Early Access: Happiness E7

E7. One of the things I really like about this show, is how our story keeps on moving, with fresh developments and surprises, in such a consistent manner. With everyone being shut in at the apartment complex, it feels like there are a limited number of developments that our story can take, and yet, this hour felt fresh and in some ways, surprising as well. That's really well done, I thought.

I am loving how Show is balancing it's chosen tone when it comes to Sae Bom and Hyun. We get a mix of excellent partnership, and we also get regular flashes of genuine care and deep concern, which up the feels that I have for this contract marriage.

The way Hyun basically bulldozes his way into the Penthouse Dude's apartment, is so full of intense fire; I absolutely believe him, when he says that he'll kill Penthouse Dude, if he does anything to hurt Sae Bom.

I do love that the moment Hyun sees that Sae Bom's perfectly fine, he calms down right away. I had to chuckle at their cover story, though, that Hyun misses Sae Bom so acutely, that he kind of goes crazy when he doesn't see her. 😂 I'm sure Penthouse Dude has his doubts about the veracity of the cover story, but it amuses me, that he chooses to play along, and even sends Sae Bom with a whole bag of military rations as a gift.

I'm making a wild guess that Penthouse Dude bought the Next pills as a form of hoarding for the apocalypse, which is basically the same reason that he's stocked up on all these military rations and other military paraphernalia. He probably thinks that this will all come in handy, when the apocalypse comes.

This episode, I was struck by how people start to distrust one another, because of the virus. I felt this acutely, when Hyun goes to apartment #201 to check on the folks inside, and Jung Kook himself doesn't feel comfortable opening the door for Hyun, in case Hyun's been infected. That made me sad, because this is Jung Kook and Hyun that we're talking about; partners that go way back. And yet, Jung Kook's anxiety is completely understandable, because of the virus situation.

Plus, we do see that the infected people will say anything, in an effort to get what they crave: fresh blood. That infected dude who finds his way to Sae Bom and Hyun's door, and tries to talk Seo Yoon into opening the door for him, gave me the creeps. And yet, at the end of the day, he's just a patient who's acting under the influence of the virus, isn't he? If he was in his right mind, I'm sure he'd be as harmless as the next person.

When I say "next person," that excludes the likes of doctor-murderer and live-streamer dude, of course. They are both horrible and despicable.

I am horrified that doctor-murderer is spiking the bottles of water in his home with Next, in an apparent attempt to infect Sang Hee, who's the witness to his crime. I mean, I knew that he was trying to get rid of Sae Bom and Hyun, and it makes sense that he'd want to get rid of the witness too, but I still find his depravity shocking to witness.

And with Sang Hee putting the moves on Lawyer Dude, I'm pretty sure she's going to get infected, and then infect Lawyer Dude, who's more than happy to let her get up close and personal with him. 🙄

As for live-streamer dude, I hate how entitled he is in general, and I hate that he won't even own up to being the one to open the doors, which is how the infected people get into the building. I'm glad that Hyun expresses some of his displeasure, with the strong ear-grab, and the shoulder-grab. I just want live-streamer dude to be punished, and I want him to quake in his boots a bit, knowing that other people know that it's his fault.

There so many occasions this episode when I found myself saying, "Noooo~" to my screen, as characters did things that did not seem at all wise. Like the way Hyun Kyung, the lady from #401, decides to trust Gym Dude, when he tells her that he's not infected. I mean, didn't Hyun and Sae Bom establish, with video evidence, that Gym Dude was indeed infected?

I guess that just goes to show how desperate Hyun Kyung is, because she feels stuck between a rock and a hard place. No matter where she turns, there's danger lurking, and I suppose, Gym Dude's offer of help made her feel less alone? I still think it was extremely foolhardy of her to let him go - and look how that went.

She was still terrified out of her wits, he wasn't any actual help against other infected people - and he ended up dead, too.

Speaking of which, I was actually rather surprised by LTC Han's arrival at the apartment complex, given that the entire complex is completely sealed off. It's not a logic stretch, however, because I can see how LTC Han would have the authority to enter, and why he would want to enter, as well.

I completely believe that he'd try to get Sae Bom to go with him, or at least provide a blood sample, if he thinks that she has antibodies in her blood that might be pivotal in their quest to develop a cure for the virus.

However, I was really taken aback by LTC Han's game plan. I mean, he literally sets a zombie on Sae Bom, so that they can test to see if she'd turn, if bitten. That's extremely cruel, I feel.

My only guess in terms of why he changed his mind and went the tranquilizer route, is that he possibly felt it was too much of a risk, to allow Sae Bom to be bitten? I highly doubt that it was something more humanitarian, like him changing his mind because it was too cruel to let her be bitten, as an experiment.

That scene, though, where Hyun chases down LTC Han, and jumps-slides over the bonnet of the car, to land in gun-cocked, ready-to-attack position, in front of the car, is just so slick and so badass. Wow! 🤩🤩 I knew Hyun had some moves in him, but this was especially impressive, I thought.

And it was so great, that Sae Bom basically falls right in line with backing Hyun up, by grabbing LTC Han's gun out of its holster, and training it on him. Augh. These two make such great partners, seriously. 🤩🤩

I also love the scene where LTC Han asks Hyun if he'll really be ok, because Sae Bom could turn at any moment - and Hyun answers readily, in such a matter-of-fact manner, that that's why he needs to be right by her side. Aw, I love him. I love that he's prepared to stick with Sae Bom regardless of what happens, and I love how he's determined to stay with her, even if she turns. That's such a surprisingly swoony moment, in a zombie show. 😍

I appreciate that when Hyun tells LTC Han that when all this is over, he's going to expose LTC Han for all his misdeeds, LTC Han actually invites Hyun to do so, in such a matter-of-fact manner. He's cognizant of the fact that he's doing a lot of bad stuff, while attempting to manage the virus outbreak, and he's not trying to use that, to justify his actions. There's something pretty admirable about that.

What LTC Han says, about why he has to do all this in secret - so that the rich and powerful don't get in the way of the development of a cure, in their haste to find cures for themselves - is another sobering reference to real-world circumstances, where money talks more than anything else, and Big Pharma only listens to money, rather than to the needs of the people.

I have to admit, it is rather concerning, that LTC Han and Ji Soo conclude that there's a high likelihood that Sae Bom's resistance to the tranquilizer, is a sign that she's infected. Ack. Not Sae Bom! 😭

I do love that when Hyun realizes that Sae Bom is also concerned about the scratches on her hand not healing, he just reaches out to hold her hand. That's so assuring, and so sweet. It basically tells her, "It's going to be ok. I'll be here with you. Don't worry." Ahhh. I love him. 😍

As we end the episode, I'm kinda concerned for Jung Kook, because he's worried about his wife, and he's starting to crack under pressure. AND, the snooty couple from #1202 are just so eager to pounce on him as a source of borrowed influence.

ALSO. Who's that, shining that light at Hyun Kyung's brother, and letting him into the building?? I mean, he's been bitten, so he could literally turn any time, yes? This does not seem safe, at all. 😬

Next episode notes will be out on: Thursday, 20 Jan 2022!