‘Happy’s Place’ Recap: ‘Ladies’ Night’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

HAPPY'S PLACE -- "Ladies Night" Episode 105 -- Pictured: Melissa Peterman as Gabby -- (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)

​Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Five of ‘Happy’s Place’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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For the most part, the new hit NBC comedy, Happy’s Place, has focused squarely on the experiences of two key characters, Bobbie and Isabella and rightfully so. After all, they just learned they are half-sisters, they are both dealing with powerful grief and confusion and their journey through that is important and engaging. But while that is worth watching and deeply engaging, this is also a series that boasts an amazing cast that play equally as dynamic characters, and the best sitcoms out there know to offer explorations and growth for those character as well, and since this is a sitcom with sitcom legend Reba McEntire in the lead, you darn well know it was a matter of time before that happened.

In fact, the most recent episode was the right time for that to start. Since ‘Ladies’ Night’ focused upon the life and times of Gabby, who was going through it in this story. Because she was on the dating apps, and she was having awful luck. Since a recent chance to date ended with being stood up at the restaurant, and she was crying a plenty and that prompted the bar to stand behind her and try and help lift her up. Which Isabella tried to do by changing up Gabby’s dating profile to look far more appealing and magical, and when that didn’t work, because dating apps are just the worst, Bobbie thought she would give support a whirl and tried to showcase how Gabby didn’t need anyone to complete her life. 

Courtesy of a women’s empowerment mixer, where Gabby could see how many women out there were living life fine without love, because we don’t necessarily need that to be whole. But that went poorly, and Gabby thought that a different romantic message was being sent, one that wasn’t for her, and well, while she did indeed learn plenty from the women at that mixer, she was still sad and soon, mad. Because no one in the bar really took the time to understand why she was sad, they just imparted wisdom and action upon her, and while their actions were indeed from a place of love and care, there was more that Gabby wanted here than just a husband. She actually wanted to start a family and have a baby, and her frustrations came from the fact that no one asked her what she wanted.

Which led to a beautiful sequence for certain, wherein the entire team apologized to her in a manner that looked like an intervention. But it was filled with kind words and remorse for how everyone recently treated Gabby, and an understanding that they needed to tell her such good things more often. Which helped Gabby find some joy, some value again since she felt she did not have that in the moment, and support. Because she still wanted her family, and the team let her know they would back her in that too and that made, for one beautiful story. One that truly showcased Gabby for certain and let Melissa Peterman shine as an actor, but it also offered us just so much more.

Since this was a very realistic story about how we get down in the dumps sometimes, how our callings can help create that and how hard it is sometimes to navigate life when we’re going through it. Since our friends don’t always know exactly how to help us, and maybe sometimes… they can’t. So, we just need their support over anything else so we can find our way through the storm. Which Gabby did here and well, this just goes to show that every character matters in this story and will get screen time and their own episodes and that’s wonderful. Since it means we will be treated to a complete story about amazing people and the lives they lead in that tiny little bar in Tennessee. Until next time.

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