8 Years Ago, SyFy Quietly Dropped One of The Best Crime Thriller Shows of the Decade

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Despite being a standout crime thriller of the late 2010s, the SyFy show Happy! didn’t get the recognition it deserved before it was canceled. The show was based on a comic created by Grant Morrison, who is also known for his work on titles like Doom Patrol, Green Lantern, and Animal Man.

As a huge cinema fan, I’ve always admired Grant Morrison’s work – they’re the minds behind incredible graphic novels like Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth and Wonder Woman: Earth One, and of course, their legendary run on Batman. But honestly, one of their more recent films, released in 2017, didn’t get the recognition it deserved, which is a real shame.

Despite generally positive reviews, the SyFy series Happy! didn’t attract a large audience. It wasn’t for everyone, but those who enjoyed its over-the-top style found it to be a uniquely compelling blend of crime, comedy, thrills, horror, and emotional character stories – and a truly underrated show.

2017’s Happy Is A Killer Christmas Crime Thriller From Syfy

Featuring Christopher Meloni as Nick Sax, a troubled and violent former police officer, Happy! centers on a down-on-his-luck hitman spiraling into self-destruction. Sax is a flawed and unlikeable protagonist – a real antihero – but the truly awful people he confronts make you want to see him succeed.

The show begins with Sax questioning his sanity after a heart attack, as a bright blue animated unicorn named Happy starts appearing to him. Happy, voiced by Patton Oswalt, insists he’s the imaginary friend of a young girl who desperately needs Sax’s assistance.

Viewers likely won’t be surprised to learn that Hailey is Nick’s long-lost daughter. However, they will be shocked to find out she’s been kidnapped by someone dressed as Santa Claus. Even more surprisingly, Sax’s imaginary friend is attempting to persuade a dangerous, unstable criminal to stop a child trafficking operation.

Season one of Happy! is a fast-paced thriller. Set right before Christmas, it follows Nick as he uses violence and intimidation to uncover the truth behind Hailey’s disappearance. While the second season slowed down to focus more on the inner struggles of the main character, season one doesn’t hold back on action.

Happy Is One of the Most Underrated Thrillers Ever

Nick, like the tough detectives in films such as The French Connection, isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, but Happy! makes him a surprisingly likable character even when he’s fighting and causing chaos. The show’s villains are truly awful – over-the-top, repulsive criminals with connections to powerful people.

Throughout the first season, it’s clear that Happy! is more than just a darkly funny, action-packed, and scary show—it’s a twisting conspiracy thriller. The story involves corrupt police officers, a criminal family hiding behind a respectable business, powerful politicians, and a large cast of characters who all contribute to a complicated and tangled plot.

It’s a shame that Happy! was canceled after just two seasons, leaving many parts of its story unanswered. However, the first season is a uniquely exciting and self-contained adventure. Despite its dark themes, the show works so well because it has two creators who are ideally suited to handling such a tricky balance of tones.

Toni Morrison’s skillful writing makes Sax a captivating character, even though he initially seems like a stereotypical tough ex-cop. And Brian Taylor, who co-directed Crank, brings his signature over-the-top, action-packed visual style to this Christmas story, creating a show that’s unlike anything else on television.

Syfy Canceled Happy After Only Two Seasons

Okay, let me tell you about Happy!. This show isn’t afraid to be shocking – it’s wildly inventive and definitely pushes boundaries with its dark humor and over-the-top violence. But surprisingly, it never feels truly malicious. There’s this wonderfully chaotic and silly energy running throughout everything, and director Patrick MacManus really nails the tone. He gives the whole season a much-needed dose of sarcasm that keeps it from getting too grim. It’s a weird, wild ride, but I was genuinely entertained.

Even though Happy! was a fantastic show, it was canceled after just two seasons. Its very dark and violent themes likely prevented it from attracting a large enough audience to justify a third season.

The popularity of shows like The Boys and Peacemaker shows that Happy!’s dark and violent content wasn’t the reason it failed. It likely just came along before audiences were ready for it. Since its cancellation in 2019, many other comic book adaptations with similar levels of darkness and brutality have found success, lasting for multiple seasons.

If you enjoy gritty, lesser-known crime thrillers, the first season of Happy! is a fun choice to watch during the holidays. It’s a unique blend of silly comedy and intense violence, which won’t appeal to all viewers, but it’s still considered a standout in the genre—and might just be the most violent Christmas show ever made!

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2025-12-17 20:59