"Happiness" (해피니스) KDRAMA (Updated with my Spoiler Impressions of Ep 1+2)
Admittedly, I was first thrown off by the show's title: "Happiness", which on first glance seemed a whole more "positive" than I had been looking for in my current watches ... then seeing the trailer had me confused as to what I was seeing versus what my impressed of the title had been.
THEN I watched the first episode on tv today (randomly was sitting down when it aired), and I came away wanting to see more!
Brand new South Korean Drama titled "Happiness" ("해피니스"), is a 12-episoder directed Ahn Gil-Ho (Record of Youth, Memories of the Alhambra, Stranger), who reunites with his writer for 2019's "Watcher", Han Sang-Woon.
Scheduled for a Friday & Saturday (22:40) broadcast on tvN, TVING, the first episode aired November 5 (taking over the time slot previously occupied by "Yumi's Cells"), premieres November 6 on iQiyi.com (International streaming).
I am typing this blogpost based on my watch-experience of the first episode, and have a feeling my perceptions might either be broadened or proven right upon the second episode :p
The main cast includes Han Hyo-Joo (gosh I like her already from the first episode), Park Hyung-Sik (this is his first acting role since he was discharged from the military on January 4, 2021), and Jo Woo-Jin.
We see all three above mentioned actors appear and interact in the first episode, and along with the script and (English translated) dialog, has "convinced" of my decision to invest my time and energy to watch this LOL
As for how to "describe" this series...
IMDb (screen-grabbed cast via) has it described as "An apocalyptic thriller that takes place in a time in which infectious diseases have become the new normal."
AsiaWiki's synopsis delves a bit deeper: "Set in the near future, a high-rise apartment building has been newly constructed in the big city. The apartment building has residents from diverse backgrounds, but a new infectious disease breaks out. Because of the outbreak, the high-rise apartment is sealed off. The residents struggle to survive, while stricken with fear and distrust of others."
PREVIEW if not SPOILERS for subsequent episodes...
Featured above is a video featuring scenes from Ep 1 and beyond... The visuals has me reminded of "SWEET HOME" Netflix series, and "ALIVE" feature film (Now watchable on Netflix) - which references a mixed assorted of folks navigating (not a wholly original concept but works for me, one recent ensemble being seen in "VINCENZO", different genre, I know, I know... :p), and surviving being in a single location against monsters (Sweet Home), and as well attempting to survive with their own high-rise apartments while a zombie infection devours everyone else (Alive). I am all for this LOL
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UPDATED: My Impressions of Ep.1 & Ep.2. And while I'll try my best NOT to spoil anything (I fail miserably), the video clips posted here are SPOILERS :p
Episode One essentially introduces the protagonists with a flashback from their school days, and fast forwarding to their adult lives, where both work as law enforcement personal. "Jung Yi-Hyun" (Park Hyung-Sik) is a detective, while "Yoon Sae-Bom" (Han Hyo-Joo) works in counter-terrorism.
Seemingly separate incidences at work for both parties happens, and their investigation crosses each other. That's the one thing I appreciate at this series so far, that communications are open, regardless of departments (or maybe it's because they are friends outside of work :p).
Essentially a pill is the cause of zombie-like symptoms for folks who ingest said pill(s). The pill was mentioned to be a rejected treatment for COVID, and subsequently "pneumonia" is the malady that it is supposed to treat. But that is not the case, and there is a active containment of folks who had both ingested said pills, or come in blood-contact with victims - who would exhibit zombie-like actions. Exposition sorted in Episode One.
FYI: The variety of zombies shown in this series, are the FAST kind, where days of lurking undead are but a faded past, now your cardio is tested LOL
Sae-Bom is scratched and she goes get tested, and is cleared(ish). Her partner gets scratched and essentially does foolish things to get himself into deep shit, as the last frames of Episode 2 showed.
By the end of Episode One, Sae-Bom is cleared to return to civilisation (that already is sus), and she takes the opportunity to get an apartment, offers to marry Yi-Hyun (they were not together before this, but remained in friendzone), which was one of the main requirements to be able to secure the apartment, and by Episode Two, they move in together, and where the synopsis of the show (featured here) would proceed forth with.
Loved how the above scene played out :)
The parallel between the zombie outbreak and COVID is distinctively similar, deliberately so, without a doubt, which frankly brings a twisted "familiar situation" and relatability to the story. I wonder how this will all play out: "Zombies in a COVID panedemic"...?
As well the story happens during the COVID-era, which they do not shy from, but instead showcase directly, like needing to disinfect/clean hands at a mobile station set-up, before even heading into the crime scene itself, and constant (fleetingly veiled) mentions of the pandemic, be it as a joke or reference to way of life.
There is also a scene where Sae-Bom enters a lift in the apartment with another person, when said person passes her a facemask and encourages her to wear it at all times. You see her removing said mask in the subsequent scene when she reaches "home"...
Another aspect (which I mentioned above), are the characters "communicating" - which is essentially sharing information, without too much veiled secrecy (of course there is lah, but), and pretty straight-forward in situations as well - words and situations that has often plagued KDramas which we've felt that if characters told each other about what's happening, things would be solved, resolved or understood LOL ... it's not a kdrama is there is no "misunderstanding", right? So it is pretty refreshing here in "Happiness", where we are instead made to focus our attention on solving the problems in front of us. Somewhat like "Solve the problem, pinpointing the fault won't solve the problem", maybe? Or maybe it's all in my mind hahahaha
"Han Tae-Seok" (Jo Woo-Jin) as a lieutenant colonel working for the health service command, is a refreshing take on what would usually be the sos-person-in-charge-of-not-telling-you-anything, but here in "Happiness", there is no such thing as "TMI" hahahaha and according to show synopsis; "He holds a key on the infectious disease outbreak." So he is either the big bad, or an ally, and looks to be the latter, at least in the first 2 episodes.
The main protagonists are clever (cleverer than the usual fictional characters caiught in unknown situations lol), and are also quick to catch on and access the situations, which certianly grabs at my attention! Will this series exceed my expectations of what "a typical kdrama is"? I aim to find out :)
And while I am unsure of I like where the story is heading, I like how the characters present themselves and their stories unfold. Of course watching it in original South Korean language and my understanding is dictated by English subtitles (there is a fair bit of talking too), I would not comment on "script", beyond I am enjoying their interactions this far, and quite frankly is the key for my enjoying the series, at least for the first 2 episodes.
Cheers,
Andy TOYSREVIL
GET TO KNOW THE CHARACTERS:
THEN I watched the first episode on tv today (randomly was sitting down when it aired), and I came away wanting to see more!
Watching 1st ep of #Happiness #ldrama and I’m already liking what I see. Girl lay filmed during the pandemic, incorporating the real world into the reel world. pic.twitter.com/BTVp1BdJ7X
— toysrevil (@toysrevil) November 7, 2021
Brand new South Korean Drama titled "Happiness" ("해피니스"), is a 12-episoder directed Ahn Gil-Ho (Record of Youth, Memories of the Alhambra, Stranger), who reunites with his writer for 2019's "Watcher", Han Sang-Woon.
Scheduled for a Friday & Saturday (22:40) broadcast on tvN, TVING, the first episode aired November 5 (taking over the time slot previously occupied by "Yumi's Cells"), premieres November 6 on iQiyi.com (International streaming).
I am typing this blogpost based on my watch-experience of the first episode, and have a feeling my perceptions might either be broadened or proven right upon the second episode :p
The main cast includes Han Hyo-Joo (gosh I like her already from the first episode), Park Hyung-Sik (this is his first acting role since he was discharged from the military on January 4, 2021), and Jo Woo-Jin.
We see all three above mentioned actors appear and interact in the first episode, and along with the script and (English translated) dialog, has "convinced" of my decision to invest my time and energy to watch this LOL
As for how to "describe" this series...
“Infection”… “exhibiting zombie-like symptoms” … a distinct parallel to the worldwide pandemic, non-evasive dialogue which makes it even more intriguing … #Happiness #kdrama’ll be a watcher for me :)#iliketeevee#popcornx pic.twitter.com/iYhBTe7NRc
— toysrevil (@toysrevil) November 7, 2021
IMDb (screen-grabbed cast via) has it described as "An apocalyptic thriller that takes place in a time in which infectious diseases have become the new normal."
AsiaWiki's synopsis delves a bit deeper: "Set in the near future, a high-rise apartment building has been newly constructed in the big city. The apartment building has residents from diverse backgrounds, but a new infectious disease breaks out. Because of the outbreak, the high-rise apartment is sealed off. The residents struggle to survive, while stricken with fear and distrust of others."
PREVIEW if not SPOILERS for subsequent episodes...
Featured above is a video featuring scenes from Ep 1 and beyond... The visuals has me reminded of "SWEET HOME" Netflix series, and "ALIVE" feature film (Now watchable on Netflix) - which references a mixed assorted of folks navigating (not a wholly original concept but works for me, one recent ensemble being seen in "VINCENZO", different genre, I know, I know... :p), and surviving being in a single location against monsters (Sweet Home), and as well attempting to survive with their own high-rise apartments while a zombie infection devours everyone else (Alive). I am all for this LOL
UPDATED: My Impressions of Ep.1 & Ep.2. And while I'll try my best NOT to spoil anything (I fail miserably), the video clips posted here are SPOILERS :p
Episode One essentially introduces the protagonists with a flashback from their school days, and fast forwarding to their adult lives, where both work as law enforcement personal. "Jung Yi-Hyun" (Park Hyung-Sik) is a detective, while "Yoon Sae-Bom" (Han Hyo-Joo) works in counter-terrorism.
Seemingly separate incidences at work for both parties happens, and their investigation crosses each other. That's the one thing I appreciate at this series so far, that communications are open, regardless of departments (or maybe it's because they are friends outside of work :p).
Essentially a pill is the cause of zombie-like symptoms for folks who ingest said pill(s). The pill was mentioned to be a rejected treatment for COVID, and subsequently "pneumonia" is the malady that it is supposed to treat. But that is not the case, and there is a active containment of folks who had both ingested said pills, or come in blood-contact with victims - who would exhibit zombie-like actions. Exposition sorted in Episode One.
FYI: The variety of zombies shown in this series, are the FAST kind, where days of lurking undead are but a faded past, now your cardio is tested LOL
Sae-Bom is scratched and she goes get tested, and is cleared(ish). Her partner gets scratched and essentially does foolish things to get himself into deep shit, as the last frames of Episode 2 showed.
[211110 #해피니스 update]
— HYOSUN 🌝 (@hyojoohasun) November 10, 2021
tvN released the unreleased making behinds of Happiness on YouTube!#Happiness
#HanHyojoo #ParkHyungsik pic.twitter.com/bw74nqD450
By the end of Episode One, Sae-Bom is cleared to return to civilisation (that already is sus), and she takes the opportunity to get an apartment, offers to marry Yi-Hyun (they were not together before this, but remained in friendzone), which was one of the main requirements to be able to secure the apartment, and by Episode Two, they move in together, and where the synopsis of the show (featured here) would proceed forth with.
Loved how the above scene played out :)
The parallel between the zombie outbreak and COVID is distinctively similar, deliberately so, without a doubt, which frankly brings a twisted "familiar situation" and relatability to the story. I wonder how this will all play out: "Zombies in a COVID panedemic"...?
As well the story happens during the COVID-era, which they do not shy from, but instead showcase directly, like needing to disinfect/clean hands at a mobile station set-up, before even heading into the crime scene itself, and constant (fleetingly veiled) mentions of the pandemic, be it as a joke or reference to way of life.
There is also a scene where Sae-Bom enters a lift in the apartment with another person, when said person passes her a facemask and encourages her to wear it at all times. You see her removing said mask in the subsequent scene when she reaches "home"...
Another aspect (which I mentioned above), are the characters "communicating" - which is essentially sharing information, without too much veiled secrecy (of course there is lah, but), and pretty straight-forward in situations as well - words and situations that has often plagued KDramas which we've felt that if characters told each other about what's happening, things would be solved, resolved or understood LOL ... it's not a kdrama is there is no "misunderstanding", right? So it is pretty refreshing here in "Happiness", where we are instead made to focus our attention on solving the problems in front of us. Somewhat like "Solve the problem, pinpointing the fault won't solve the problem", maybe? Or maybe it's all in my mind hahahaha
"Han Tae-Seok" (Jo Woo-Jin) as a lieutenant colonel working for the health service command, is a refreshing take on what would usually be the sos-person-in-charge-of-not-telling-you-anything, but here in "Happiness", there is no such thing as "TMI" hahahaha and according to show synopsis; "He holds a key on the infectious disease outbreak." So he is either the big bad, or an ally, and looks to be the latter, at least in the first 2 episodes.
The main protagonists are clever (cleverer than the usual fictional characters caiught in unknown situations lol), and are also quick to catch on and access the situations, which certianly grabs at my attention! Will this series exceed my expectations of what "a typical kdrama is"? I aim to find out :)
And while I am unsure of I like where the story is heading, I like how the characters present themselves and their stories unfold. Of course watching it in original South Korean language and my understanding is dictated by English subtitles (there is a fair bit of talking too), I would not comment on "script", beyond I am enjoying their interactions this far, and quite frankly is the key for my enjoying the series, at least for the first 2 episodes.
Cheers,
Andy TOYSREVIL
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