Happiness Review: The incongruous “aaah, oooh” noises I had heard through the dubbing in Hindi told me a lot about Happiness (Thailand) that was released by MX Player. Those oddly over-exaggerated vocal responses were a breath of fresh air in a genre where tension, immersion and atmosphere are everything. The 12-episode Thai remake of the Korean series has come in with high hopes, but has failed to capture the same degree of suspense, zombie thrills, and emotional response found in the original, instead being hampered by clunky sound, dull tension, and erratic moments. Aside from that, the cast is doing a decent job of bringing it to life, and in many cases, that’s the only thing is making the show go. That being said, if the zombie drama has your attention more than the outbreak, there is a problem. By the last episode, relief outstripped satisfaction, leaving this lackluster remake a less than stellar rating.
The title was a big hint of the well loved Korean drama of the same name, but this is a Korean inspired Thai production. It’s significant because it’s a show that could attract any viewer who was hoping for the Korean series and has different expectations.
The series is 12 episodes long, and even after all 12 episodes, I can say that it tested my patience more than it entertained me. Tension, atmosphere, emotional stakes and believable acting are the pillars of zombie dramas. These elements are sometimes suggested, but not always realized in a satisfying manner in Happiness.
This was not the zombie narrative part that was my problem. I found myself able to deal with the infected characters, the outbreaks, the potential survival scenarios in the story — quite surprisingly. The constant pull out was the Hindi dubbing. Dubbing generally doesn’t affect my opinion for a show, but this can’t be ignored. Even when the action is serious, there’s a lack of emotional resonance in the voice work, and it all feels rather funny.
It is particularly apparent in action shots. The sound design is awkward and over-the-top when characters are fighting for their lives. Many vocal responses don’t add to the intensity, rather they sound weird and unpleasing. I have sometimes noticed at certain points, I have thought more of the sound system than the story rolling past me. Some of the sounds are actually “aaah, oooh” – that’s literally an interruption to the immersion that a zombie thriller sorely needs.
Adding to the problem is the lack of impactful background music. In a good zombie film, sound effects can play a crucial role in creating suspense and fear. The soundtrack doesn’t really add to the tension here. This can cause it to be rather flat for a viewing, despite the plot trying to entertain.
What didn’t help me out was the fact that more and more platforms are airing remakes of popular Asian dramas instead of the originals. In the past couple of years, I have seen several changes in the place of the original material. This is beginning to seem like an easy way to get something out, whether it’s based off of Signal or It’s Okay to Not Be Okay; it seems like it’s easier to simply stream something than it is to actually make something that is the best you can do for your viewers. Unfortunately, Happiness reinforces that feeling.
I hit some snags in the zombie element, too. The threat of the zombies should be convincing and terrifying. The rules of this outbreak here seem somewhat ambiguous and the drama never quite persuades me of the seriousness of the situation. I thought that as the episodes go on it would be more suspenseful, but I actually got less invested in what was going on.
But don’t think that everyone involved has failed. It’s fair to say the cast did a very sincere job. The actors and actresses are committed and I did not think it was their fault for not being good. The only thing that kept me watching till the end was their dedication. Unfortunately the strong performances can’t make up for the poor performance in other important areas.
My biggest complaint with the series is that it had potential. The zombie genre’s popularity is because it lets creators portray elements of fear, survival, conflict between humans, and social disintegration. These themes are explored in some way in happiness, but not deeply enough to leave lingering. Much of the show is a tiring undertaking, rather than suspenseful or emotionally charged.
If you are just looking for a free zombie drama and don’t mind the flaws in the technical details, then there’s some fun here. But if you’re a hardcore fan of quality dubbing, immersive storytelling, and well-made suspense, it’s highly recommended you wait to see the original Korean version. It’s so much more advanced and refined.
When I got to the last episode, I was more relieved than satisfied. The series failed to ever live up to its length, and although there were some good performances, it was never quite great. Though I’m impressed with the work the cast did, the series was lacking in the excitement, tension, and quality I’d expect from a zombie horror film.
Rating: 2/5
