The latest reports from Deadline confirm that the gripping Happy Face, a serial killer series featuring the talents of Dennis Quaid and Annaleigh Ashford, has been officially cancelled by Paramount+ after only one season. Given the show’s lack of significant buzz and engagement earlier this year, this news does not come as a shock to fans or critics alike.
Happy Face draws its inspiration from Melissa Moore’s compelling 2018 podcast, also named Happy Face, as well as her 2009 autobiography, Shattered Silence, which she co-authored with M. Bridget Cook. At the tender age of 15, Moore was devastated to learn that her cherished father was the notorious serial killer known as the Happy Face Killer. Now an adult, she has changed her name and kept her tumultuous family history private while her father serves a life sentence in prison.
Building on Moore’s harrowing real-life narrative, the series explores the complex relationship between Melissa (played by Ashford) and her father, the infamous Happy Face Killer (portrayed by Quaid). After years of silence and separation, he finds a way to re-enter her life, forcing her to confront their past. Racing against time, Melissa must uncover whether an innocent man is facing execution for a crime her father committed. Throughout this emotional journey, she grapples with the devastating effects her father’s actions had on the families of his victims and ultimately faces a profound reckoning regarding her own identity.
In a review by our own Alex Maidy, he describes Happy Face as an engaging series, although he points out its difficulty in finding a clear distinction between a true crime narrative and traditional crime procedural formats. He notes, “Happy Face explores themes of duality and concealed truths but struggles to establish its identity as a series. Every adaptation based on true crime must take some creative liberties to enhance dramatic tension and entertainment value. However, Happy Face occasionally gives the impression of stretching its narrative, borrowing elements from typical procedural dramas,” Maidy observes. “The connections and shared trauma between Keith Jesperson and Melissa Moore present a far more compelling story than watching Moore attempt to unravel a mystery as an amateur detective. By the series’ conclusion, the notion that this could evolve into a continuing drama about a podcasting investigator who is the daughter of a serial killer diminishes the authentic story it aimed to convey. Despite the strong performances by Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid, Happy Face might have been more effective had it remained true to the real-life events rather than veering into fictional sensationalism,” he concludes. To read the full review, click here.
What are your thoughts on the cancellation of Happy Face?
