude reminding us that things could always be waaaaaaay worse. It also humanizes the crazy zombie transformation which made me overlook the cheesy makeup and instead see how we sometimes villainize and ostracize sick/infected people instead of helping and supporting them. "Happiness" also doesn't go too far with gory violence. It's pretty tame, besides lots blood, scary sounds, and some jump scares. It's the perfect balance of genres for a broad audience without being too frightening, too romantic, too melodramatic, or too silly yet I laughed, jumped, felt butterflies, and even teared up at least once. I'm sure this drama will definitely make people think twice about who their neighbors are. It certainly makes me very suspicious of too many empty water bottles... o.O... The premise isn't very original, but it's still effective. Maybe it's time to watch "Sweet Home" next? I never thought of myself as a huge fan of this style of drama but this one left me thirsty for more... in a good way. ; )

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A must watch!!

I normally don’t write reviews , but I need to tell you all, this is an amazing drama. There is a bit of everything in it. Romance, drama, thriller, horror etc. It’s not to much, just a bit of everything and that combined with great leads makes it enjoyable to watch it. I never felt bored watching it and didn’t skip anything. In my young life I have watched a lot like really a lot kdrama and this one will absolutely be somewhere on the top of my list. I just liked everything from the beginning to the end and still hate some characters but that just means the actors and actresses did a great job portraying their character. If you are considering to watch or not watch, I recommend to just go for it. You won’t be disappointed, I guarantee. Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Ps. Sorry for my bad English but just needed the world to know this master piece :)))

I know there are greater dramas out there but for me it’s seldom to find a really enjoyable drama where I didn’t skip the boring ‘political’ or scenes where the main leads aren’t in it.

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