FIRST IMPRESSION
When we hear HAPPY BIRTHDAY, all we imagine is a birthday song being sung but loved ones, cake, candles, balloons, gifts, party, like a smiling happy day when no one scolds you for any mistake. Though this drama is titled HAPPY BIRTHDAY it doesn’t have any of these. It rather shows the opposite topic, the biggest reason for sadness and death. it takes away the suffering, it leaves behind the pain to those who are known. And how difficult it is for a person who had to deal with suicide since birth. It had a grim and slow start which felt boring but I decided not to give up, and in a few episodes, it started to grow on me and I felt all kinds of goosebumps and intense emotions.
The series is very layered and narration is done excellently. With each mystery being opened up about the relationships and sufferings of Tharnam, everyone left behind seemed selfish and guilty at the same time. Tonmai seems like a victim of the things he didn’t do. His life is peaceful but not happy. . Tharnam suffered from Autophobia is very dark, if one gets sucked up, it is really difficult to cope. So when she is able to reconnect via Tonmai, I find the living people more selfish than on a guilt trip.
I felt really bad for him, who suffered everything without knowing what he was being held guilty of. Sometimes I got confused with whom should I sympathize, Tharnam who didn’t receive affection when she lived, or Tonmai who receives affection when he is possessed.
Also in this dark tale, everyone could talk about the grim story, but for me, I found a ray of hope in NOINA. So talking about side stories Noina and Tonmai's budding relationship was like ice cream, enjoyable anytime. It gave a cooling effect to the serious and gloomy drama. She didn’t have big role but she lighted up the mood whenever she was onscreen. Well, the ending is heart-wrenching and proves worth the title HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

ACTING is superb by everyone.
-No wonder Pluem as Tonmai won best supporting actor in this series but TBH he is actually the main lead not a supporting character to me.
-Mild as Thannam had the saddest face I have ever seen on a 17-year-old teenager. She just carried the character of Tharnam exquisitely like living into it.
-Push as Tee certainly gave handsomeness to the show, I have seen him in rather rough and arrogant roles, so it was pretty good to watch him in a remorseful and gloomy character.
-Lung Tai was one of the best characters in the show. he definitely played a more father figure to Thanam than her real father.

MUSIC
I loved the BGM's. it is excellent and mesmerizing. The opening tune sets a sad tone, that what we are going to watch could be more than that.

REWATCH
it is a bit difficult. Once you have opened the mystery box, there is no reason to find that box again. Also because it is a grim tale rather than sad which could easily make me depressed cause am a really emotional person.

AFTERTHOUGHT
Death is inevitable but suicide is preventable. It takes one dark moment to overshadow your courage into something grim, so rather than fighting alone, find a comrade to fight.