Felicidade (2021)

Zzzz

First of all if u are looking for some intense zombie drama this might not be good for u
So lets start with the story the story was okk like nothing extraordinary
for the first few ep it was interesting but after that it was tedious and boring like there is something that i still don't understand
Like suppose you are in an apartment filled with zombies like everbody is dying the world is collapsing and u are just there being sassy
Doesn't makes sense right that is exactly what is happening in that drama like i understand they wanted to make our main leads sassy and not afraid of anything type but still it somehow looks unreal
Like how are we supposed to feel horrified or scared if the people in the drama was not feeling it Like that doesn't mean that They are not good actors all of them are amazing actors but i think they are not being used correctly
Not only the main lead but everyone else is also just so ignorent of the whole situation they are ramdomly living there life fighting over food and random stuffs ...
I understand maybe the show makers what to show the greedy side of the humanity but this is exactly not how you do this
The zombie scenes were also fine nothing phenomenal
There were literally times when i was just waiting for some action and zombies
There is nothing special about the characters like u really don't understand them and u just don't feel connected to anyone of them
So the only reason i completed this drama was because of the main leads
Their chemistry Was AMAZING !!!
So overall i would have easily dropped this drama Because there is nothing captivating about this series

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I didn't expect this show to play with my heart like this!

Albeit a diamond in the rough, the concept of this drama is so well thought out. The storyline and the post Covid setting have been so relevant to the current global scenario. I think that adds to the thrilling experience of the ride it takes you on. The characters and their crisis-driven actions are beautifully illustrated and it really brings out their fatal flaws with clarity. Moreover, (omg) the main couple has such a wonderful dynamic throughout the show. You will love the energy Hyo Joo and Hyung Sik bring through their characters. It was refreshing to see a platonic take on their profound relationship.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending because it seemed a little rushed and I would have liked to see a more detailed picture of how they all bounced back from the quarantine and this proliferating virus. Yet, this show will totally leave you satisfied in the end, you'll never regret watching it! Also, props to the beautiful soundtrack which provides an immersive experience!

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Happiness can be reveled in many forms...

To some this is a brilliant masterpiece, to others just an average drama of survival.
I followed it from day one and it got me hooked to the point that my Fridays and Saturdays had this as an highlight.

They couldn't have picked a better lead couple than these two, - Han Hyo Joo and Park Hyung Sik - did a great job with their roles and had a fairly great chemistry. But Happiness is more than romance, in fact it focuses on the build up to that, on those hidden feelings one is not aware until the world turns upside down. It's all about survival and finding Happiness in all forms.

"If I lose him, I might really crumble." - Yoon Sae Bom

That and the fact that Happiness is different to everyone. To some that comes by the demise of others, to others it's all about control, to others is fame and likes, and some it's even greed or by getting their hands tainted with blood... And yet for those who are rightful, - Happiness - can be a materialistic thing as a Home or the comfort of loved ones and our parents. But a Home can be more than a House, sometimes it's only warm when shared with the right person, like the case of our main leads.

"Getting an apartment is important, but who you're with is more important." - Jung Yi Hyun

What I really like about Yoon Sae Bom and Jung Yi Hyun is on how equal feet they are when it comes to their action and decisions, how they always have each others back and go to the extreme to protect one another. It shows from the very start that they really like each other, but to acknowledge that sometimes it needs a push or in this case the world they once knew crumbling down. While facing the demons that people can bring to the table in apocalyptic scenarios, and coping to deal with it by trying to maintain order even when most people do not cooperate or are against them. They don't wait in dangerous situations, they take action and run if necessary. They access what is happening and try to come up with solutions or act on the moment to solve it.

Both of them are not flawed, - no one is - but it's nice to see that in a drama there can be balance between the leads, instead of the typical damsel in distress or the tripping and falling down cliché. They are both fierce with their beliefs for justice and find themselves trapped in lockdown with numeral individuals that will test not only them but also everyone along the way.

Yi Hyun trusts in Sae Bom, and she does too when it comes to him. He represents those who are sure of their feelings, while she on the other hand represents those who only realize when its too late... like a wake up call. Perhaps, she knew all along, she just dismissed thinking it would not be reciprocated because they started with a contractual marriage to get an apartment.

However, - like I mentioned above, - Happiness is more than mere tragic romance.
It's all about making tough and egoistic decisions for the sake of our loved ones and mankind.

"I did all sorts of things to lower the number of the infected. Lockdowns, quarantine, killing. I have enough blood on my hands." - Han Tae Seok

It's a matter of surviving lockdown and well facing the worst kind of Humanity in a single building.
Sometimes the true monsters aren't those who are infected, but those who show their real and despicable selves.

"You are the real monsters, not the infected." - Jung Yi Hyun

If we manage to look into the overall picture, the drug, the infected or "zombies" and the whole martial law is what is surrounding and aiding the true plot. This being the residents and how they evolve and act while on lockdown. How the main leads deal with the situation, how the residents try to survive, all the schemes, the deep dark secrets inside of several different apartments, the social classes, the different individuals, their hidden agendas and how doom can change people from better to worst. It was never about only the cure, that is important but it's side plot, it's more about showing the difference between those who are infected and act on impulse and need, and those who revel themselves to the be worse monsters in the end.

There's quite the symbolic value this drama uphold. For example the 'Good Cop, Bad Cop strategy' that Yi Hyun mentions about himself and Sae Bom, can also work for Han Tae Seok and Lieutenant Lee Ji Soo who works with him. And that strategy is used throughout the whole drama too in many occasions. Even when Yi Hyun decides he will be the bad cop, and Sae Bom the other.

"When one plays the bad cop and gets angry and scares people, the other uses nice words to persuade them."

It's seem like a foretelling line, for when the moment comes they act like so without realizing. It's he presence and soothing words, that bring him back to her. And also her impulsive act to save him and his decision in such a dangerous situation that defines their roles. They will do everything and beyond to keep each other safe even if it means to make sacrifices.

This drama has plenty of those. Choices and sacrifices that make the characters become either twisted, or revert from that and gaining the Humanity they didn't have or had lost. An example of that is most likely Kim Dong Hyun, the son of the elderly couple from Unit 302. Who always seek for likes and fame by streaming everything he could get his hands on. And yet as the story progresses he embodies the fear, shame and the selfish act of leaving his parents behind afraid to get infected.

"If you happen to see him. Tell him to come back home. Tell him, we're okay.
That's what a home is. You come home when things get tough." - Kim Hak Je, Senior Resident of Unit 302

Only to return home when what he feared the most happens.

"He'll be able to hold out longer... if he stays with his family." - Jung Yi Hyun

And despite his actions towards his parents, Dong Hyun is welcomed with open arms, as if a "good" son is returning home, now apologetic and more grounded than before. A message for us to cherish those we love, and that they may be our greatest strength in times of need.

There are several frustrating moments, mainly caused by despicable characters such as Oh Joo Hyung (dermatologist), Oh Yeon Ok (Resident Representative), Gook Hae Sung (Lawyer), Woo Sang Hee (Joo Hyun's mistress), and let's face it Go Se Gyu and Ji Moon Hee (the SY cleaning couple) too.

"I'll beat up anyone I find annoying." - Yoon Sae Bom

Probably the most direct Happiness we all felt through the drama was by how many times she did this to Oh Joo Hyung.

And there was also a couple of mysterious characters in the plot - Kim Se Hoon and Andrew - who likely contributed to many theories and a plot twist into the story. Sometimes, there are hints along the drama that lead to that, only we aren't able to notice them all or they just show them in the end when that truly happens.

The plot twist of the real culprit was interesting.
I had theories of my own, as I am sure mostly everyone did by some point when it came down to these two characters.

To be honest, the real one felt detached from the plot. Like a mere coincidence that just happened, and it was all in his favor.
It made more sense if it was near my theory that he was in fact the one behind the drug NEXT and that he was seeing the "lab rats" aka the infected act and mostly from the rooftop while on lockdown. And not what they come up to and no reasons for what he did and does. Perhaps it's just his own Happiness in doing so. Maybe that's why they did like so, who knows.

All I know is that the plot has it's holes that much is certain. But again the focus is mainly on the residents and survival rather than where did the drug come from and how the cure works. The acting here is what keeps us wanting for more. And I am not only talking about the main leads. Even the guest roles here where interesting to see. For example Sae Bom's colleague Lee Sueng Yeong interpreted by the brilliant Lee Kyu Hyung (funny how Looney turned out so good that he joined the SOU)

The Production. Now this is what makes this drama different than most. The way it was written, made and filmed. The cinematography so believable that they are in fact in a real complex unit building of rented and fancy bought apartments. The intros with the title Happiness, showing the opposite of that. It almost seem Netflix worth it, with certain foreign like influences here and there but at the same time true to a K-drama. Hard to explain the concept of it. It's interesting, and pleasing to see. What compliments with all of this, it has to be the OST. So many good artists and singers, and amazing songs to match the scenes of this drama. The lyrics also with plenty of meaning. One of my favorites it has to be 'Pain' by Hong Isaac.

This drama came to life because of all of this combined, everyone's effort.
Park Hyung Sik long awaited acting comeback is a success, and him pairing up with Hyo Joo gave us a new kickass ship besides the MinMin and BongBong ship we have had ever since he starred with Bo Young in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.
More than the ship, I like how he represented Yi Hyun. Makes me look forward to more of his projects with good premisses.

"I realized when you said... that a home... depends on whom you're with. I'll stay with you from now on. Stay with me. Whatever you're like, I'm okay with everything." - Yoon Sae Bom

These two be raising the standards of main leads.

Highly recommend this if you like survival storylines, with a warning that it has it's breaks of infected but that it focus more towards human and inhuman dissociation of the survivors, rather than those who were infected. It doesn't have cliché scenes, it has more schemes and plot twists.

Plus factor it only has 12 episodes, although if you like you will find yourself wanting a couple more. And well by the ending... it fairly need that option. Endings are mostly rushed, and this one wasn't any different in that regard unfortunately.

Still it's a good drama if you give it a go. With an amazing production, awesome acting and a killer OST.

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finding happiness

The chemistry between park hyungsik and han hyojoo was unbelievable and something I didn't know we needed :') The thriller with slight romance has a parallel to Sweet Home, the genres are pretty similar: neighbors in an apartment complex transitioning into the infected. I was really impressed with the chemistry and duality of the power couple though-- the plot didn't have a lot of romantic scenes, but their compatibility was insane and there was definitely chemistry w/o even portraying skinship. This power couple was probably one of the best I've seen;; she's hot headed and aggressive but smart, while he's calm, rational, and logical. They balance eachother out perfectly :))

Superb acting from ALL casts; the variety and diversity of characters was really a breath of fresh air that I needed; there weren't many cliches and each episode was pretty unpredictable. The cinematography and OST was done extremely well; the soundtrack fit perfectly with the overall vibe.

I'm slightly salty that the residents who were incredibly twisted and made selfish choices weren't ever properly punished/got what they deserved but the ending makes up for everything :') iykyk

One of the best dramas I've binged in a while; I guarantee it's worth the watch (unless you're not into horror/thrillers)

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The perfect drama to end 2021 with!

I am in cloud nine right now as I've just finished the final episode a minute ago, while having this drama as one of my most anticipated airing dramas every week.

An apocalypse drama; especially a zombie one is already typical in the drama industry, but it's still one of my favorite genre which is why I chose to follow this one while airing. But what made Happiness so good and stand out on its own way? The theme that this drama wants to bring out can be seen first and foremost from its title itself, the title that made viewers always questioning, "Where is the happiness in this drama? There's only misery and chaos." But I think that's really the point that they want to bring. I realized this during the rooftop scene when they were eating together, that despite the chaos that is happening, it feels better and bearable because they are with the people they loved.

And then the message pulled through even till the end; we have the rude son who finally realized his parents are the most precious people he should care for, we have siblings reconciling with each other after going through the hardship together, we have a parent holding out for the sake of her daughter and of course, we have a platonic husband and wife who realizes they love each other more than they thought they did. From all these events it shows how people, no matter how tough and dreadful the obstacle is, can still obtain happiness where they are.

In term of the plot, I feel like it could have been better but after the finale I think this drama deserve nothing less than a 9/10 despite their flaws. The less logical part was the fact that they didn't really show other residents of the block attending meeting etc and it's just those few same familiar faces all over again, not even some background characters with no dialogue to make it seems more 'merrier' as a big apartment complex.

However, apart from the "Happiness" message that they convey, what I adore most about this drama is the portrayal of some of the characters. Those that come first are of course our power couple, Sae Beom and Yi Hyun who above anything else in this world, would continuously only prioritize each other no matter what. Their relationship is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen and the way they love each other so selflessly is very precious. Tae Seok is another character that I really adore, he was such a morally grey character that you can't really sort him out, yet you know exactly what is his goal and he did everything he could; despite having to go against the rule and moral for his loved ones. I kind of find the similarity between the three of them, which is why I think they work really well together because they all prioritized the people they loved above anything else; even above saving the world. Also special mention Na Soo Min who is the character I dislike at the start but can't help to adore at the end when he tried his best to protect his sister from being infected (and him in the last episode with the gear on are especially adorable)

The drama might appear a little slow in the beginning especially if you watch it for the action-packed anticipation, but I really love the slow pace development on each episode which made the story less dramatic and less over the top compared to other drama, which is actually the perfect portrayal of the way human can still live normally despite the chaos that happened in their life, just like how we continued living with the virus that is still with us till now

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Audience pleaser

I always loved Park Hyung Sik and his on-screen chemistry with his female co-stars and thought nothing can triumph his chemistry with Park Bo Young in Strong Woman Do Bong Soon but I was proven wrong. His relationship with Han Hyo Joo in Happiness was very convincing. She adds a lot to the series and her portrayal of Yoon Sae Bom was beautiful.

I was a little unsure about the whole pandemic/zombie setting with the amount of zombie shows that were recently released. However, the show's execution of the topis was very entertaining. The drama also contains a few funny bits.

Not to be missed. In my opinion, it's an audience pleaser.

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This is not a zombie movie

This show is talking about a disease and zombies who have been turned as zombies, they can be killed easily with a gun because they are technically human, not dead corpses. Some of them developed immunity against it, some can control thirst, some cannot. That’s why not everyone is afraid of the zombies here, they can be told not to attack either. This show is more about human that are more evil than the infected ones, technically chaotic environment will push human to go crazy over time, getting locked down forever will turn them to be insane too. So many unloveable characters in this show, especially that doctor oh who is very weird in his own way. He likes the mistress even tho he knows his mistress wants money until mistress tried to kill him. I really hate that ahjuma who tries to be building representative, she is truly the epitome of evil. She just likes to stir problems and make other people go against each other. What i do like in this show is the evil ones got punished severely either by karma or other thing. The funniest part is that the ones got infected can live peacefully with other human as long as they can hold their thirst. This is interesting. Especially the granny and grandpa with their son. This show is not perfect, it has plot holes and twist. But it’s still interesting to watch. I like how FL finally realized that she is in love with ML. No one would resist a guy who sacrificed a lot like that.

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Entre deux morsures, réflexion subtile sur le bonheur

On dit souvent que le plus grand ennemi de l’humanité, c’est l’Homme. Happiness ne fait qu’accentuer ce sentiment en peignant des personnages différents, mais capables de faire preuve d'un grand égoïsme et d'une stupidité déconcertante pour sauver leur peau.

Construit dans les règles de l’art, le drama contient divers éléments qui instaure rapidement un contexte social en présentant la majorité des classes sociales. Les propriétaires, soit les riches. Les locataires, autrement dit les classes moyennes et/ou considérées comme pauvres. Et bien qu’ils vivent tous dans le même complexe, les inégalités entre les propriétaires et locataires se fait rapidement sentir. Pourtant, que vous soyez riches ou non, vous n’échappez pas au virus.

Les personnages sont originaux et variés. En effet, on apprécie le duo principal, mais au fil des épisodes on adore en détester d’autres. Park Hyung Sik qui n’a rien perdu de son charisme. Au travers d’un portrait calme et amical, il est le bon flic, tandis que sa partenaire, Han Hyo Joo, prend le rôle de la casse-cou. Le duo fonctionne et nous offre de bonnes scènes.

Plus important que le chaos en lui-même, c’est le comportement humain qui donne un impact particulier. On pourrait se questionner longuement sur la représentation d’un tel état d’urgence. Si nous avons tous connu une dure période en raison de la récente pandémie, on pourrait presque voir le reflet critique de notre propre société. Ceux qui ont peur, ceux qui sont méfiants et enfin, ceux qui se croient intouchables. Dans un rythme respecté, l’intrigue défile et nous emporte avec elle sans difficulté. Pourtant, l’ambiance bien que tendue, n’est pas aussi sombre qu’on le pense.

Tout au long des épisodes, on cherche le concept de bonheur. Ironiquement, le drama n’a rien qui s’en approche – ou du moins, d’une certaine façon. C’est une idée vague, une émotion qui survient et repart ou est-ce un état d’esprit ? Comment ressentir un fragment de bonheur lorsque votre immeuble est mis en quarantaine en raison d’un virus ? Un virus qui vous transforme en fou furieux et où la soif de sang vous plonge dans un cauchemar ? En réalité, les réflexions au fil des épisodes vont peut-être esquisser votre propre vision du bonheur. On dit souvent que le bonheur réside dans les petites choses. Et si c’était le cas ?

Happiness est un mélange intéressant impliquant zombies/fous furieux dans une réflexion unique quant à la nature humaine et la définition du bonheur.

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Who is the real monster?

[I'm sorry for my poor English, I hope it's good enough for you to read without any effort]

First of all, this drama is HUGELY underrated. I've rewatched it 5 times, and I'm planning to watch it again very soon (so if you're wondering if it worths a rewatch, it's definitely a YES!).

It's not a zombie story, it's not an horror story. It's more like a story about people trying to fight against prejudice, poverty, injustice, weakness, illness, fear.
Every single character has its own role in the story: no one is unuseful, no one is replaceable. Rich and poor, healthy and ill, good and bad, kind and rude, old and young, brave and coward,... And nobody is 100% how they seem, they only reveal their own nature when they or those who they love are in danger.
You'll soon discover that the main characters in Happiness are the people, not the monsters.

Let's focus on the title. I decided to watch it only for its title, without reading the plot. It's not a "happy" story, but every character is looking for its own happiness. Some of them think that true happiness is purchaseable, some others just look for their place in the world. The truth is that nothing is certain: every thing we want may not be what we really need, or it may be that something we take for granted is what we really want.

I've loved the cast! It was my very first drama with Park Hyung Sik, and he literally blinded me with his incredible talent. Han Hyo Joo is stunning as always, and their chemistry on screen is fabulous: their presence is absolutely balanced. I was genuinely happy to see two strong, brave and kind main characters: no damsel in distress or charming prince, they're equal.

Last but not least, I've also loved the music! Joe Layne was a huge surprise, and I still listen to his OST almost every day. Pain and Enigma are on my playlist as well.

What other can I say? Don't focus on the "horror" side of the story, just enjoy it!

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Another pandemic in the making!

Well, tbh, if you don't like anything related to Pandemic and all, stay AWAY from this drama.
This drama is technically the future pandemic of this world.
The casting was great, but it got a bit draggy and pointless at times.
There is a lot of blood, killing, stabbing, hating, and psychosis.
The ost was not that great. You could hear the same song repeat and had no variations whatsoever.
I loved the leads. They had a wonderful chemistry, but expect no skinship/romantic scenes. A big No no for romantic lovers.
Overall, an enjoyable drama. Yet, it's a bit painful for us to see after the pandemic we all went through.

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Painfully overrated, but not a bad show.

SPOILERS AHEAD. SPOILERS AHEAD. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Everyone knows a score of 8.9 on this site is basically a must watch status, even if you may not be entirely into the drama's genre. But after seeing all 12 episodes of this show, I have zero clue why it's rated that high and honesty, it's an insult to other drama that are rated that high and lower than this show.

The ML actor acting is wooden in many scenes and I just have little interest in his character. I don't think I've ever seen a more bland ML in a drama so far. I think the ML in this and the one in 'Revenge of Others' are in an competition for who can be the most bland ML in a drama.

The FL I like a lot. While the story didn't do more for her than I would've liked, I like her style and how realistic she can feel. I don't need characters in a drama to feel realistic, but the way she was written was a breath of fresh air and I find her character entertaining to watch.

But everyone else? Holy s-- People have to understand there's a way to write unlikable characters in a story and Happiness shows you all the wrong ways to do it. If you ever get around to watching Agency (2023) (which is a much better show IMHO), there are plenty of "unlikable" characters in that show that are INTERESTING to watch. The goal of an "unlikable" character in any story is to get the audience to disagree with them in a way that adds flavor and tension to the story. All of the other tenant characters in this show are so painful to watch because they just annoy you. Especially the "doctor" who is just a bumbling idiot that isn't even funny. It almost felt like they were trying to write a horror comedy without any of the humor. Every other character with the exception Han Tae Seok just felt completely pointless to watch because it did absolutely nothing for me. Lee Ji Soo was maybe one other character I have enjoyed watching grow into a friendship with the FL.

There's also weird scaling and tension issues with this show. Like there's a global outbreak of a zombie virus, yet the danger is yet sometimes undermined by the characters action. A lot of times it felt like the situation was only dire whenever the show needed it to be and it felt in consistent many times. If the show wanted to make it feel dire, some of the characters needed to be way less casual about the situation. I don't mind making the show feel more localized in a world where there's a global outbreak, but if the show was going to make it very local to just between apartment tenants, it needed to make better use of the zombie situation and it just didn't.

The show felt like it was trying to drag many conversation out to make the 12 episode runtime. It had bits and pieces here and there that were actually interesting. I don't mind when a character is just talking to another character, but in many scenes in this show, it was just chatter. Noise. I hate that. Most of the characters in this show have zero chemistry with each other and that's why when the show's pacing slowed down, it felt way slower because of the subpar casual conversation. A lot of the tensions between the characters are just going through the motions and there's no interesting lead-up behind any of them or WHY. You have a couple where the lawyer cheats with the homewrecker and it's like whatever. You have the kid with the mask that is a murder for no reason, just is. You have the guy that hoards everything he can because he's really interested in survival tactics and we never explore that even though he was kinda integral to the show near the end. Like we're getting all of these interesting potential moments in the show where we could explore a character and they're never given any reason for the audience to care. I think that was what was missing the entire show. You have to give the audience a reason to care.

These were the biggest complaints of mine, but there's far more. I won't go any further than that because the show doesn't deserve my time.

Now the special effects were on-point. I have no complaints there. I love the way how it puts a little unique spin in the zombie genre. I also think while the danger of the zombie were questionable in this show, the way they can go back and forward between being a mindless animal and being human again is great.

The score? Awesome. Many dramas have boring stock music and score, but this one tried to be different and new and it worked very well. It felt like I was watching a Hollywood production.

The cinematography was also amazing as well. Many beautiful shots, location and atmospheric decisions that went into the production of the show is top-notch.

While I am very critical of the story, it does do a lot to 'modernize' Kdramas to feel less cliche, but they really have to work on the supporting characters way more because many of them feel like an afterthought.

I was really disappointed with this show. It's rated an 8.9, which is the same score of a vastly superior show Tomorrow and The Glory. You go watch all three and tell me Happiness even comes close to either of the other two. Also, this is the same director of Stranger Season 1 and The Glory!!! How is this show way worse than either of them!?! The Glory and Stranger S1 were amazing!!!

Overall, I think it's a decent show, but nowhere near the 8.9 score it got. I think if you're into the horror genre, it's worth a shot. You may love it, you may not, but it felt like a huge waste of time to me.

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Pretty generic.

I found this drama pretty generic and mostly pointless. I can't quite figure out why it even exist. It's not a bad drama. Don't get me wrong, but not that special either. It does not bring anything new or fresh to the zombie genre. And after the COVID-19 pandemic, do we really need this kind of show? I doubt it. Most of the time I felt bored.

Story is at best medicore. Nothing scary, nothing exciting. Zombie scenes are done ok, but they didn't made me feel anything spacial. I thoroughly enjoyed the two main leads tho. Han Hyo Joo is always a beneficial factor to everything she stars in. The rest of the cast done their job properly, but their characters were not that interesting . It does not help this show is mostly set it one apartment building. It should be filled with tension, but it's not. The story prevents creators from making a suspenful and engaing drama. Most of the time I felt bored.

If you are a fan of zombies, there is nothing here you haven't seen before, Don't count to be scared or terrified, but if you enjoy watching a simple drama about people in a dire situation, this show is for you.

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