Early Access: Happiness E3

E3. Ok, so I'm starting to get a sense for why I've heard fans of this show say that it's a lot of fun to watch, but there are a lot of things that don't make sense. There were at least several instances, this episode, where I found myself going, "Waitaminute.. that.. doesn't make sense..?"

And yet, this is somehow not deterring me from enjoying this show. That's some kind of skillz Show's got there! 😂

One of those instances, is when we see Sae Bom talking with Seung Young, after he's been taken out of the truck, and subdued. It's nice that she's talking to him like he's a normal person and all, but like, we've literally seen him turn, with the white eyes. Why didn't they put a protective face shield on him, like they've done with all the other patients that we've seen? Were they afraid that Lee Kyu Hyung wouldn't be able to emote properly, with the face shield on? (That's impossible, by the way. Lee Kyu Hyung is fantastic, and I'd bet that he'd have done an excellent job, even with a face shield on.)

It also doesn't make sense to me that the upstairs infected lady doctor neighbor, wouldn't at least try to attack Sae Bom, when Sae Bom gets pushed into the bathroom where her husband's been keeping her. From what we're told, once infected, these patients can't control their urge for human blood. It's hard to believe that she would be so focused on her husband's betrayal, that she'd be able to ignore her basic thirst for blood..? But ok, on this point, it's still possible that this is just something about the virus that we don't yet understand.

Also.. Why would her husband try to kill her? Yi Hyun' theory, that he's just trying to get his clinic back, doesn't make any sense, because even if his wife were dead, he's still suspended for medical malpractice..?

I'm also decidedly not impressed with the decision to seal off the apartment complex - in the middle of the day. If the whole idea is to keep residents in, because you just don't know who will be infected, then why do it during the day, when many residents would be out at work?? Once they know that they can't come out if they go in, then why would they go back home, right? Wouldn't it make more sense, if they'd stealth-sealed off the complex in the middle of the night, so that most residents would be at home and in bed?

Ah, and also, why would Jung Kook still appear so clueless about the "mad person disease"? I mean, he was literally there, on the ground, at the facility where patients are being quarantined? And, he'd been there when everyone was running around, trying to contain the patients from breaking out of those container trucks?

One other thing: I find the characterization of the lady in pink - lady doctor's associate - very uneven. If she'd actually witnessed the man bludgeoning his wife on the head, and that's why she's able to testify as a witness, against him, then why would she have looked so happy and lovey-dovey with him, in the elevator? Is Show trying to tell me that she was perfectly fine with witnessing the attempted murder, but only got freaked out, when she realized that the wife had become a bloodthirsty zombie..? 😳

It's really interesting to me, that all of these things not making sense, doesn't put much of a dent in my enjoyment of this show.

As you guys would have noticed by now, I am VERY much taken with Yi Hyun and Sae Bom, and it tickles me pink, that this show manages to serve up organic moments of squee, in the middle of a zombie virus outbreak. SKILLZ, I say! 🤩

So indulge me, while I spazz for a while.

I just love that moment, when Yi Hyun shows up, realizes that Sae Bom's been shut into the container truck along with a whole bunch of very dangerous zombies, and, without hesitation, shove the soldiers aside, and rushes into the container himself, to drag her outta there, zombies or no. It's like, "No one's taking my wife away from me!!!" - Or at least, that's what I hear in my head, when I see him do that.

The best part is, after that very dramatic rescue, he's so nonchalant, in the way he asks her if she's ok. That's so badass, to act like this whole thing was just another walk in the park for him. And, she's a badass too, to answer pretty nonchalantly herself, that she's fine, and what's he doing there? Ahhh. These two. 🤩

I love the little thoughtful touches that Show scatters in the way Yi Hyun and Sae Bom relate. Like how he tends to the scratches on her hand, and consoles her that everything will be ok. And the way he rummages for herbal tea, so that he can make her a warm cup of it, to calm her nerves, before they have that video call with his mother to tell her that they're married. It's so thrilling, honestly. And how cute, that Sae Bom dresses up, in order to talk with her new mother-in-law. Aw! 😍

I love how, when Yi Hyun comes upon the scene of Sae Bom fighting to subdue lady doctor-zombie, he just springs into action and does the job so smoothly and confidently. Yi Hyun's got some nice fight moves, and I am duly starry-eyed. 🤩 And I love that he and Sae Bom are so in sync. Sae Bom knows to trust him completely and leave the zombie subduing to him, and immediately goes to comfort Seo Yoon, and make sure that she's ok.

And what about how, when Yi Hyun delivers that punch to doctor-murderer's torso, he remarks in such a casually serious manner, that dude should be thankful that it isn't Sae Bom punching him, because he's surely not survive that. Ha! I love it, that Yi Hyun is so appreciative of Sae Bom's badassery!

There's distinct divide, in this drama world, between those whose first concern is the public, and those whose first concern in the patients. LTC Han's decision to isolate the patients feels cold and cruel to Yi Hyun and Sae Bom, who feel that he's not giving enough thought to the patients who are suffering.

At the same time, that reveal, that his own wife is a patient who's being isolated, makes LTC Han's decision that much more poignant and meaningful. He's not speaking from a removed position where it's easy for him to ignore the pain of those who are infected. He's speaking as someone who's seen, up close and personal, what the disease can do to a person; he's speaking as the husband of a patient who's still fighting to survive.

Interestingly, it's perhaps Yi Hyun and Sae Bom who are the ones who are saying, too easily, that LTC Han and his team are being too cold and cruel to the patients, because they haven't seen how the team caring for the patients have suffered. Ji Soo talking about her colleagues getting infected while trying to care for the patients, is very sobering, and provides a strong counterpoint to Sae Bom's stance.

There are no easy answers, because both sides have a point. These patients are suffering, and need care. And yet, at the same time, everyone else needs to be protected as well. Where do we draw the line?

Also, there's the thing where LTC Han doesn't actually release the full truth at the press conference. That feels so familiar, doesn't it? Sae Bom feels that people should be informed, so that they can be prepared. But on the other hand, full information is likely to lead to widespread hysteria, which would be a problem in itself, yes? This all feels pretty familiar to all of us, I'm sure, since these conflicting principles are ones that we've seen play out in the real world.

In the meantime, I'm very curious to see how things develop in the apartment complex. Will prissy snooty resident representative from Unit 1202 finally stop caring about real estate prices, and start caring about her survival, for instance?

At this moment, it appears that the Next pill is not actually proven to be the source of the zombie infection. So far, all we have is circumstantial evidence. The virus could have nothing to do with the Next pill, for all we know.

This also reminds me of when authorities were trying to determine whether or not COVID-19 is air-borne. With incomplete information, and a pressing need to protect both patients and the general public, what are people in positions of authority to do?

It's just like Sae Bom to make the decision to stay instead of leave, so that she can protect the apartment. She's so impulsively passionate, that way. What I do love about this, is how she tells Yi Hyun not to come back - but then runs into his arms, when she realizes that he's already back, and says, with her cheek to his chest, "I thought I was all alone."

Ahhh. I love how he quietly pats her on the back, even though he doesn't yet know, that there's nowhere doctor-murderer can run to, at this time. Regardless of that, he puts her first, and I'm a melted puddle of swoon, I tell ya. 😍

And when Sae Bom tells him that no one can get out, and therefore it's ok if doctor-murderer runs away, he just.. continues to pat her shoulder, like it doesn't matter that they're locked into the apartment complex, because they're together.

Things are only going to get more complicated from here on out, and I am so on board to see what happens, particularly because this is just going to give me more Yi Hyun and Sae Bom on my screen. SLURP. MOAR PLEASE. 😋

Next episode notes will be out on Friday, 31 Dec 2021!