Happy’s Place season 1 episode 6 “Happy’s House” saw Bobbie and Isabella confronting their past. Because they’ve been getting closer; just last episode in “Ladies Night” they tackled Gabby’s insecurities together. That doesn’t mean that things are perfect. They are far from it, in fact. But both of these women are trying to do better. Not for their father. But for themselves and the future they have together. To do that though, they need to confront the man haunting both of them. Their father.
Bobby Asking the Question
The Bobbie of the pilot of Happy’s Place didn’t want Isabella to stay. She was still reeling from the death of her father. And here came this young woman, eager to become part of her life. That would throw anyone off and I still stand by that six episodes later. The Bobbie we see now is a changed woman. She’s trying with Isabella. And let’s not forget that in season 1 episode 3 “Don’t Sweat It” of Happy’s Place Isabella moved in with Bobbie.
In “Happy’s House” she’s hesitant to bring Isabella to the home that she grew up in and that she shared with her father. And it’s not because she wants to keep Isabella away from her father in any way, shape, or form. Bobbie has let go of that anger and confusion when it came to having a sister. If anything, Bobbie didn’t want to take Isabella there because she’s still angry at her father. And also I think she’s come to the point where she wants to protect Isabella from any pain.
But Isabella perseveres. She sees Bobbie’s home and she wants to know more. And when Isabella tells Bobbie that she’ll get used to not knowing why Happy didn’t acknowledge Isabella as well, I think it broke Bobbie a little. That’s why Bobbie asked her father, “Who are you?” when Isabella went out that window. Because the man she knows completely contradicts himself with his inaction in Isabella’s life. And she knows that he would’ve loved Isabella just as much as she does.
At the end of the day, this is all a lesson about loving those who passed. But also being angry at them for what they did and knowing you’ll never get a straight answer.
Finding That Hat
The more that I learn about Happy’s relationship to Isabella, the more scared I get while watching Happy’s Place. And it’s not because I think that this is going to turn into a dark drama. This show is a comedy, through and through. But I’m scared because I think Isabella is going to find peace with not knowing why her father never acknowledged her. Then the real reason is going to come barreling through Isabella and Bobbie’s life. And it’s going to hurt her.
Isabella finding that hat from her graduation, in combination with finding that duck drawing of hers in Happy’s office in the pilot of Happy’s Place, proves that he knew his daughter. And two things must’ve happened. In his own way he loved her and was a flawed human being who couldn’t acknowledge her so as to not break his own family. Or Happy was kept away from Isabella by other circumstances aka by the insistence of Isabella’s mother. I’m truly hoping he’s just a flawed human being and not that he was kept away.
Whatever the reason may be, Isabella continues to be such a kind, loving, and caring young woman. And whatever came before finding Bobbie doesn’t matter. This is her now and she’s working towards strengthening the bond with her sister because she wants to and not because of an absent father. That’s resilience. But I will admit, I do want to know who she is outside this bar. What are her hobbies? Do some of them match Bobbie’s? And what is she doing when not at the bar? Questions, questions.
Additional Thoughts About Happy’s Place season 1 episode 6 “Happy’s Home”:
- Emmett and Steve were not the duo I was expecting this episode.
- If anything, I thought they were so opposite that they would never find something to talk about and just awkwardly sit there.
- Color me surprised when Steve also likes football.
- And then Emmett making a Paradise Lost joke.
- This is just another clever way to tie these characters together.
- And the look of shock on Bobbie and Isabella’s face says it all.
- Steve has hidden depths.
- Also loved that Isabella tried out Bobbie’s window.
- It’s a tiny thing but she was sharing something with Bobbie that she never had.
Happy’s Place airs Fridays at 8/7c on NBC.
