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.