Happy Merry Ending – Series Review & Episode Guide

Seung Jun is a vocal coach who occasionally works as a wedding singer for a hotel. Despite his beautiful voice, he has a shy personality and doesn't like mingling in groups. Seung Jun feels self-conscious in group settings. He wears sunglasses indoors to avoid initiating eye contact with others when performing. Seung Jun also takes medication to manage his anxiety levels.

Seung Jun meets Jae Hyun, a pianist recently hired to accompany his performances. Jae Hyun owns a coffee shop and only plays the piano for fun. He introduces himself to Seung Jun and compliments his singing. Jae Hyun invites him to a group meal, but his coworker politely declines. Nonetheless, Jae Hyun persists until Seung Jun finally changes his mind. However, the meal doesn't go well. Jae Hyun asks too many questions, triggering Seung Jun's anxiety. Seung Jun has a panic attack and causes a commotion at the restaurant.

Seung Jun becomes drunk after the meal, so Jae Hyun offers to take him home. While chatting, Seung Jun agrees to give his coworker free vocal lessons. The following day, Jae Hyun calls and gets in touch. Seung Jun is embarrassed about making a fool out of himself. Jae Hyun wants to apologize for making him uncomfortable during last night's meal. Seung Jun keeps his distance and doesn't want to socialize. He quickly heads home and consumes more medication to ease another panic attack.

Seung Jun is traumatized by what happened with Joo Won, his former manager. Five years ago, Seung Jun was a trainee for an idol group. He developed a crush on Joo Won, who cared for him tenderly. However, Joo Won was also fooling around with another group member. Seung Jun felt betrayed by his mentor and called him out on his misconduct. Afterwards, Joo Won undermined Seung Jun's confidence and sabotaged his career. The young singer was left with little self-esteem.

Seung Jun lives with Ho Yeon, his neighbour who loves surfing. They have a close relationship and often visit each other's flats. Ho Yeon cared for his friend after Joo Won kicked Seung Jun out of the idol group. Ho Yeon has a secret crush on his flatmate. However, Seung Jun seems oblivious to his feelings. Ho Yeon notices Seung Jun's recent bond with Joo Won. He starts drifting away from Seung Jun.

Happy Merry Ending centres on a protagonist who struggles to socialize with others. Initially, he just seemed shy and introverted. However, it becomes evident that his psychological challenges run deeper. The main character shows many signs of underlying trauma, from medication to panic attacks. The plot explores his backstory, revealing that he came out of a toxic relationship. Thankfully, his new love interest helps him recover as they embark on a journey of romance, music, and mental wellness.

The idea behind Happy Merry Ending seems decent. I see occasional glimpses of an intriguing story, making me curious about the protagonist's troubled past. However, most of the narrative is dry and clunky. The scenes are too mundane, the dialogue lacks substance, and the interactions don't have oomph. There are also meaningless exchanges that convey nothing new about the main characters. These are all signs of a weak script, which doesn't develop the plot compellingly. Happy Merry Ending needs a better storyteller to guide the series with a sense of purpose.

Seung Jun is a sympathetic protagonist with a fascinating backstory. The actor (Lee Dong Won) portrays his role earnestly, making the character feel vulnerable and sincere. You want to root for him to overcome his mental health relapses or prevail against his manipulative mentor. However, the other lead isn't well-developed. With his shallow personality and little substance, I barely know anything about Jae Hyun. Also, I don't understand his motivations. He seems overly invested in Seung Jun, trying too hard to please someone who shows no interest in him.

The leads are initially awkward around each other. However, I like their rooftop dinner scene at the end of Episode 4. The couple shares a faint romantic spark, intriguing me about their possibilities. As their gentle love story unfolds, I'm glad Seung Jun has found a supportive partner who makes him happy. Regrettably, the last few episodes halt any momentum in their budding relationship. There's too much obnoxious melodrama instead of happy and merry BL content. In addition, the series wastes time teasing an unnecessary love triangle. Ho Yeon adds nothing to the plot.

Happy Merry Ending gets derailed in the last three episodes. The story shifts focus onto Joo Won, a one-dimensional antagonist who dominates the narrative with his laughable villainy. His scenes cheapen the plot, making it feel theatrical. Also, there's a terribly executed time skip. All of a sudden, Seung Jun conquers his trauma. He transforms his life, but this character development happens off-screen. I want to witness how Seung Jun makes empowering changes to grow as an individual. Yet, Happy Merry Ending omits the most crucial part of his emotional recovery.

Like the title suggests, Happy Merry Ending has a happy ending as the main characters enjoy a blissful relationship. They share a passionate kiss in the finale, marked by a sentimental ballad and elegant surroundings. Yet, I feel nothing toward the couple. The previous episodes have failed to establish a meaningful connection, so the lovey-dovey conclusion seems unearned. I'm left uninspired by the clumsy storytelling, poorly developed romance, and sloppy melodrama near the end. Happy Merry Ending is a mediocre BL series that underdelivers in every aspect.