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Six strangers, one twisted crash, zero instructions on how to be happy.
Mini Series
TMDB
90
IMDb
87

The Insider's Guide To Happiness (2004)

knottyearnestly weirdsmall-town cosmic

Latest Episode

45 min

Season 1 • Episode 13

Latest

You Are Happy

Aug 12, 2004

Tess tells Matthew that she's pregnant, but his joy is tempered by a sighting of the (dead) Old Monk. When the monk confronts Matthew in a shop, he tells him that it is time to 'come home'. Shocked and frightened that the monk is warning him of impending death, Matthew locks himself in a room, desperate to avoid this fate. But the monk appears in the room with him, and Matthew panics, thinking he's having a heart attack. Tess helps him rush to hospital. However on the way they get caught in a huge traffic snarl-up and Matthew jumps out to walk. He soon encounters the source of the traffic jam: Tim, threatening to blow himself up. Tim has decided the solar eclipse signifies that 'it is time'. He follows Sam, who is rushing Julie to hospital to have the baby, and creates a traffic jam, With plastic explosives strapped to his body.

Overview

Drama

The Insiders Guide To Happiness is a New Zealand drama series that explores the lives of a group of six previously unconnected people. Each life is connected by a bizarre car accident, the outcome of which forces them to examine and explore the happiness in their own lives. The series was followed by a prequel, The Insider's Guide To Love, with James the only character in common.

Flag of NZNZ
Content warning

Standout Aspects

Writing

Tight puzzle-box plotting that actually pays off emotionally.

Acting

Rotondo and Sami anchor chaos with heartbreaking specificity.

Direction

Kiwi indie sensibility meets ambitious structural experimentation.

Best for:Solo: Late-night existential spirals with tea and tissues.·Binge: Weekend devour; episodes hook harder as they tangle.·Rewatch: Spot the foreshadowing you definitely missed first time.
Heads up:Emotional: Grief, miscarriage, and suicide ideation handled unflinchingly.·Triggers: Car crash trauma shown and revisited throughout.
First AiredMay 19, 2004
StatusEnded

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitymedium
Tonemixed
Feelheavy
Seasons1·Episodes13
TVNZ 1

Top Cast

Paolo Rotondo

Paolo Rotondo

Madeleine Sami

Madeleine Sami

Loren Taylor

Loren Taylor

Conor Quinn

Conor Quinn

Head Orderly

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Cultural

Pre-Lord of the Rings NZ television boom; this was peak ambitious local drama before global co-productions took over.

Trivia

The prequel 'Guide To Love' exists solely because test audiences demanded to know James's backstory—originally he was meant to stay mysterious.

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