Happy’s Place Season 2 Episode 5 “Mouse in the House” was the epitome of a filler episode. But that’s not a bad thing. Every great show has those episode that don’t really move the plot along in huge ways. Instead they provide a respite from the main storyline while putting our characters in surprising situations. It’s all about how they react. And we sure got to see how Bobbie and Emmett reacted to someone “flirting” with the other.
Helping drive this “flirting” sub-plot is Cheri Oteri, the iconic actress, comedian, and former SNL cast member. She comes in as the health inspector who could shut down Happy’s Place. But before that our cast of characters are sure that the they’re getting their old inspector. And with Gabby releasing a mouse accidentally into the tavern, they’re sure that Bobbie can flirt with him and fix everything.
MORE: Need a refresher? Read our review for Happy’s Place Season 2 Episode 4!
This is where a filler episode works best. Because this “flirting” moment doesn’t necessarily move the plot forward in big sweeping ways. But it shows who these characters are at their core. And for Emmett, he’s not ok with Bobbie flirting with the health inspector. It makes him feel insecure and he expects Bobbie to respect that with no conversation. Personally, it reeks of that misogyny where men feel like they own women and aren’t secure in their relationship. And that’s not fair to Bobbie.
On the flip side there’s Bobbie. She came into the kitchen to check if it was ok if she flirting with the health inspector. But she kind of wasn’t checking. Because when he said he wasn’t comfortable, she pushed back and reasoned that it should be ok because it’s for the tavern. This also personally reeks of Bobbie coming into the kitchen with her mind already made up about what she was going to do when it came to the health inspector. And that’s not fair to Emmett.
MORE: How Did Happy’s Place Season 1 End?
“Mouse in the House” is a filler episode. But it’s also a moment to test Bobbie and Emmett and how they would do in every day situations and worries. And this mouse and inspection combo proved that they don’t have the pathways to communicate. Emmett says his piece and ends it with “so everything” with no actual explanation. And Bobbie comes into the discussion with her mind made up already. That’s a destructive combo.
The episode ends well, it’s a comedy after all. Bobbie and Emmett make up and clear up the miscommunication. Plus we get some funny sequences with Oteri reuniting with Emmett and Bobbie experiencing her own bout of jealousy. But the fact remains that Bobbie and Emmett’s relationship is super fresh. And they know each other as friends, but they don’t each other as romantic partners.
So what’s going to happen when Bobbie finds out Emmett knew about Isabela? Because I want to have faith that the “Mouse in the House” filler episode will get them into the grove of having important discussions. But this dangling thread of Emmett’s secret, you don’t keep that hidden in a show unless there’s purpose. And from my copious years watching shows, this particular secret is meant to cause pain.
Happy’s Place airs new episodes every Friday at 8pm ET on NBC.
