Happy Face

The show itself is based on a true story but the story portrayed takes liberties to make it interesting. It's not meant to be a documentary. The "politics" people complain about is not a bad thing; rather it's to highlight the REAL injustices that happen across our beautiful country and it's also worth highlighting how corrupt our justice system can be, why complain? We simply cannot live in a bubble of our own making and then get mad others have different experiences. ANYWAYS, the show is a tad dry, there def should be more Quaid time.. who knew he was so good at acting maniacal! The characters are kind of cheesy, typical but also portrayed in a way that feels more natural for what humans go through in tough situations. The show sets you up to dislike the daughter, and yet empathy (which some of us still have) allows you to see how complex being his daughter was and still is, and that navigating life is never easy or obvious. Some people do not go to therapy despite trauma and that's another part worth noting too. Didn't even notice the pronoun thing, but I also don't let things bother me when they shouldn't. Show is overall worth watching, even if its not the best. The scenes are done well, the transitions are captivating, characters are solid enough and the story will keep you interested (just not the binge worthy type everyone seeks out).

This is more than a story of a serial killer and true crime. After watching the first two episodes, I'm drawn in and want to see how it plays out, not necessarily because of the plot or story line but more because I became invested in the characters' lives and emotions. What is probably most compelling is how I am drawn to the character of Melissa, whose father is the serial killer. We the audience see the flash backs, her experiences, and emotions as she is now dealing with her father's new confession on a 9th victim. In real life, Melissa has written a book about her experiences, which I have not read, nor did I know anything about this story, which means my review of the series is not biased. The acting and script is also decent, and I will keep watching.

It was an interesting perspective from the vantage point of a serial killer's family member. There is a plethora of true crime serial killer shows out there but very little about being related to one of them and the impact that has. I don't feel that the storyline's intention was to depict the serial killer's story, it was about his actions and the impact that had on those closest to him. In that instance, the series delivered. Quaid does a wonderful job of bringing the narcissistic, manipulative mind of a killer to the viewer and keeps it suspenseful. The show did have a lot of peaks and valleys with regard to maintaining the viewer's interest. Annaleigh Ashford also does excellent work in her portrayal of Melissa. I feel that the story line doesn't dig deep enough into her character to allow it to fully develop. The remaining characters were rather pedestrian and underdeveloped as well. Maybe there will deeper insights into them in further seasons should there be any. One major observation I had that was not addressed in the show was Jesperson's stature. Keith Jesperson was a MASSIVE individual standing 6'8". I discovered this just prior to watching the series and couldn't help but feel how much more intense his character would have been portrayed had this been addressed. The show is good, it's worth watching. It left me wanting a bit more than I was given. Maybe that was the point.

Happy Face, the Paramount+ series based on the true story of Melissa Moore, the daughter of serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson, aims to be a gripping true-crime drama. While the premise is inherently compelling, the show often veers into exploitative territory, prioritizing sensationalism over a nuanced exploration of grief and trauma.

The series centers on Melissa (Annaleigh Ashford) as she grapples with her father's horrific crimes and his continued attempts to manipulate her from behind bars. Dennis Quaid delivers a chilling performance as Jesperson, capturing his unsettling charm and underlying menace. However, the show's reliance on his character often feels gratuitous, dwelling on the gruesome details of his murders in a way that seems designed to shock rather than inform.

I don't like the character played by Ivy, she used her friend for ratings.

In conclusion, Happy Face is a mixed bag. While it boasts strong performances and a compelling central story, its tendency towards exploitation and excessive drama ultimately undermines its potential. The show raises important questions about the ethics of true-crime storytelling, but it often falls victim to the very issues it seeks to critique. Rather than offering a thoughtful exploration of grief and trauma, Happy Face too often settles for sensationalism, leaving the viewer feeling more manipulated than enlightened.

Great to see Dennis Quaid pull through with a creepy and hateable character.

The show is compelling and has got me well booked into where it's going to go

The hateable cast making dumb decisions details the otherwise interesting progression of the case, with the horrible performance by Annaleigh Ashford not doing any favours to my ability to watch more than 5 minutes without absolutely cringing.

Not 1 sentence, not 1 frame, not 1 expression is worthy of giving this woman the title of an "Actor". Absolutely drags the sub par performance of everyone else down with her...

Let's see where this goes...