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“There’s a real element of fun playing a villain — because it’s delicious.” Of all the Hollywood names you could surmise saying such a thing, Dennis Quaid was probably not the one you were thinking of. Starting his career 50 years ago, the American actor tended to find success in the drama and comedy genres. Such titles like 1998’s The Parent Trap and 2002’s The Rookie prove this to be true. But just like all the others who found themselves the least bit typecasted, he wasn’t satisfied with himself. He wanted to try something outside the box and be great at it.

Horror was something that Dennis Quaid would sporadically step into — but these acting experiments had awful results. 2009’s Pandorum flopped at the box office and 2019’s The Intruder failed more on a critical level. In a new true crime drama on Paramount+ called Happy Face, Quaid steps...

On Monday March 24 2025, Parsho broadcasts Happy Face!

The Confession Season 1 Episode 1 Episode Summary

The upcoming episode of “Happy Face,” titled “The Confession,” promises to be an emotional journey for the characters involved. Set to air on Parsho, this episode revolves around Hazel, who receives a mysterious birthday card. This card serves as a catalyst for deeper revelations, particularly for her mother, Melissa.

As the story unfolds, Hazel’s innocent excitement about her birthday takes a turn when she discovers the card’s unsettling message. This unexpected surprise leads Melissa to confront parts of her past that she has kept hidden for years. The episode explores themes of family, secrets, and the impact of the past on the present.

Viewers can expect a mix of tension and heartfelt moments as Melissa grapples with her memories. The dynamic between mother and daughter will be tested as Melissa’s past comes to light,...

This post contains spoilers from Paramount+'s Happy Face episode 1, "The Confession."

It's been 15 years since Melissa Reed (Annaleigh Ashford) has seen her father, and as far as she’s concerned, the rest of her life could pass without ever seeing him again, and she’d be just fine. Why? Because he’s serving four life sentences at Oregon State Penitentiary for murdering at least eight women. Melissa is the daughter of Keith Jesperson (Dennis Quaid), the notorious Happy Face Killer who operated in the early 90s. New Paramount+ true crime series Happy Face picks up here and jumps off from Moore’s story to bring us face to face with a serial killer as time dwindles for an innocent man on death row.

A successful make-up artist on a true crime TV talk show, Melissa has gone to great lengths to hide her identity and protect her family secret not just from the public,...

At the heart of every true crime show, movie, book and podcast lies the same uncomfortable reality: The worst epoch in a victim’s life, the pain from which ripples through their loved ones’ lives forever, becomes a form of ghastly entertainment for the masses.

Happy Face, which premiered today on Paramount+, acknowledges and wrestles with that quandary as it tells the story of Melissa G. Moore, who learned at age 15 that her father was a serial killer. The series is inspired by on Moore’s podcast of the same name and her book Shattered Silence, which chronicled her experiences...

Paramount+’s new crime drama series, Happy Face, delves into the harrowing true story of Melissa Moore, daughter of the notorious “Happy Face Killer,” Keith Hunter Jesperson. Premiering on March 20, 2025, the series explores Melissa’s struggle to reconcile her father’s gruesome legacy while seeking justice for his unknown victims. This article provides an overview of the Happy Face’s plot, introduces the main cast and characters, details the complete release schedule, and informs you where to watch this compelling narrative.

Plot Overview of Happy Face

Happy Face centers on Melissa Reed (Annaleigh Ashford), a makeup artist and daughter of incarcerated serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson (Dennis Quaid). Having concealed her father’s identity from her family and colleagues, Melissa’s past resurfaces when Jesperson contacts her employer, Dr. Greg (David Harewood), host of a true crime television show. Jesperson claims to have information about an additional murder but insists...

Quick LinksHappy Face Is Memorable For What It Doesn't ShowHappy Face's Cast Brings the True Story to Life Exceedingly WellHappy Face Stumbles When It Moves Away From Melissa's Story

The following contains major spoilers from Happy Face Episodes 1 & 2, "The Confession" & "Killing Shame," now streaming on Paramount+. It also contains discussion of violence.

Happy Face is unlike any other "based on a true story" crime drama. The Paramount+ series -- inspired by the life story of Melissa G. Moore, as well as her Happy Face podcast and her memoir Shattered Silence -- is about a serial killer, but it's not centered on him. Instead, the show opts to tell the tale of the Happy Face Killer through the perspective of his daughter, and to talk about everything surrounding his heinous acts of violence.

The eight-episode series is a fictionalization of the story of Keith Hunter Jesperson, but it's Keith's daughter Melissa who is front and center.

This is a scene-by-scene recap of Happy Face Season 1 Episode 1, “The Confession.” For a discussion of the episode, please visit our Happy Face Series Premiere Review.

Melissa puts on makeup while “Put On a Happy Face” plays over the scene. The mailman is loading his pack. He’s got a lot of letters for the family.

Melissa delivers her daughter Hazel a birthday donut in bed.

(Katie Yu/Paramount+)

Ben is jogging, a smile on his face.

Brother Max can’t believe how many presents Hazel has. Hazel asks Mom to open one.

Ben gets the mail and drops it in front of Hazel, wishing her a happy birthday. He’s sweaty. Eww gross. Melissa looks at Hazel’s makeup and helps her correct it.

Hazel received a birthday card in a yellow envelope. It’s from someone who says they’re family and mentions Chilliwack as a happy place for the whole family.