The Principals of HAPPINESS (해피니스) KDRAMA
DO KNOW THAT EVERYTHING IN THIS BLOGPOST MOVING FORWARD WILL BE SPOILERS...!
This blog-feature took longer than expected, and with the final two episodes of South Korean Drama "HAPPINESS" ends this coming weekend (I am genuinely sad to see this go though) with Episodes 11 and 12, here is a look at the three principals of "해피니스"...!
Han Hyo-Joo (born February 22, 1987) and her filmography consists of both feature film and television projects (starting 2006 til now), two memorable roles linger at the back of my mind: "Lee Yoon-hee" in 2018's "Illang: The Wolf Brigade" (life-action adaptation of Japanese anime film "Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade") above video starting 3:30mark ... and Hyo-Joo's Hollywood debut in 2019's "Treadstone" television series, based on Universal's "Bourne" franchise (Matt Damon's "Jason Bourne" to you), in which she played piano teacher "Soyun Park", who was a sleeper (killer) agent. Seen below (in these SPOILER clips), she is no stranger to "action" as well.
The series was created by Tim Kring ("Heroes"), who is also the executive producer. Alas, in May 2020, the series was canceled after one season (10 episodes). Watch Season 1 on Amazon.
BUY ON AMAZON:
In 2021's HAPPINESS, Han Hyo-Joo plays "Yoon Sae-Bom": "A member of a Special Operation Unit police squad (KP-SOU) formerly known as KP-SWAT. She is decisive, determined, smart, and does not easily get rattled. She is excited to move into her new apartment, but as soon as moves there she faces a crisis." (Wikipedia).
IN the series, "Sae-Bom" walks straight into danger without hesitation, which constantly leaves me anxious for her, and for what'll happen to her. Sae-Bom ACTS first, and REACTS later, and if not for her being the lead actress, she'd be the first person that be killed and devoured LOL
Watching the promotional videos and remembering her role in "Happiness", there is not exactly a huge range of emotions for her to showcase (IMHO), and she feels like she is just being "herself" which works for me hahahaha ... #SPOILER: If you don't know by now, as of Ep10, Sae-Bom has tested positive for possessing the anti-body for the "Madness Disease", so her well being and no doubt her "happiness" will be at stake in the last two episodes this weekend!!!
The next television/streaming show she'll be involved in, is the 20-episoder "Moving" (for Disney+ / 2022) as "Lee Mi-Yeon".
You can find out more about her on asianwiki.com, Wikipedia and her Instagram @hanhyojoo222, with select embeds seen below via.
Park Hyung-Sik (born November 16, 1991) is known mononymously as Hyungsik, and is a member of K-pop group "ZE:A" (OF COURSE I'll have an MV for y'all! Featured above is "Breathe" from 2014), and has a decently filmography of cameo appearances starting 2010, and subsequent memorable works with 2013's "The Heirs", 2017's "Strong Girl Bong-soon" and 2018's "Suits".
Park Hyung-Sik enlisted in the South Korean military on June 10, 2019 and was discharged on January 4, 2021.
In "Happiness", Park Hyung-Sik plays "Detective Jung Yi-Hyun", "Sae-Bom's husband", and without a shred of doubt, he loved her since and still do. I adore that he is playing the protector, but without being the alpha. The choices he makes and response in the series are well written and pausible, although his jealous-reaction is sometimes bewildering.
"A smart and honest detective who, for a long time, has held romantic feelings for Sae-bom. They graduated from the same high school. He struggles to protect Sae-bom and other people." (Wikipedia).
That one scene is Ep5 was written sensitively and somewhat broke me. When after trials after trials, Yi-Hyun lost his regularly cool demeanour and lashes out on the arsehole in , and Sae-Bom comforting him later, and complimenting him, was a very subtle but powerful look at the need for caring for the "alpha" too. Nobody is in this being the Alpha-Hero out to save the day. Everyone is trying their best (some more than others) to survive, and keep everyone alive.
ABOVE: Sae-bom treats Yi-hyun's wound and shows her concern (EP9)
BELOW: Sae-bom suspects Yi-hyun is infected but he tells a lie in return.
The hero-complex is not evoked to "save everyone", but in a very refreshing non-autocratic way to give folks choices, offer them choices and reasons, while not necessarily dictating they be "followed". This aspect is presented numerous times throughout everyone's ordeal, where quite literally, "trust and respect is earned" and not given because of your station or status, something which plays none-too-subtly in this kdrama too.
As of Episode 10, Yi-hyun is infected, and what'll happen next is keeping me on the edge of my seat, and I certainly will appreciate a "happy ending" regardless.
I love Hyo-Joo in the above interview for ELLE beside Hyung-Sik, whose being
overwhelmed by her, and I love her for it LOL ... OMG I LOVE HERRRRRRRRR!
You KNEW y'all were waiting for the above clip... LOL
BUY ON AMAZON:
Jo Woo-Jin (born January 16, 1979) as "Colonel Han Tae-Seok" is not your typical "villain", even though one initial look you'd "decide" he is the big bad, but he is far from it. As rational as he is at attempting to control and situation and the plague from spreading, he too has a very personal story intimately attached to the situation, and by Ep5 you'll realize how heartbreaking it is.
I loved how the character is written, and how he interacts with Yi-hyun and even Sae-bom, not needing to treat them like "idiots", and most times talking straight, and loved that he has not rebutted Yi-hyun about his emotional investment because of his infected wife.
That flashback puts Han in a very precarious place of grey, between the need for a solution and a need to soldier forward for humanity''s sake, but also a distinct realisation there might never ben a "salvation" in the future. He has yet to show what he is doing is for himself, and I am very afraid (for him), that he will no doubt put himself into harms way before the show ends, if his character arch evolves by the finale.
Jo Woo-Jin is "known" as a supporting and character actor, and THIS role has to be the most subtle and intense character I've seen of him being.
The difference between the character's reaction in above video, and the
below video, is as subtle as it is powerful, especially amongst the two.
I am loving the script and how it subverts and as well embraces the tropes it has inherited. On the surface it utilises the real world pandemic, and the mirrored "madness infection" AKA "zombie virus" situation to remark on the overt class situation boiling beneath the surface. Perhaps in a sea of similarly themed concepts ("Squid Game" does it way overtly and epically), something as "clever" as this is, is not enough to make a wave, at least being mentioned in the social sphere.
Let's take a quick break from "Happiness" with this below featured "Special interview" with Han Hyo-joo, Park Hyung-sik & Jo Woo-jin...!
The written characters play a larger part in grounding the premise we are witnessing on our screens. For "HAPPINESS", and these three principals, PLUS the various supporting characters, gives it that gravitas a slight push, even if I had to read the English subtitles to enjoy their hijinks and issues.
Featured below is a PREVIEW for Episode 11th, for the 12-epiosder series ending December 12th, 2021 Sunday...!
This blog-feature took longer than expected, and with the final two episodes of South Korean Drama "HAPPINESS" ends this coming weekend (I am genuinely sad to see this go though) with Episodes 11 and 12, here is a look at the three principals of "해피니스"...!
Han Hyo-Joo (born February 22, 1987) and her filmography consists of both feature film and television projects (starting 2006 til now), two memorable roles linger at the back of my mind: "Lee Yoon-hee" in 2018's "Illang: The Wolf Brigade" (life-action adaptation of Japanese anime film "Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade") above video starting 3:30mark ... and Hyo-Joo's Hollywood debut in 2019's "Treadstone" television series, based on Universal's "Bourne" franchise (Matt Damon's "Jason Bourne" to you), in which she played piano teacher "Soyun Park", who was a sleeper (killer) agent. Seen below (in these SPOILER clips), she is no stranger to "action" as well.
The series was created by Tim Kring ("Heroes"), who is also the executive producer. Alas, in May 2020, the series was canceled after one season (10 episodes). Watch Season 1 on Amazon.
In 2021's HAPPINESS, Han Hyo-Joo plays "Yoon Sae-Bom": "A member of a Special Operation Unit police squad (KP-SOU) formerly known as KP-SWAT. She is decisive, determined, smart, and does not easily get rattled. She is excited to move into her new apartment, but as soon as moves there she faces a crisis." (Wikipedia).
IN the series, "Sae-Bom" walks straight into danger without hesitation, which constantly leaves me anxious for her, and for what'll happen to her. Sae-Bom ACTS first, and REACTS later, and if not for her being the lead actress, she'd be the first person that be killed and devoured LOL
Watching the promotional videos and remembering her role in "Happiness", there is not exactly a huge range of emotions for her to showcase (IMHO), and she feels like she is just being "herself" which works for me hahahaha ... #SPOILER: If you don't know by now, as of Ep10, Sae-Bom has tested positive for possessing the anti-body for the "Madness Disease", so her well being and no doubt her "happiness" will be at stake in the last two episodes this weekend!!!
The next television/streaming show she'll be involved in, is the 20-episoder "Moving" (for Disney+ / 2022) as "Lee Mi-Yeon".
You can find out more about her on asianwiki.com, Wikipedia and her Instagram @hanhyojoo222, with select embeds seen below via.
Park Hyung-Sik (born November 16, 1991) is known mononymously as Hyungsik, and is a member of K-pop group "ZE:A" (OF COURSE I'll have an MV for y'all! Featured above is "Breathe" from 2014), and has a decently filmography of cameo appearances starting 2010, and subsequent memorable works with 2013's "The Heirs", 2017's "Strong Girl Bong-soon" and 2018's "Suits".
Park Hyung-Sik enlisted in the South Korean military on June 10, 2019 and was discharged on January 4, 2021.
In "Happiness", Park Hyung-Sik plays "Detective Jung Yi-Hyun", "Sae-Bom's husband", and without a shred of doubt, he loved her since and still do. I adore that he is playing the protector, but without being the alpha. The choices he makes and response in the series are well written and pausible, although his jealous-reaction is sometimes bewildering.
"A smart and honest detective who, for a long time, has held romantic feelings for Sae-bom. They graduated from the same high school. He struggles to protect Sae-bom and other people." (Wikipedia).
That one scene is Ep5 was written sensitively and somewhat broke me. When after trials after trials, Yi-Hyun lost his regularly cool demeanour and lashes out on the arsehole in , and Sae-Bom comforting him later, and complimenting him, was a very subtle but powerful look at the need for caring for the "alpha" too. Nobody is in this being the Alpha-Hero out to save the day. Everyone is trying their best (some more than others) to survive, and keep everyone alive.
ABOVE: Sae-bom treats Yi-hyun's wound and shows her concern (EP9)
BELOW: Sae-bom suspects Yi-hyun is infected but he tells a lie in return.
The hero-complex is not evoked to "save everyone", but in a very refreshing non-autocratic way to give folks choices, offer them choices and reasons, while not necessarily dictating they be "followed". This aspect is presented numerous times throughout everyone's ordeal, where quite literally, "trust and respect is earned" and not given because of your station or status, something which plays none-too-subtly in this kdrama too.
As of Episode 10, Yi-hyun is infected, and what'll happen next is keeping me on the edge of my seat, and I certainly will appreciate a "happy ending" regardless.
I love Hyo-Joo in the above interview for ELLE beside Hyung-Sik, whose being
overwhelmed by her, and I love her for it LOL ... OMG I LOVE HERRRRRRRRR!
You KNEW y'all were waiting for the above clip... LOL
Jo Woo-Jin (born January 16, 1979) as "Colonel Han Tae-Seok" is not your typical "villain", even though one initial look you'd "decide" he is the big bad, but he is far from it. As rational as he is at attempting to control and situation and the plague from spreading, he too has a very personal story intimately attached to the situation, and by Ep5 you'll realize how heartbreaking it is.
I loved how the character is written, and how he interacts with Yi-hyun and even Sae-bom, not needing to treat them like "idiots", and most times talking straight, and loved that he has not rebutted Yi-hyun about his emotional investment because of his infected wife.
That flashback puts Han in a very precarious place of grey, between the need for a solution and a need to soldier forward for humanity''s sake, but also a distinct realisation there might never ben a "salvation" in the future. He has yet to show what he is doing is for himself, and I am very afraid (for him), that he will no doubt put himself into harms way before the show ends, if his character arch evolves by the finale.
Jo Woo-Jin is "known" as a supporting and character actor, and THIS role has to be the most subtle and intense character I've seen of him being.
The difference between the character's reaction in above video, and the
below video, is as subtle as it is powerful, especially amongst the two.
I am loving the script and how it subverts and as well embraces the tropes it has inherited. On the surface it utilises the real world pandemic, and the mirrored "madness infection" AKA "zombie virus" situation to remark on the overt class situation boiling beneath the surface. Perhaps in a sea of similarly themed concepts ("Squid Game" does it way overtly and epically), something as "clever" as this is, is not enough to make a wave, at least being mentioned in the social sphere.
Let's take a quick break from "Happiness" with this below featured "Special interview" with Han Hyo-joo, Park Hyung-sik & Jo Woo-jin...!
The written characters play a larger part in grounding the premise we are witnessing on our screens. For "HAPPINESS", and these three principals, PLUS the various supporting characters, gives it that gravitas a slight push, even if I had to read the English subtitles to enjoy their hijinks and issues.
Featured below is a PREVIEW for Episode 11th, for the 12-epiosder series ending December 12th, 2021 Sunday...!
Comments
Post a Comment