Lockdown
Episode 3 of “Happiness” begins with alarm bells wailing. Yi-Hyun makes it to Sae-Bom’s location but things are eerily quiet. Of course, the reason for this is that everyone is out back, dealing with the zombie threat on the truck. Sae-Bom and Yi-Hyun, with their impressive plot armor, manage to get hold of Seung-Young in the swarm and bring him to safety. A flash grenade works perfectly to finish things off, knocking out all those aboard the truck and keeping everything contained for now. ..
It’s a close call and Sae-Bom knows it. In fact, she calls out Tae-Seok and questions just how long he’s going to keep everything a secret for. And just to re-emphasize the point, she bangs on the lorry door.
Yi-Hyun and Sae-Bom head back home, where the pair wind up talking to Sae-Bom’s mother via video call. Only, the loud banging and shuffling from upstairs distracts them. When Yi-Hyun heads up to investigate, Joo-Hyeong and Sang-Hee answer, both looking glum and acting very suspiciously. Yi-Hyun tries to press them on their story but they’re not budging.
Yi-Hyun investigates the strange goings-on in the Unit but doesn’t seem to get anywhere. The story about them taking leave from the dermatology clinic seems to hold weight.
Sae-Bom is a police officer who heard enough when the banging returns later that day. She checks on them at the Unit and noticing blood on Joo-Hyeong’s sleeve, she barges inside and begins looking around. Bloody handprints on the bathroom walls are enough for this slimy man to push her inside. There, she comes face to face with Min-Ji, who has very clear been turned.
Min-Ji chases Joo-Hyeong through the hallways and comes face to face with Seo-Yoon. Thankfully Sae-Bom is there to save the girl, putting a pillow up against Min-Ji’s face. Buying them some crucial time, Yi-Hyun jumps in and manages to stop her. ..
A woman is contained in an apartment block after exhibiting symptoms of a new disease. The rest of the residents go to the store to buy disinfectants and other supplies to prevent the disease from spreading. Tae-Seok, a reporter, reports on the new disease and how it is affecting people. ..
Yi-Hyun, well aware of Tae-Seok’s secret facility and the fact that Min-Ji is being held there, heads over to check up on the woman. Tied down to the bed, she’s apparently a mess inside her head and by the end of the night, does pass away. Yi-Hyun remains determined to figure out who’s responsible for this and heads back to Joo-Hyeong’s place.
Given that Min-Ji’s skull was bashed in, and Joo-Hyeong’s golf clubs were originally covered in blood, it seems as if he bashed his wife’s brains in. It would appear as if this disease is just a front, especially since Min-Ji is the one who owns the clinic. Killing her would be advantageous for Joo-Hyeong’s career prospects. Sang-Hee backs up the whole story too, and her testimony is enough for Joo-Hyeong to get arrested.
The news that a pill dealer has sold drugs to multiple people in the complex has created a tense atmosphere in the city. Tae-Seok, a spokesman for the police, confirms that the dealer is also responsible for selling pills to Min-Ji and other people in the complex. The only option left is to contain the entire apartment complex and seal it off to the outside world.
The Episode Review
Residents of the apartment complex are starting to ask themselves why the banging is happening. It seems like Min-Ji, the resident who has been drinking water and taking pills, is the root cause.
The truck scene at the beginning of the episode is a little farfetched, especially as no one was scratched or hurt in the skirmish, but it’s a minor point in what’s otherwise a pretty good hour of TV. ..
The pairing of Yi-Hyun and Sae-Bom is compelling, and their romance is interestingly enticing. However, the focus of this episode is the rapidly progressing infection, which neglects their relationship. This may be a deliberate move by the producers to keep things interesting, but it does sideline their relationship in favour of the virus.
The ending of the episode does look like we’re settling in for the long haul inside this apartment complex. Whether we’ll get something close to Sweet Home in terms of paranoia and claustrophobia though remains to be seen. For now though, the episode ends with a promising sign of things to come. ..
