Happy Face – Season One [2025] on Paramount Plus

Happy Face is honestly underwhelming. Production is what you expect, but the writing is confused between a biography and a drama.

It’s 2025. We should know that you can’t do a half-take on a serial killer. Creator Jennifer Cacicio hasn’t seen Dahmer, or any episode of Paramount’s own Criminal Minds.

Starring Annaleigh Ashford & Dennis Quaid, the show is supposed to be based on true events surrounding the notorious Happy Face killer. However, a simple only search reveals that it’s very loosely based on the podcast of the same name, presented by the killer’s daughter.

Despite a strong start, Happy Face suffers from the widespread problem of a story that would be better served as a movie rather than eight hours of extra-long episodes. Although it becomes a little more consistent in the second half, the season remains a weirdly soapy, at times saccharine, evocation of triumph over trauma.

In fact, most of the main story is fiction, including Ashford’s storyline in most of the season. Which is sad. I was recommended this show because of being filmed in Canada, and a friend working on it. Surprisingly, the show can’t decide what it wants to be: wish fulfillment media for true-crime junkies or a takedown of the very genre.

The trailer was great. The show? Just okay.

Should You Watch It?

I get that it’s clearly season one of many, but if you’re doing a random show about a serial killer, do it. If you’re doing a true story, commit to it. The viewers are too experienced for half-baked shows.

Where Can I Watch It?

You can stream Happy Face on Paramount+.