‘Happy’s Place’ Recap: ‘Pilot’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

HAPPY'S PLACE -- Episode: Pilot -- Pictured: (l-r) Belissa Escobedo as Isabella, Reba McEntire as Bobbie -- (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Happy’s Place’.
​
Whether we like to face it or not, there will come a day when we say goodbye to our parents, forever. For everything ends, including our lives, and when that difficult day arrives… we hope for one thing. A peaceful farewell. One where we can properly grieve with loved ones and start the healing process. But alas, that isn’t always the case. Because sometimes, death brings out the worst in people, even in our family or our friends and that can lead to conflict in a trying time. Not to mention, sometimes the passing of a loved brings forth major surprises. Wherein we learn that the person we adored carried secrets and skeletons in their closet, and that… can be quite the shock to the system. One that we hope we never face, but what if we did? How would we handle such a major surprise?

Well as it turns out, a brand-new sitcom on NBC is going to ponder upon such matters, and so much more. Which Happy’s Place informed us of in its ‘Pilot’ by introducing us to a woman named Bobbie, who is doing her best to keep it together and start a new chapter while she grieves. For her father just passed away, and that means she’s now without a man she adored, and it is up to her to keep the family business alive, a lovely little bar named Happy’s Place. When we catch up with her here, she is working hard to start that new chapter. For she’s fully in charge now and ready to keep the business thriving. Until quite the surprise drops into her lap. For one fine day, a woman, and a stranger, named Isabella steps into the bar, and she is there with a lot of nerves riding upon her shoulders. Because someone asked her to stop by the bar to give her some important news.

That someone, happens to be Bobbie’s lawyer and he lets them know… that the bar was actually left to more than one person. For Isabella is Bobbie’s half-sister, and co-owner of Happy’s Place and well… that brings about the exploration in question in the most direct manner possible. Because just like that, Bobbie learns that the man she adored, admired and loved with every fiber of her being, lied to her. Kept secret the fact that he had another family, and that puts her in a tough place. One where she struggles to process the reality that she has a new family member. And Isabella isn’t exactly in a great place either. Because just like that… her life has been turned upside down, and she learns in the blink of an eye that she had a father she never knew and a family she’s never known, and that makes for a powerful set up in this pilot. One that informs us, that the answer to that all-important question won’t come forth quickly.

For all the little moments in this story, where Isabella works to adjust to the new normal and where Bobbie fights to reconcile the lies, she’s been told… let us know that this would not be an easy task. That a person would need a long time to process the violation of trust, and the reality that they didn’t know their parents through and through. All to decide, how to feel about this and how to move forward with that knowledge. But as one works on that, there’s plenty they can do, and in this situation, they can offer grace and understanding and some measure of kindness over something that was out of their control. Which Bobbie does here by offering Isabella her rightful place at Happy’s Place, and a chance to learn about her past and a chance for them to learn from each other and about each other. Since they are family, and that’s forever and stronger than any lie.

All of which makes for a magnificent pilot. One that is as funny as it is thoughtful. Courtesy of writing that finds the humor in some serious situations, to make the reality of what we’ve dealt with or will a bit more palatable and through some stunning performances. Since this cast understands comedy and knows how to deliver in the moment, with Reba leading the charge since she hasn’t missed a beat from her prior sitcom stint. Giving rise to a brilliant comedy series really, one that has heart, one that is intelligent and funny, and downright relatable. Which means it is outright safe to say, that we’re all eager to return to Happy’s Place. To see these characters heal and grow and learn what it means to really be a family, be it chosen family… or blood. Until next time.

---

Watch ‘Happy’s Place’

Powered by JustWatch