Upamanyu Biswas
One of the main themes of Paramount+’s ‘Happy Face‘ is its focus on family and generational trauma, which is succinctly portrayed through Melissa Reed’s day-to-day challenges as she navigates her life in the wake of her father’s heinous crimes. As the narrative progresses, these central issues also apply to Melissa’s daughter, Hazel, who becomes engulfed and enticed by her grandfather’s enigmatic persona against her mother’s wishes. It brings a new layer of complexity to the drama and how Keith Jesperson’s crimes continue to haunt the family legacy despite years spent incarcerated behind bars. As Jesperson comes out with his ninth murder confession, matters heat up even further as Hazel grows distant from her mother and embarks on a dark path of her own in a bout of innocent teenage rebellion, making her a prominent part of the story.
Hazel Reed is Vaguely Inspired by Melissa Moore’s Real Daughter
The distinction between real and fiction is difficult to make in ‘Happy Face,’ especially as the show continuously blends both to keep everyone guessing throughout. While the project is inspired by Melissa Moore’s life and experiences growing up with a serial killer dad, Keith Jesperson, AKA the Happy Face Killer, the story takes many creative liberties to layer the truth in fictional events. A prominent example of this technique is the character of Hazel. She is likely inspired by Moore’s real-life daughter, Aspen. Similarly to Hazel, Aspen was Moore’s first-born child and the elder sister of her brother Jake. In the show, Hazel’s younger brother is Max.
According to an ABC News report, Moore and her husband, Sam Moore, visited Jesperson in prison with a 4-year-old Aspen and infant Jake many years prior. While this counts as a meeting between Moore’s family and her father, the show presents a reality where Hazel and Max have no idea that they have a grandfather named Keith Jesperson or that he is alive. In a 2009 interview, Moore revealed that one afternoon, a six-year-old Aspen asked her about her father’s identity, saying, “Mommy, where’s your daddy? Everybody has a daddy. Where’s yours?” These real-life questions may have inspired the show’s depiction. The first time Hazel directly corresponds with Jesperson is when he sends her cards on her birthday. In reality, Jesperson sent letters to Moore constantly, which she claimed she never read. However, we cannot tell if Aspen received them like Hazel.
The connection between Aspen and Hazel can seem tangible on the surface. However, the character is semi-fictional in conception and has her own storylines to follow, which differentiates her from any real-life counterpart. A significant aspect of her character arc is coming to terms with her grandfather’s macabre crimes and eventually learning to sell his artwork online. While this may or may not be fictional, there is a real-life community and market for Jespersen’s creative works in the real world, including museums where memorabilia linked with him and other serial killers are displayed for the public. As such, the show leans on some parts of reality while also not shying away from fictionalizing where necessary. This extends to Hazel Reed, who, despite her narrative prominence, remains a semi-fictional addition.
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