The Final Day
Present Day
Episode 12 of Happiness kicks off with Sae-Bom engrossed in videos of Yi-Hyun on her phone. She is in a medical facility, connected to machines, and having her blood taken. Seo-Yoon, her mother, is also present, visiting her in one of the rooms where she is being supervised due to being infected. Seo-Yoon downplays her condition, passing it off as a mild cold to not alarm Seo-Yoon.
As Seo-Yoon is being prepared for surgery, she requests Sae-Bom to take care of her daughter for a little while. However, Eun-Ji, unable to resist any longer, turns into a zombie right before Sae-Bom’s eyes.
Meanwhile, Tae-Seok begins interviewing the survivors from the apartment block who managed to escape. He specifically interrogates So-Yoon to determine the number of infected individuals. However, the challenge lies in the limited time and resources available to synthesize and produce the cure.
With Sae-Bom’s antibodies in short supply, the available amount is finite. Tae-Seok makes the choice to use one of the doses on his wife. Shortly after administering the injection, soldiers arrive and arrest him for breaking protocols.
Knowing he would be pursued, Tae-Seok assists Sae-Bom in escaping before he is captured. Disguised in a gas mask and military attire, Sae-Bom makes her way to Kang Eun-Ji’s room first, providing her with the cure. Lieutenant Lee appears and helps Sae-Bom to escape as well. To make her escape believable, she is forced to make it appear as though she has incapacitated Kim, using the butt of her gun to deliver a blow to his face!
Unfortunately, Kim’s plan does not go as intended, as Tae-Seok reveals Sae-Bom’s location to his superiors. He points out that she possesses antibodies and is headed back to the apartment complex. Sae-Bom arrives at the complex in search of Yi-Hyun, but receives some devastating news.
1 Day Ago
Yi-Hyun is on the rooftop. After killing Andrew and leaving him lying in a pool of his own blood, he walks away. The Building Rep tries to disarm him, but Andrew regains consciousness and subdues her.
Inside the building, a bloodied Joo-Hyeong bursts through the corridors, determined to reach Sang-Hee and Hae-Sung. To prevent Joo-Hyeong from fulfilling his mission, they quickly shut the unit door. Upon returning to his own unit, Joo-Hyeong learns from the news that a cure is on its way and a vaccine is being tested, according to an anonymous “inside source.”
Yi-Hyun recovers from his injuries and finds Joo-Hyeong, who rambles senselessly about his wounds. However, the more pressing concern is the weak condition of Se-Kyu, who is barely clinging to life with a knife still lodged in his body. Despite the efforts to ease his pain and provide him with a safe space, there seems to be little hope. Joo-Hyeong predicts that Se-Kyu has only a few days left to live at best.
As things begin to spiral out of control, Yeon-Ok confronts the others, drenched in blood. But there is a bigger issue at hand. It turns out that Andrew is not actually dead and seems to be lurking somewhere within the apartment building.
While Yi-Hyun remains vigilant, he descends to the parking lot where he finds Dong-Hyun crying in his car. Despite being injured and bloodied, Dong-Hyun is still alive and has not turned into a zombie. Yi-Hyun brings him back inside. Upon returning home, Yi-Hyun tearfully apologizes to his father for his past behavior, and they share a heartwarming moment as they embrace and reconcile.
Meanwhile, a chaotic event unfolds in the hallway. Se-Kyu attacks Joo-Hyeong, forcing him to escape into the hallway. Eventually, he is driven down to the gym as a mutiny breaks out.
During Joo-Hyeong’s absence, Se-Kyu claims his belongings for himself. Importantly, Yi-Hyun is alive and waiting for Sae-Bom to return home.
Present Day… Again
Now we catch up to the present timeline. Sang-Hee arrives to see Joo-Hyeong, but Yeon-Ok beats her to it, sliding a weight from the gym toward her. A power struggle ensues, with Joo-Hyeong and Yeon-Ok joining forces to overthrow Yi-Hyun and kill him. In order to intimidate Yi-Hyun, Joo-Hyeong injures Sang-Hee and pushes her toward him, knowing that the sight of blood will make him turn.
Although Yi-Hyun rushes back into his unit, he begins to succumb to the infection. Sae-Bom’s heartfelt words persuade him to see reason, assuring him that she will stay by his side no matter what. In a poignant moment, she passionately kisses him.
With the virus still spreading, the damage is irreversible. Global stock markets, including Korea’s, crash. The prices of crude oil, gold, and raw materials plummet. As Dong-Hyun and his family watch the news report, masked soldiers appear and escort them out of the building. This turn of events is a result of Tae-Seok’s encouragement for the soldiers to intervene at the complex.
Interestingly, Sae-Bom is not the only one with antibodies in her blood. Soo-Min also possesses them, a fact that Tae-Seok discovers when he arrives at the block and examines his car. Joo-Hyeong and Yeon-Ok ironically find themselves empty-handed. They had always aspired to reach the top of the apartment block, and now they have achieved it, but remain alone and uncared for.
They reside together in a small tent on the rooftop, stained with blood, refusing to come downstairs. The sight of them devoid of possessions or dignity is strangely satisfying, even more satisfying than when Sae-Bom earlier kicked Joo-Hyeong in the groin!
Where is Andrew?
One unanswered question remains: the whereabouts of Andrew. Yi-Hyun, remaining watchful, continues his search of the building. Eventually, he finds Andrew on the lower floors. A tense standoff ensues, especially when Yi-Hyun becomes a hostage and is threatened with a gun.
Sae-Bom arrives and decides to cut her hand, intending to lure the infected Andrew out. The plan works, as Andrew convulses and releases Yi-Hyun, moving toward Sae-Bom. He is eventually shot dead, eliminating the threat. However, Yi-Hyun loses consciousness as the danger appears to be finally over.
How does Happiness end?
We fast forward one year into the future. The vaccine has been successful and has been widely distributed across Korea. Judging by the number of people out and about, it appears that the stock market is recovering and the economy is bouncing back from the previous horrors.
Sae-Bom and Yi-Hyun are still together, while those despicable individuals in the apartment complex face the consequences of their actions, as depicted in a brief courtroom scene.
Based on this ending, one can assume that everything has been resolved successfully, and the viral threat has been eradicated. Although not explicitly stated, it can be inferred that global stocks have improved. The ending feels somewhat rushed, but it provides a satisfactory conclusion for the main characters of the series.
The Episode Review
I wish Happiness had a longer runtime of 16 episodes. While the story manages to tie up loose ends reasonably well, some aspects could have been more impactful. The subplot involving Andrew’s murders, for instance, seemed unnecessary and only added unnecessary melodrama.
Additionally, the speedy resolution of the vaccine and the cure for everyone felt rushed. A few more episodes could have delved into the challenges of administering the cure and portrayed the slow journey to recovery.
Nevertheless, Happiness has always been driven by its characters, and the series does justice to both the main and supporting cast in the end. There is a consistent exploration of human nature, showcasing both the best and worst aspects of