‘Happy’s Place’ Recap: ‘The Macallister Girls’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

HAPPY'S PLACE -- "The Macallister Girls" Episode 110 -- Pictured: (l-r) Reba McEntire as Bobbie, Emma Kenney as Gracie, Belissa Escobedo as Isabella -- (Photo by: Casey Durkin/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Ten of ‘Happy’s Place’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular worry that usually hovers over the parents of a newly blended family, is how the children will respond to a new parent and to potentially new siblings. Because that’s important since all want peace, and all want growth and hiccups with that could be disastrous. But what we often forget, is that sometimes, this particular worry extends beyond that particular scenario. For now, and again, family members we never knew existed can pop up in our family life and while we do welcome them with open arms, how they integrate and interact with the current family brings up the same worries and the same stresses. Since they are suddenly in our lives, and we don’t know if they will jell with the norms or not. 

If anything, this particular problem is top of mind today, simply because it arose during this week’s episode of Happy’s Place on NBC. For ‘The Macallister Girls’ revolved around a red-letter day at the bar. In that, Bobbie’s daughter was coming for a bit from deployment overseas and well... while Gracie learned about what happened via Zoom, and seemed okay with it… would that last? Because Bobbie and Isabella simply didn’t know how Gracie would interact with her new aunt. One that she has never known in the slightest and at first, it seemed as though things were going to be okay. For Gracie was gracious and everyone seemed to be doing just fine. But soon, snide comments were coming forth and an attempt from Izzy to try and bond… ended in painful disaster.

Because Izzy thought it was wise to play paintball with a decorated soldier, that sadly didn’t like Izzy and handled the situation by just pummeling her with paintballs. Which brought about a truly tense vibe at home and at the bar, and it left Bobbie unsure of what to do. Because her hopes for family unity were blowing up and this was the worst-case scenario. Which begged an important question… how then… does one find that peace and that unity when no one is getting along in the slightest? And well, surprisingly, a simple answer came forth one fine night. Wherein Izzy was just trying to collect some effects and clothes to get by while Gracie was in town and well, something incredible happened in that moment, in that… they finally put their differences aside and bonded. 

As it turned out, the key to that… was that in that moment, Izzy was authentic. She was honest about her feelings, about how she disliked the vibe between her and Gracie and that was the language that Gracie spoke, and soon… they talked. They bonded and even more honesty came forth. The kind that made for an incredible ending that was both beautiful and moving, wherein a family finally came together. All of which teaches us, that we can’t dance around and pretend when this kind of situation arises. We need to be honest with our new family member and expect the same from them. For that builds trust, and an actual foundation between everyone, so that the bonds that exist to us on a fundamental level come forth and that was a lovely lesson to see play out in this wonderous story.

One that also brought the laughs to help us learn this lesson. Which mostly came about from the bar staff as they tried to make the perfect gift for Gracie. Which brought out competitive nature and a surprise victory from Takoda. Not to mention, the paintball gag and the silent disco sequence were the stuff of legend. But what matters more, is that this episode once again, stayed true to the theme of this show. Which is, exploring how we heal after loss and how we move on from surprises that change our lives, and that made for a satisfying tale. One that really did see everyone enjoy some measure of growth as they all continue to navigate their new normal, courtesy of some of fascinating decisions made by the late and beloved Happy. Until next time.

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