Happiness (South Korean TV series) explained

Alt Name:Infectious Smile
Native Name:
Hangul:해피니스
Director:Ahn Gil-ho
Country:South Korea
Language:Korean
Num Episodes:12
Executive Producer:Jo Moon-ju[1]
Runtime:70 minutes
Network:tvN

Happiness is a 2021 South Korean television series starring Han Hyo-joo, Park Hyung-sik, and Jo Woo-jin, produced by Studio Dragon. It is an apocalyptic thriller that takes place in a time in which infectious diseases have become the new norm.[2] It premiered on tvN on November 5, 2021 and aired every Friday and Saturday at 22:40 (KST) for 12 episodes.[3] [4] It is also available for streaming on Viki, Viu, Netflix, and iQIYI in selected territories.[5]

Synopsis

Setting

Happiness takes place in the near future, where the release of a failed treatment drug "Next" has caused a worldwide pandemic known as the Lytta Virus, a.k.a. "mad person disease". Those infected by Lytta experience short bouts of insanity and bloodlust, before completely regressing into a zombie-like state. The South Korean Military and Police forces try to contain the spread of Lytta and Next through extensive investigation and authoritative quarantine measures, while civil rights groups protest against them, believing the infected are still capable of normal human interaction.

Plot

Yoon Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo) encounters a trainee at the Special Operations Unit who is infected by mad person disease. In the struggle to subdue the trainee, she is scratched, leading her to meet Han Tae-seok (Jo Woo-jin) at a research facility. The facility houses many of the "patients" who are kept under observation in order to understand and cure the disease. It is revealed that the symptoms of mad person disease are first accompanied by unabated thirst, followed by the pupils turning white, and then thirst for human blood. The disease is not airborne, but spreads through scratches and bites, with Yoon Sae-bom seemingly immune to the disease. Some of those who contracted the disease are ultimately able to return to their former selves temporarily. Yoon Sae-bom makes a deal with Han Tae-seok which leads her to secure an apartment in a newly constructed building. However, in order to do so, she must be married, so she asks her high school friend Jung Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik), a former star baseball player but now a police detective, and he agrees to a contract marriage. The building is luxurious and highly stratified, with public rentals making up the first five floors, and those who own apartments for the upper ones. Class discrimination is evident where the upper floor resident Oh Yeon-ok (Bae Hae-sun) struggles to be the apartment representative while keeping everyone in check. Yoon Sae-bom meets many interesting and strange residents, forming a close attachment to her neighbor's young daughter.

Through Jung Yi-hyun's detective work, he encounters a diseased person who he believes became this way due to a failed pneumonia drug called Next, which had been widely circulated in order to promote attentiveness and strength. This assumption is later confirmed when a resident member who consumed the drug, secretly sold to her in the building's gym, ultimately becomes infected with the mad person disease and succumbs to the illness. This begins the outbreak in the building. In an effort to protect the residents in his building, Jung Yi-hyun and Yoon Sae-bom establish quarantine rules, while securing the building from the outside with the help of his captain, Kim Jung-guk (Lee Jun-hyeok). Jung Yi-hyun conflicts with building resident Oh Joo-hyung (Baek Hyun-jin), who seems to encourage destructive behavior in the building. The question of humanity and whether to view those infected with mad person disease as human beings forms a psychological battle for Sae-bom, Yi-hyun and Tae-seok.

Han Tae-seok initially tries to keep the mad person disease a secret, but with more cases progressing and people getting panicked, it is revealed to the public. With the increasing number of people getting infected, Han Tae-seok, along with his military team, struggles to determine whether to preserve these people or kill them off. Han Tae-seok orders the complete quarantine of the new building complex where Yoon Sae-bom and Jung Yi-hyun live, offering them a chance to leave the building before it becomes completely sealed off. However, they decline the offer. Yoon Sae-bom's blood contains antibodies that could hold the cure for the disease, which Han Tae-seok seeks to exploit. It is revealed that Han Tae-seok's pregnant wife was bitten by the president of the pharmaceutical company that supplied Next, and ultimately became infected with the disease. His search for the cure is in part motivated to find a cure for his wife and to save his unborn child.

Cast

Main

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 she moves there she faces a crisis.

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.

A lieutenant colonel and part of the health service command. He holds a key to the infectious disease outbreak.

Supporting

People around Jung Yi-hyun

Extended

Special appearances

Production

Happiness is helmed by director Ahn Gil-ho and writer Han Sang-woon, who worked together on the 2019 OCN series, Watcher. Ahn Gil-ho has worked on numerous hits such as Record of Youth, Memories of the Alhambra and Stranger, while writer Han Sang-woon has also penned The Good Wife, the Korean remake of the 2016 American TV series.[25]

It is the first acting project of Park Hyung-sik since his discharge from military service on January 4, 2021.

The first script reading with the cast was held on May 7, 2021, and filming started on May 11.[26] [27]

Original soundtrack

Happiness
Type:Soundtrack
Artist:Various Artists
Released:2021
Genre:Soundtrack

Part 3

Viewership

+ Average TV viewership ratings
Original broadcast dateAverage audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[28]
NationwideSeoul
1November 5, 20213.300% 4.103%
2November 6, 20213.196% 3.679%
3November 12, 20213.574% 3.862%
4November 13, 20213.324% 3.841%
5November 19, 20213.542% 4.217%
6November 20, 2021
7November 26, 20213.539% 4.176%
8November 27, 20213.251% 3.597%
9December 3, 20213.740% 4.377%
10December 4, 20213.263% 3.735%
11December 10, 20213.543% 3.857%
12December 11, 2021
Average
  • In the table above, the represent the lowest ratings and the represent the highest ratings.
  • This series aired on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee of the award, and the result of the nomination! Ceremony! Year! Award! Recipient! Result!
1st Blue Dragon Series Awards2022Best ActressHan Hyo-joo[29]
Best Supporting ActressBae Hae-sun

Notes and References

  1. Web site: STUDIO DRAGON. 2021-10-19. www.studiodragon.net. ko.
  2. Web site: 한효주 박형식 조우진 '해피니스' 출연 확정, 안길호 감독 만난다(공식). 2021-06-27. Naver. Newsen. ko.
  3. Web site: 한효주X박형식 '해피니스', 메인 포스터 공개. October 7, 2021. Naver. Ten Asia. ko.
  4. News: '해피니스' 한효주·박형식·조우진, 공포와 혼돈 담은 메인포스터. Naver. News1 Korea. ko. October 7, 2021.
  5. News: Happiness. Viu Hong Kong. 14 November 2021. News: Happiness. Viu Philippines. 14 November 2021. News: Happiness. Viu Singapore. 14 November 2021. News: Happiness. Viu Indonesia. 14 November 2021. News: Happiness. Viu Malaysia. 14 November 2021. News: Happiness. Viu Thailand. 14 November 2021. News: Happiness. Viu Myanmar. 14 November 2021. News: Happiness. IQIYI. 16 October 2021.
  6. Web site: 2021-06-21. 서현철♥정재은, '해피니스' 특별출연..첫 부부 동반 드라마[공식]]. 2021-06-28. Herald Pop. Herald Pop Corporation. ko.
  7. Web site: 2021-05-24. 백현진 '해피니스' 출연 확정. 2021-06-28. Sports Kyunghyang. Kyunghyang Shinmun. ko.
  8. Web site: 2021-06-17. 한다솔, '해피니스' 출연..한효주·박형식 호흡. 2021-06-28. OSEN. ko.
  9. Web site: 2021-05-19. 이지하, 드라마 '해피니스' 출연 확정. 2021-06-28. NBN News Agency. ko.
  10. Web site: 문예원, '해피니스' 출연 확정..한효주・박형식과 호흡 [공식]]. 2021-06-28. Naver. OSEN. ko.
  11. Web site: 2021-06-25. 박희본, '해피니스'로 2년만에 안방 복귀..한효주X박형식X조우진과 호흡 [공식]]. 2021-06-28. OSEN. ko.
  12. Web site: 2021-06-10. '해피니스' 박형수, 생계형 변호사 役 확정..한효주X박형식과 호흡[공식]]. 2021-06-27. Herald Pop. Herald Corporation. ko.
  13. Web site: 2021-05-14. 박주희, '해피니스' 캐스팅…한효주·박형식과 호흡 [공식입장]]. 2021-06-28. Xports News. ko.
  14. News: 김영웅, '해피니스' 출연 확정…신스틸러 활약ing [공식입장]]. Choi Hee-jae. Xports News. Naver. July 1, 2021. July 1, 2021. ko.
  15. News: 나철, '해피니스' 출연 확정…박희본과 호흡[공식]]. Kim Seon-woo . Sports Seoul. Naver. July 5, 2021. July 5, 2021. ko.
  16. News: 배우 차순배, 드라마 '해피니스' 목사 선우창으로 변신! . Jung Eun-eun . Actor Cha Soon-bae transformed into Pastor Seon Woo-chang in the drama 'Happiness'! . KBS . . July 15, 2021 . July 15, 2021 . ko.
  17. News: 유지연, '해피니스' 출연 확정…조우진 아내 역 . Hyung Jung-min . Yoo Ji-yeon confirmed to appear in 'Happiness'... Jo Woo-jin's wife . sportsworldi . . July 19, 2021 . July 19, 2021 . ko.
  18. News: 해피니스' 이주승 출연확정. 한효주x박형식과 호흡(공식) . Lee Min-ji . Lee Joo-seung confirmed for 'Happiness'. Han Hyo-joo x Park Hyung-sik and breathing (official) . Newsen . . July 23, 2021 . July 23, 2021 . ko.
  19. News: [단독]한준우, tvN '해피니스' 캐스팅…한효주·박형식 만난다 ]. Kang Young-cho . [Exclusive] Jun-woo Han, cast for tvN's 'Happiness'... Meet Han Hyo-joo and Park Hyung-sik . Sports Seoul . . July 28, 2021 . July 28, 2021 . ko.
  20. News: 신스틸러' 강한샘, 드라마 '해피니스' 캐스팅…한효주와 호흡. Hwang Mi-hyeon . 'Scene stealer' Kang Han Sam, cast for drama 'Happiness'... Breathing with Han Hyo-joo . News1 . . July 28, 2021 . July 28, 2021 . ko.
  21. Web site: 배해선, '해피니스' 캐스팅…한효주·박형식과 호흡 [공식입장]]. Ha Ji-won. Bae Hae-sun, cast for 'Happiness'... Breathing with Han Hyo-joo and Park Hyung-sik [official position]. Xports News. . September 8, 2021 . September 8, 2021 . ko.
  22. Web site: '해피니스' 한효주X박형식X조우진, 공기부터 달랐던 대본리딩 현장. 2021-09-17. Naver News. ko.
  23. Web site: '해피니스' 분노 유발자 백현진의 폭주한효주박형식 대치. Newsen. December 8, 2021.
  24. Web site: 2021-06-10. [단독]이규형, '해피니스' 특별출연…신스틸러 활약 예고]. 2021-06-28. SpoTV News. ko.
  25. Web site: 한효주X박형식X조우진, '해피니스' 출연 확정…" 뉴노멀 도시 스릴러" [공식]]. 2021-06-27. Naver. My Daily. ko.
  26. Web site: 한효주X박형식 '해피니스', 오늘(7일) 대본리딩…첫 삽 뜬다. 2021-06-28. Joy News 24. 7 May 2021 . ko.
  27. Web site: [단독]한효주X박형식X조우진 '해피니스', 11일 촬영 시작..아포칼립스의 신세계]. 2021-06-27. Naver. Herald Pop. ko.
  28. Web site: 해피니스: 시청률. Happiness: ratings. December 12, 2021. Naver.
  29. Web site: 제1회 청룡시리즈어워즈 후보 공개..'오징어 게임'·'SNL코리아' 최다노미. Moon Ji-yeon. The 1st Blue Dragon Series Awards nominees revealed.. Most Nominees for 'Squid Game' and 'SNL Korea' . Naver. Sports Chosun. July 6, 2022. July 7, 2022. ko.