Happy Face Episodes 1 & 2 recap: Melissa’s trauma, Keith’s crimes, and more

The 2025 real-life crime drama Happy Face is based on Melissa G. Moore's life. The daughter of Keith Hunter Jesperson is known as the Happy Face Killer. This narrative delves deeply into her psychological issues. Jesperson reappears in Melissa's life after years of silence. Due to this, she is forced to face the sobering truth of her past.

In the show, Melissa works to prevent the wrongful death of an innocent man. She learns horrible facts about her father's wrongdoings. She battles with her identity and the complex legacy of the man who permanently altered her life. With this, the series chronicles her emotional journey.

Melissa Moore discovers her father, the Happy Face Killer, has more victims than she realizes in Happy Face Episodes 1 and 2. She copes with upsetting memories and defends her family. With this, she attempts to find the truth. She aids in establishing the innocence of an innocent guy. This is done while doing her investigation.

---

More about Happy Face Episodes 1 & 2 recap

The first episode of cheerful Face begins with a seemingly cheerful family moment: Melissa Moore celebrates her daughter Hazel's birthday. However, the tranquility is broken in between. This happens when Hazel receives a suspicious yellow card. Melissa promptly removes this.

The scenario darkens in between. This especially happens when Melissa is requested to assist Kathy. She is a bereaved mother who is afraid to go on television. This is done to address her daughter's unsolved murder.

Kathy is persuaded to proceed by Melissa. However, the big surprise is when Melissa gets a call from her father and is told that he is the Happy Face Killer Keith Jesperson. He discloses that he knows a ninth victim. Due to this, Melissa is forced to confront the upsetting reality of her father's troubled background.

As the second episode begins, Melissa and her coworker Ivy are heading to Texas. This is mainly done to look into the ninth victim, Heather, and to help clear Elijah Faust, who was wrongfully convicted of her murder. Melissa is compelled to face her own childhood trauma. This is done as she investigates the case. With this, she also recalled her time spent with Keith.

Meanwhile, Hazel is unaware of reality. She launches an investigation into her grandfather's background, which leads to bullying at school. As Melissa and Ivy unearth evidence tying Keith to Heather's death, they are met with pushback. These are from local authorities, and they disregard their findings. Melissa is divided between keeping her family's secret and helping clear an innocent man's identity.

As tensions rise, Melissa resolves to tell Hazel the truth about her grandfather. Melissa openly announces on Dr. Greg's show that Keith is her father. This forces her to confront her traumatic past heritage. The episode concludes with Melissa attempting to find serenity while continuing her struggle for justice.

---

Cast of Happy Face

Happy Face stars Annaleigh Ashford as Melissa Moore, the Happy Face Killer's daughter. Ashford, renowned for Masters of Sex and American Crime Story, portrays a makeup artist who discovers the startling truth about her father. Dennis Quaid plays Keith Hunter Jesperson, the serial murderer, leveraging his experience from films such as The Parent Trap and Reagan.

James Wolk, as Melissa's husband, Ben, and Tamera Tomakili, as Ivy, a producer on a true-crime talk show, are among the other important performers. Melissa's daughter Hazel, portrayed by Khiyla Aynne, unintentionally becomes friends with her grandfather, a serial murderer. Benjamin Mackey plays Melissa's little son, Max, while David Harewood plays Dr. Greg, a talk-show presenter who seeks to take advantage of the circumstances.

Read More: Happy Face Episode 3: Release date news, time, streaming details, and more