This review may contain spoilers
Observations and notes rather than the standard form
Lots of reviews already thoroughly giving “Happiness” the attention it duly deserves. So rather than rehash the same, simply going to offer a few observations in note form:-Lee Kyu Hyung has guest or support roles in “Hospital Playlist 2”, “Happiness” and “Racket Boys” which is a phenomenal trio of shows to be part of in a single year.
-”Happiness” begins with Yi Hyun inconsolable over the end of his baseball future because of a serious leg injury that meant he couldn’t run. In later episodes, however, we see him sprinting across the complex yard followed by a leap on top of Tae Seok’s SUV. In another episode, he and Sae Bom are running through the parking garage. It’s a decent-sized plot hole. Hypothetically, however, Yi Hyun recovered enough to play again but had already decided to follow Sae Bom into police work.
-Ahn Gil Ho was quietly very clever in his direction. In episode one, the world is totally wide open. The show bounces from one setting to another across what appears to be significant distances. As things start to go wrong, first the setting gets constricted down to the apartment complex. Then our main characters can only barely leave their building. Then quietly, as the episodes tick off, the show features fewer shots outside the building. In almost every episode, there is a scene where the two leads are on the patio or the roof, but with each episode until the conclusion, it gets shorter and shorter. Along with the deaths among the residents and the multiple episode absence of characters like Ji Seong Sil and Kim Hak Je, this ratchets up the claustrophobic vibe slowly but steadily.
-Chemistry is oft-discussed but is really such a difficult and subjective element to evaluate. In theory, two competent actors should simply be able to do their job well without the need for some special personal harmony between them to convince the audience that they have strong feelings for each other. Despite the likelihood that chemistry as commonly used is an illusion convincingly created by very skilled professionals, Park Hyung Sik is inconceivably natural in his on-screen pairings.
-The most challenging role and the best performance, however, was Bae Hae Seon’s building representative. Was she a likable character? That’s a big NO. But that doesn’t mean the actor wasn’t crushing it.
-Tremendous OST work by Joe Layne.
-The last minute fakeout reveal that has been featured way too often this fall (big culprits - they didn’t break up in “Dali and the Cocky Prince”, Hyun Jo didn’t die in “Jirisan” and same with Yi Hyun here) can stop. Immediately. Please give viewers a proper closure by expositing how these things came to be rather than just a cheap “FOOLED YOU! HAHA” gimmick.
-On that note, in general, the second half of the last episode felt rushed. The resolution to the discovery of a serial killer in their midst could have had a longer, slower, bigger buildup and bigger confrontation. Sixteen episodes would have been too much, but “Happiness” could have been easily stretched to fourteen. The bitcoin subplot could have been resolved more clearly. What exactly went down with Tae Seok’s plan? Lots of other fertile ground was there with supporting characters for extended content.
-Baek Hyun Jin played a series of bad guys this year: Chairman Park Yang Jin in “Taxi Driver”, President Heo Jung Se in “The Devil Judge” and Oh Joo Young in “Happiness”. He’s a fabulous creep and it’s difficult to choose which of these characters was the most loathsome. All of them are so colorfully horrible. But it’s Chairman Park by a hair over Dr. Oh.
-The summation: ”Happiness” is an incredible show and should be on every short list of candidates for best drama of 2021. It’s not this reviewer’s top choice, but only by the narrowest of margins.
Was this review helpful to you?
Nice to try if you're curious but lower your expectations
Honestly it has a great story in general, and a great premise at first but as the episodes going there's some missing flow in between the plot and especially nearing the end that's very unfortunately making it missing some points for me. Plus overused storyline from some of the residents that I just ended up skipping a lot towards the end. Overall good enough for me to keep watching till the end yet I don't think will be exciting enough to re-watch later on. And don't expect any romance I honestly don't feel anything for the couple rather just a sense of loyalty and compassion or at minimum infatuation that even though I was told they're just friends or co-workers or siblings I would believe it. Though this is out of their actual real life interaction which was cute but not seen on the screen as much as I seem to see people saw it.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
I really love the HAPPINESS couple because this is the first time KOREAN do a zombie drama and happy ending at that. I really love it. About those two care about each other especially JUNG YI HYUN (PARK HYUNG SIK) toward YOON SAE BOM (HAN HYO JOO). And this drama is so fun and romantic to watch. I think HAPPINESS should have Season 2 and make it more romantic. I don't if others think differently but i think these happiness couple are the best chemistry couple I've seen. It's a pity that it is only 12 episodes. It's okay. Dear Director, please make a drama stars PARK HYUNG SIK and HAN HYO JOO. That is all.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Happiness makes you feel both happy and frustrated, enjoyed it! Hope you will too.
I was infatuated with this drama from the beginning, especially because of the main lead actors and it’s interesting storyline. Here below are my main thoughts:1. I expected the series to be slightly different and unique in comparison to other apocalyptic works. And my goodness it was.
2. The dynamic between the characters was very well put together, and the chemistry between the leads was amazing. But, the contrast between the scenes( when one scene ends and it goes to another scene) was a bit different from what I’m used to, it was kind of shocking every now and then.
3. The drama does not shy away from the dark reality of some people in the world and shows that often the most unexpected surprises can arise from a new environment and the people that live around you.
4. I was on the edge of my seat for most episodes, in the beginning the episodes had a slow pace , towards the end : faster and more suspenseful. However, the ending was rather sudden and seemed cut down and short. While I can see why they did that, considering the style of the series, it left a rushed feeling in me afterwards and I wished they could’ve expanded it a bit more.
5. The title seemed like an appropriate description of the goal of the main leads. All they wanted was to find their happiness and especially towards the end they fought for it. And helped others find their happiness as well. (SPOILER)
6. It holds a warm place in my heart and (SPOILER) I was happy that the series ended happily for most characters that mattered to me. The last episodes made me think that it might not end happily after all, and that the title would’ve had an ironic meaning.
Long story short: I would recommend Happiness to you. Yes, you might become frustrated with some of the characters, and shocked with some of the scenes or revelations that come up very sudden. But, it’s slice of life moments and heart warming scenes. The badass lead characters and loving relationships, makes it all an experience worth the time. The music I came to like on the way, but it was some getting used to.
I came to this at first because of the main male lead actor and, I was on a zombie- binge- watch for weeks(mind me, this was not the first time ever that I was actually watching zombie series, but I was intrigued with this for a short while.) (SPOILER): Interesting fact: the zombies in Happiness were different from most portrayed in other series and movies. These zombies had stages, where the virus infected them slowly, and suddenly they could get outbursts, but ussually they seemed normal despite the sick look in their faces. But they could still think and talk and “act” normally. The person was still inside. Which was interesting and a bit creepy. It showed a unique perspective of the infected and humans, sometimes the humans acted worse. (SPOILER END). This series is my favorite zombie-apocalypse drama until now, with Kingdom next. I don’t need a season 2, but a PREQUEL expanding on the lead characters past and how their experiences were before (what made them to be how they are), would be great. It was one of the few things I missed in this drama, a more in depth background of the lead characters, where they came from and how they came to be such strong characters. A more extensive ending I would greatly appreciate. This was my review, thank you for taking the time to read and hopefully you had a use for it.
Was this review helpful to you?
What a drama mind blowing
At first i thought it was only a zombie apolacypse drama but after watching 3 episodes its also saying about our current life the chemistry between actors is very good but i gotta say it cannnot included in a type of violence drama but its acting is incredible but the people in apartment is the best they all play like its thier role i liked this drama very much and i guess it will have a sad ending park hyung sik is gonna die i think but overall its a good drama in the month november to december its ranking is now 41Was this review helpful to you?
Was this review helpful to you?
The title isn't misleading, just wait for it.
In simple words, I used to be scared of zombies. I couldn't bear the sight of them and skipped on dramas like Sweet Home because of it. About when the fourth episode was airing, I decided to give this a try because of the main leads. I stayed because of the storyline, production, visual, ost, and everything. This is one of the best dramas of 2021, the chemistry between the cast was off the chart, and it made me realize how the real monsters are humans, not the infected. If you guys want an eye-opener about how kind and selfish humans can be, please check out this drama. Thank you for reading.Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
A must watch!!
Before starting this drama, I kept pushing it off because the story was not my type. I thought that it's just a zombie story and I am not interested in such dramas. However, this one is intriguingly amazing drama. If you watch episode 1, you want be able to drop it easily.First, the chemistry between the leads and their acting is so natural that you will fall in love with their charm and hyun joo's sassiness.
Secondly, it's not simply zombie story. It's about an infectious disease and the mystery behind it. Since we all experienced covid, we can somewhat relate to the methods. It's so thrilling to watch that a romance sucker like me cannot leave this drama. Also, park hyun sik and hyun joo's chemistry is making this drama even better.
Was this review helpful to you?
Han hyo joo should stick to modelling
I was really waiting for park hyungsik Nd his return to the drama world. I really waitdd for happiness drama. And i was very excited when it got on air. But first episode was bearable. Though alot of cringe for me. Forced dramatic scene but ok i watched it. But then again at second episode whats up with this lady seabom. First her eyes are weird there is something wrong with them. Even in one bts phs was also making fun of her eye expressions. Plus she is walking like a tom boy. Her character is also extremely annoying. She is making bad decisions . And why does this drama si thriller it should be disney story. People got scratched turned into zombie and then magic potion got them fine.. ahhh such a poor written drama.. what kind of people liked it lolWas this review helpful to you?
Nem tão feliz assim
Tenho novamente que ir contra a multidão, pois esse drama não me deixou nada feliz em assisti-lo . A premissa era boa porém a execução foi longe de ser. Os episódios eram lentos e decepcionantes, por mais que os episódios passassem nada importante realmente acontecia, o tempo foi mau utilizado, o que foi uma pena pois poderiam utiliza-lo para o desenvolvimento de seus personagens.Falando em personagens, como eram desagradáveis , eram inúteis, não contribuíam em nada para história, impossível simpatizar com eles ,ou eram idiotas ou instáveis ou maldosos ou os três , eram irritantes. torci varias vezes para o exercito soltar uma bomba ali .
Tinha tanta situações irreais ali que é zombar da minha inteligência, é muita ponta solta . Aquele ato da protagonista entrando no contêiner, imobilizando os zumbis com uma força descomunal sem ser ferida é sul real demais para mim.
Os protagonistas atuaram bem porem seus personagens não me convenceram, achei a protagonista feminina bem imprudente e chata as vezes. O protagonista masculino faltou um pouquinho de personalidade e independência emocional, achei aquele amor dele forçado demais.
Em fim não gostei, achei bem chato, foi terrivelmente cansativo assistir os 12 episódios. A minha real felicidade foi no momento que acabou.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
La dupla protagónica pide a gritos una comedia romántica
Bueno........ como empezar una reseña de un drama que se perfilaba como uno de mis favoritos del año y me dejo un sabor agridulce al final sin que suene como un hater??En líneas generales el drama cumple con todo lo propuesto, la historia esta bien guionada porque la enfermedad no sale de la nada y mal explicada sino que toman un contexto real (fantástico pero real) y lo llevan a una situación limite. La química de la pareja protagonista es preciosa de principio a fin y los personajes de reparto cumplen todos con su rol en lo que una situación como la del encierro produciría en la gente.
Los puntos mas fuertes del drama (para mi) son la química de los protagonistas y a la par o tal vez un poco más, los actores de reparto y seamos honestos quien no pensó en matar a varios de ese grupo en el trayecto del drama??? por momentos el problema no era estar encerrados con una pandemia nacional afuera sino que estar encerrado con esas personas cada vez menos humanas.
(SPOILERS)
Los puntos negativos de este drama creo que son más personales que claros pero no creo estar tan alejado de una opinión objetiva, primero que nada, es la vía que tomo el drama de no cargarse a ningún personaje principal osea cuanto más fuerte habría sido el final si terminara en el 11 con la muerte de park hyun sik? Estamos rodeados de personas cada vez menos humanas, con varios infectados afuera y un gobierno al borde de abandonarlos y un loco asesino entre ellos pero nadie muere, este me parece un error gravísimo y que para mi le costo seriedad a toda la situación critica que vivieron.
Otro punto serian los antagonistas que venían a pasear y como llegaban se iban, con estos me refiero al hombre rico que mordió a la esposa del teniente coronel han que parecía ser un personaje pesado pero no lo fue y al asesino "andrew" personaje que mostro la cara 15 minutos en 12 capítulos y que en realidad no aporto con sus asesinatos porque para que fueran relevantes tuvieron que intervenir la representante del complejo y el oh joo hyung.
El punto final es completamente personal y es que el ultimo capitulo fue un completo relleno solo para mostrar que la pareja tuvo su final feliz y todo pudo volver a la normalidad.
Como dije en líneas generales el drama es bueno y cae al final pero no deja de ser lindo, se los recomiendo muchísimo en caso de que gusten los dramas de zombies
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Eu amei esse drama, o jeito que foi mostrado a relação entre a Sae Bom e o Yi Hyun crescendo e se tornando em amor é muito linda. Sério, eu amei a personalidade da Sae Bom de ser essa mulher forte e decidida, cara ela é incrível 🫶🏼. Apesar do drama se passar totalmente nos apartamentos e no laboratório do Sr. Han Tae-Seok, ele me prendeu em todos os episódios e eu sempre ficava ansiosa para o que iria acontecer na cena seguinte. Fiquei feliz e satisfeita que todos aqueles desgraçados dos moradores vão pagar por tudo que cometeram, mas por outro lado fiquei triste por que queria mais detalhes do final deles, principalmente da Bo-Ram, da Na Hyun e seu irmão Soo-min que também possuía os anticorpos para a doença. Ah e o casal de velhinhos com aquele idiota do filho deles, eu queria saber como eles ficaram depois, meio que dá para imaginar, porém eu queria que tivesse pelo menos uma cena mostrando por cima a atualidade deles. Enfim, dêem muito amor para Happiness porque esse drama é simplesmente incrível! Was this review helpful to you?
