Just some personal musings.
I’m happy to add Sae-bom as one of my most favorite female leads alongside Oh Ri Jin and Do Bong Soon. Love that kick of hers, and her enthusiasm for good food too. Hyo Joo and Hyung Sik both look really good with their casual outfits. Although they have worked together with just 12 episodes, I have never questioned their chemistry as Sae-bom and Yi-hyun. They’re so sweet together, like when Hyung Sik’s showing some signs of fatigue and Hyo Joo cheers him up. I hope they shall team up again in the future!
The attention and publicity of this drama are generally focused on the traumatic event caused by NEXT and the gruesome appearances of infected persons, but the contents presented to the audience/us are skewed towards the interactions among the residents stuck in lockdown. And human beings act in a ridiculous manner (like the cleaner couple in ep 12 and the Troublesome Triple). Ironic indeed. A home is meant to be one’s place for comfort, unfortunately in (and in S. Korea) class elitism seeps through and pollutes this precious ideal of Home.

Thanks @quirkycase for your hard work! Well, what a gem this turned out to be! I came in simply to see what PHS was going to do post-military, and was so glad I did. Tightly plotted, endlessly intriguing, and, as you say, with a great deal of heart. Sae-bom's reuniting with Yi-hyun in this episode was excellent - her stating that she would still choose him in whatever he state he happened to be and the power that statement had to overcome the blood-thirst. For me, that's when the inverted "e" in the title righted itself: SB and YH went into the complex playing at happiness (the contract marriage to get the house that is a symbol of having achieved and being "happy") but came out the other end knowing true happiness (sticking to your principles and family when the world is defying you to do so, and surviving the battle).

My favourite part of the drama? The photo. I just thought that this was the best ever photo to have on the wall of your first house - rather than a contrived and beautified pose of the couple, a rough-and-ready shot with a cracking back story. I loved the way it became a place of solace for YH, a place he returned to to remember what it was all about. New standard for photos in houses has been set!

My favourite part of this drama was definitely the realisation that the best way to tackle the disease is to keep the infected close to their families (“that way they’ll survive longer”) rather than to isolate them (mentally and physically). It was such a beautiful scene when Sae Bom’s comforting words calmed the “monster” in Hyun (no blankets, tranquilizers or bullets needed), and when the prodigal son/resident returned home, we noticed that the elderly mom was very sick but hadn’t turn because the elderly dad was with her throughout. So amazing and so moving. I love the depth and thoughtfulness put into that concept - it runs against how covid regulations focus on social distancing and isolation.

What is happiness at the end of the day? More than good health, it’s to have your loved ones stick with you through both good times and the bad.

Thanks for your well put-together take on this drama @quirkycase. After some of the disappointing thrillers recently (*ahem**sisyphus**), i was so afraid this would turn out to be corny and illogical. But it was so well written and executed. I mean obviously, some of the plot made little sense (how did the zombies not break through glass?), but as others have echoed, these details were forgivable provided how other aspects of the story were so much stronger, such as the diverse relationships, characters, and general messiness and fallibility of humankind. The disease was clearly the lesser of evils since most of the horrible people in the apartment didn’t need it to be scary. Its also sort of cool to think how the disease was portrayed as a common viral infection. Like, will the thirst come back when people’s natural antibodies wear down and the virus mutates? Nearly everyone at some point will be a carrier and potentially thirsty at some point, right? Not that I’m expecting (or want) a sequel, but its just cool and nice to see a unique and so ”human” version of the “zombie” phenomenon. All in all, this was so enjoyable and kept me hooked every week! I’m definitely gonna miss it!

I really loved this episode. Sae-bom and Yi-hyun were great characters as well as a couple. The kiss scene was really touching

Joo-hyung biting the lawyer, convinced he was infected made me laugh. The cleaners stealing his apartment was funny to me too. Young-ok still wanting votes was more sad than funny but the actress played unhinged really well.

Hyun-kyung was one I started out disliking but he turned out to be one of the good ones. I loved his kitchen gloves and catcher's mask getup and the twist that he was another carrier. The old couple were the smartest ones in the building, staying put in their apartment once it became clear she was infected.

HOLY Testicles for the last episode. That's was the only scene Oh ju-hyung really felt pain.
As a zombie genre first timer, I'm extremely grateful to HAPPINESS for helping through the introduction. One thing was sure in this drama just like Yi-hyun said, those humans are the real zombies, the real monsters. This drama beautifully depicted what humans can and will do in their breaking point.

We saw a Good Public Defendant refusing to bat an eye for murder and wickedness. He lost his humanity and his good wife.

A mistress who at first I thought was scared or trying to preserve her life having to live with a murderer did not mind killing for unstable Bitcoins. She got what she deserved.

A Foolish son who cared only about himself and his YouTube account show very slight character development.

A crazily ambitious to be Apartment Representative who was insanely wicked. I thank the good Lord she lost her neurons at the end of it. She deserved it.

A Murderer who almost turned serial if not for the intervention of our leads became so foolishly stupid. I love that last bang on his **☺️*.

We also saw humans, imperfect they may be despite being infected still managed to fight against that cannibalistic thirst. Na Soo-min who was a jerk but turns out he would do anything to remain human, Bo-ram the supermarket girl, Halmeoni who was treated unfairly at first and Yi-hyun who was my beloved Human-zombie.

And thumbs up to the uninfected ones, Sae-bom, Seo-yoon, Jung-guk ahjussi, Soo-yoon the wife to that jerk, and others whose name I can't remember.

Above all the actors and actresses really gave their all and best to make this drama stick as one of the best of 2021. I started watching at episode 4, having doubts of PHS since I've only seen him in Strong woman. Now, I never regretted pressing the Play button.

Also thank you beanies for filling the comments section with your beautiful comments. The comments made me decide to check it out. Thank you all.

Didn’t go into this one expecting a bunch but Happiness ended up being a surprisingly good watch. As others have said, it wasn’t overly deep or complex, but the story was still engaging with fun characters. Definitely a mirror held up to the way folks act in a pandemic that was over the top, and sadly not that unbelievable based on recent events.

Our leads had great chemistry, our supporting characters were interesting and our baddies mostly got their comeuppance. It was a fun ride the whole way, and I’m glad they stuck to 12 episodes instead of trying to drag things out. I’m all for longer episodes, or higher episode counts, but it seems a lot of kdramas pad things out with no real plan and just go for the “standard” 16.

Love the easy chemistry and straightforward story line and well paced editing. It is simply an easy drama to follow. I hopes to see both leads together again. just like how I like HHJ with LJS from W and PHS with PBY..... gosh they are all so easy on eyes and feels...

Thank you @quirkycase for the recaps.
Initially, I was skeptic of the drama since we have seen many zombie genres but "Happiness" turned out to be a good watch. I came to love Sae Bom towards the end because I could see how she changed from a reckless person with compassion to one who is wise and compassionate by giving the last cure to the little kid's mom. Both Yi Hyun and Sae Bom balanced each other well and were wonderful characters. The other apartment actors also deserve appreciation because without such evilness we wouldn't have realized the humanity of the leads.

@ayrulent: ayrulent and I are outliers in our heartbreaking belief that YiHyun died and the last scene was Saebom’s dream of what could have been.

This was my comment to @ayrulent “Sorry for being a bit obsessive about this. I should have also mentioned something else which was disquieting. SaeBom had taken all adversities in her stride including how lovingly and steadfastly dealt with YiHyun’s infection and his transformation in that poignant moment when she calmed him down so it was jolting and distressing seeing her devastated at that penultimate scene so it sadly solidified for me that she lost it because he died. And the coda was her dream of what could have been if her YiHyun had survived”.
And ayrulent’s response:

“@dncingemma More discussion is always welcome 🙂
I agree with you. It was the jarring transition from peacefulness to panic, without any hint of rescue (he was shot like 3 times, how long would he last without paramedics?) that makes the last scene seem to good to be true in hindsight. I also have to add that the filter and lighting of that last scene was completely different to the rest of the show, which contributed to the dream-like factor”.

Would this series have been as popular in an ordinary year? ie. no covid-19

I don't really like thriller shows (especially ones that include horror elements such as zombies), but from the first episode, this drama grabbed me by the shoulders, pushed me against the wall, and kissed me passionately for six weeks straight, leaving me wanting more.

I pressed play on that first episode solely for PHS because I swooned over the moon for him in Strong Woman. Twelve episodes later and I love him even more, and I've also become a fan of HHJ. They had great chemistry; even though the romance was downplayed and almost only subtext (until the last two eps ofc), I was in love with Saehyun by the end of episode one: "Do you want to date?" "No."

The villains were truly vile and fun to hate. I also liked the wide array of different personalities in the residents, with my personal favorite becoming Na Soo-min, who ironically became humbler, kinder, and funnier after getting infected. Those pink gloves are iconic.

And since I'm an optimist at heart, I choose to believe that the ending we got wasn't a dream or Sae-bom losing her marbles. I believe that the message of the drama is ultimately one of hope - that by finding Our people and keeping our humanity we can overcome just about anything.

ah so satisfying. seen it written clears up a few "um...´s " I still had.
So season 2 will be Tae Seok and Ji Hyun competing who is sexier.

the solution and conclusion reflected real life how nothing is certain and a lot of psychological factors dictate how sick you get. how you can´t predict whether age or social background has any role to play, and in the end we cant predict anything that happens.
you cant hold back Covid for sure, but seriously, Ji Hyun is probably THE strongest character besides Dam Yi from this years´ dramas. Will power ftw.

so....how do I get an apartment in that complex? Any handsome oppa wanna marry me?

I am another one who dislikes zombie films, but I really loved this drama. The ending was a bit rushed and the illness defeated off screen during the time lapse, but I don't mind and I am very pleased with the happy ending for our couple.

I loved that their relationship was never sugary sweet and also in a very evenly matched partnership, based on trust (no rich chaebol with a poor Cinderella). That recorded confession was so powerful in its simplicity.

The villains were great, too and given a full arc and just punishment.

Thanks for the recaps of this wonderful show!

"Happiness" took me by surprise with how tightly written and composed it was from beginning to end. Not being a huge fan of the genre, I never expected to enjoy this one as much as I did, but it delivered on every front. The final episode was one of the most dramatically satisfying ones in recent memory.

By anchoring its exploration of humanity at its worst in the stalwart goodness of the leads and their slowburn romance, the show pulled me in and kept me there until the end. The confession scene in the elevator and Hyun and Sae Bom's later reunion in their own apartment were both genuinely touching and very earned.

I love dramas where the writers seem confident of where they want to go and how to get there, and "Happiness" definitely fits in that category. I'm so glad I ignored my usual indifference to apocalyptic stories and tuned in to this one!

what happiness does well is that they are immersed in their own story. nobody steps out of character, and also, over a long time, I was truly invested in the mains, and fell in love with them. like, deeply. and both.
as people. I think, I haven´t been so absorbed and so captivated by a character since KillHeal.

of course, typical redfox generates a crazy plot in her head now with Shin Se Gi and zombies.
but, let´s not get distracted....
wait, I got distracted.

@quirkycase, thanks so much for the recaps of this great show. I “don’t do” zombies but this wasn’t just about being chased by hordes and terror of being bitten (looking at you, Kingdom) and I think it’s great. Honestly the most shocking moment for me was when Sae Bom left the compound and saw that life outside was normal.

Thank you for the recap!

For me, the story didn't make any sense between the virus, the pills, the lockdown, etc. There were too many bad people whom I didn't care about.

I liked the duo, they worked very well together, their conversations were fun and they had a good chemistry. It was the only reason I watched it.

This drama was excellent! It had thrills, scares, and sad moments, but it wasn't a heavy drama. There were many times when things looked bleak. However, the finale ended on a positive, hopeful note. I loved that this show made me laugh often despite the serious situations. That contrast of thriller and humor is a fun, enticing combo. (They cracked me up with the diabetes and thirst line. XD)

The reunion scene between Yi Hyun and Sae Bom was so good, so emotional. LOVED IT! Made me teary-eyed. They had such a strong, believable bond.

We finally see Dong Hyun's mom again! She was one of the first ones we learned that was infected. I bet she never turned. I had wondered if she ever would. The support from family and loved ones helped keep the infected sane and in control of their actions more was a nice aspect.

I'm glad that Sae Bom was not the only one with antibodies. Not some superhero human with something extra special about her. The ending was lovely. No need for a second season. There will be bad times, but we can overcome them. About the title and this drama, it made me be more grateful and try to enjoy life more and be happy. Who would have thought we would be in this current pandemic and how things have changed compared to a few years ago.

Thank you for recapping this show!!

i was happily surprised with this one and so glad i stuck it out! i love the leads and that helped

Thank you @quirkycase for recapping this drama.

This drama shows the ugly truth of our society. The bad apples in this series are really exist in real life. We can totally see them during this pandemic. The antivaccines, the protestors of lockdowns, the greedy groceries hoarder, they are the real "monster". Pity the frontliners who are sacrificing their family just to help these ungrateful monsters.

My favourite characters aside the leads are halmeoni and his husband. The husband is a typical father, he looks like he doesn't care but he is the one who stay and protect his wife. I am more than glad if they can make a 2 hr sequel for the finishing. Just like Breaking Bad.

Kudos to the actors, writer and crew for creating this masterpiece..👏👏👏. Start this series because of Park Hyung Sik. And I am glad that he took this role as a comeback project...but still I love his roles in SWDBS.. I stan pretty hard for talented and handsome actors 😝

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They did not expound this but it seems you get some natural antibodies if you are at risk of diabetes of some sort. Soo min mentioned this and Saebom seems to have had medical related problems in high school. I noted this because high sugar runs in my family too, so maybe I can survive this, too. LOL.

WHY DID IT ONLY HAVE 12 EPISODES!!!! WHY?? WHY???
Oh my gods!!!! That's was THE MOST SATISFYING ENDING TO A DRAMA!!! I EVER SAW FOR THIS YEAR!!! I really have no words to say !!! It was sooo amazing!!!! Park Hyuk Shin! Wow!! He was the best boyfriend material is Strong woman Do Bong Soo and now he's playing the best husband material!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

Sae-bom is the best FL ever. She was strong and never took a step back. She faced up to everything in the most frightening circumstances. She protected those she loved, as well as those who could not defend themselves. She was straightforward. I loved how she was so well matched with Yi-hyun, how they worked together so well, anticipating each other without having to even talk before they acted. Well written and convincing characters. 👏

Zombies, vampires, horror--not my thing! I made it through this drama and Train to Busan, but just can't finish the Kingdom series (made uncomfrotably to episode 4 and dropped it).

The leads were the glue that held this drama together. The comparison to covid lockdowns was interesting. The ending for the leads was well-done.

I liked this hopeful take on a zombie thriller where the infected were not dead, not voluntarily bad, and had the possibility of a cure. Humanist. Loved PHS as usual! His elfin ears are so uniquely adorable. HHJ also performed well. Always appreciate a happy ending, especially for Yi Hyun who held a torch for years.

I think the title had a double meaning. There was a scene with Yi Hyun and the gym manager (forgot name but actor was one of the attorneys in EAW!) where Yi Hyun asked about the happiness the gym manager had felt when taking the drug, if he had liked it so much that it was worth taking a risk with drugs. And then the ending with the true happiness of Yi Hyun and Sae Bom. I think the title meant to compare different characters' idea of happiness. With our leads, just being together and healthy. Others took the drug for a manufactured and temporary happiness with a steep cost. For some it meant money, or power, or simply living separate from others. An entertaining show though not a genre I usually prefer.

I rewatched this and realized I haven't commented here before lol. By the way, if you are wanting to watch the commentary they did (leads, writer, and director), I have it subbed here: https://streamable.com/1ovr51 Enjoy!

Jung Yihyun still the greenest flag out of everyone. I've been watching dramas close to 15 years and he's #1 lol

I would have liked an explanation other than just "she got lucky" as to why Sae-bom had antibodies.
They said Next made people better at concentrating, and a bit callous, as I recall, so I had this idea that she had got small doses of a variant of that drug while she was ill when she was very much younger. The fact that she threw out Hyun-sik from the roof in that first scene could be explained that way, and the fact that her character was so extreme. Other carriers of antibody would have achieved that later when the epidemic was raging ... maybe if you only got a papersized scratch first, you could be lucky to develop antibodies. But I would have liked for her to be Antibody 1 for a special reason.