Early Access: Happiness E11

I think it says a lot about this show, that, coming into the final stretch, I actually feel wistful at the thought of saying goodbye to our main characters. I legit never thought I'd ever say these words, about a zombie show, and yet, here we are.

That just goes to show how well Show has endeared Hyun and Sae Bom to me. I would happily watch them indefinitely, even if means having zombies and other monsters on my screen.

Speaking of whom, this episode, we see almost everyone in the apartment complex show their uglier sides, and it's even more disturbing than what we've seen before. Because, now, people are actually condoning cold-blooded, premeditated murder (thanks, Andrew), if it means that they will be able to get food, &/or stay safe.

I'm not exactly surprised that we'd see Doctor-murderer bargain with Andrew the way he does, because he's long established that he's the scum of the earth and willing to throw anyone under the bus - and sometimes, just for funsies. (Although, I'm still shocked and horrified at how Doctor-murderer tries to suffocate Jung Kook, just coz he can. And then when he fails, he lamely tries to pass it off as a joke. Say, WHUT?!? 😡)

And while I'd kinda-sorta come to similar conclusions about Building Representative Ahjumma and Lawyer Dude (I'm SO glad Mrs. Lawyer finally makes the decision to call it quits with him), I do feel somewhat surprised at Cleaning Couple. They have been showing their more self-preserving side of late, but I'd still had some faith in their decency, since they'd started our story as pretty neutral and harmless people.

Again, this feels like Show making a pretty strong statement about the ugliness of human nature, and the kinds of things we as humans can stoop to, given the right circumstances. It's sobering, really, because when I imagine myself in this exact same situation, I can't be sure that I would speak up against Andrew, at the risk of coming under his attack, to condemn his murdering ways.

It's sobering and disturbing, to see this remaining group move to raid Hyun and Sae Bom's apartment, with the understanding that Andrew plans to kill them the moment they re-enter the building, and therefore their stuff is as good as up for grabs anyway. This is the kind of thing, that, if I think about it too long, gives me a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I still want to give Show the side-eye for making Andrew a serial killer, because it doesn't feel organic to our story, and instead, feels like a random plot point, inserted for the pure purpose of amping up the drama in our story - as if zombies running rampant, and Hyun struggling to keep it together despite being infected, isn't enough. 😭

On that note, I also feel like there's some suspension of disbelief required, around how Sae Bom and Hyun respond to Andrew. What I mean is, there are a couple of occasions where it looks like Sae Bom had a good chance of tackling Andrew and wresting the gun out of his hands, and she doesn't take it.

I find this rather hard to believe, because Sae Bom is the kind of person who would not hesitate to fight, in a situation like this. Additionally, even though Andrew is a serial killer, this doesn't mean that he has any fight moves that come anywhere close to Sae Bom's and Hyun's levels of skills. I feel like in each of this situations, Sae Bom could have easily overpowered Andrew, particularly with Hyun's help, and subdued him.

But of course, the reason Show doesn't do that, is because Show was always gunning for the scene near the end of the episode, where Hyun and Andrew get locked up on the roof together. And ok, that was a pretty dramatic scene, I'll give Show that. Which is why I'm choosing to just roll with the fact that Show chooses to make Sae Bom so restrained, around Andrew.

On another note, I do like the detail, that just as LTC Han was able to read Hyun and figure out that Hyun's infected, Hyun's able to read Han, and figure out that Sae Bom's blood has antibodies for the zombie virus. It gives me a bit of a giddy thrill, that our characters are so sharp and so smart.

And, in terms of my favorite scenes this hour, the scene in the elevator where Sae Bom realizes that Hyun is infected, is truly my absolute favorite.

I so appreciate that Hyun apologizes, for not keeping the promise he'd made to her, that he would tell her, if anything was wrong. And, more than that, I love Sae Bom's response.

Hyun: "I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you. Sorry for breaking our promise. I always wanted to... show you my best side.

Sae Bom walks slowly towards Hyun, and gently places one hand on his chest, while taking his face in the other.

Hyun whispers, "Don't come too close. Whenever I see you, my heart beats faster, and I feel thirsty."

Sae Bom whispers back, "So do I. Because I like you."

And then she moves in to hug Hyun close, as a tear escape Hyun's eye. Eeee!!!

I know, it's kind of inappropriate to squee, because we are in the middle of a zombie emergency, but, Ahhhh!!! Sae Bom's made a love confession!!!! 😍😍😍 And, Hyun leans into her, and hugs her back. Squee!! ❤️❤️

Also, I love that Sae Bom simply won't entertain the possibility that Hyun won't get better. I love her.

Later, the goodbye scene, through the crack in the door, is so, so poignant.

To Hyun, this is likely the last time he'll see Sae Bom, and to her, his final words are, "Bom-ah. I was truly happy... to be with you." Oof. So heartfelt, and so poignant. 😭💔

I fully appreciate that Sae Bom only leaves because the situation is urgent, and I completely believe her, when she says that she'll be back for Hyun.

In the meantime, I have so many mixed emotions, around the rooftop scene, between Hyun and Andrew.

On the one hand, I love how nonchalant Hyun is, in the moment. He pretty much believes that this is near the end, for him, and he frames it in the coolest way possible, tossing the keys to the handcuffs over the roof, and then basking in the sunlight, reminiscing that the weather had been this nice, too, when he'd first fallen for Sae Bom.

On the other hand, it was hard to watch him turn into a zombie, and bite Andrew. I mean, Andrew had it coming to him, since he's a cold-blooded serial killer, but it was still difficult to see sweet Hyun turn into a bloodthirsty zombie. 😭😭

Last but not least, I love-love-LOVE the video message that Hyun had left for Sae Bom, before things had gone seriously awry.

It's so bittersweet, to see Hyun smiling at Sae Bom through the camera, talking about their contract marriage.

"Annyeong, Bom-ah. I'm sorry I never proposed to you properly. Back then, it looked like I agreed for the apartment, right? That's not true. I kept saying I liked you. In case you got the wrong idea. I'm not an easy guy to nab. Getting an apartment is important, but who you're with is more important."

"I hope we get out... and get to watch this together. When we do, I'll say it properly. That I like you."

Augh. This was his love confession, long before Sae Bom made hers, in the elevator. How thrilling, that they both confirm their feelings for each other this episode, and how heartbreaking, that they are now so far apart from each other.

It really tugs at my heartstrings, to see Sae Bom go right back to the beginning, to watch Hyun on loop, because that's the closest she can get to him, in this moment. 😭💔

I know that Sae Bom's going to do all she can, to get Hyun to safety, in our finale, and honestly, right now, that's all I want from Show. I don't care about anything else, at this point. I just want Hyun and Sae Bom to be ok, pretty please? 😭

Final review will be up on the blog on: Thursday, 10 Feb 2022!