Happy’s Place Season 2 Episode 14 “Borrowin’ Trouble” sees the return of Cheri Oteri as Monica in an episode about borrowing trouble from the future but also moving on. And at the center of this story remains Bobbie and Emmett. But the circumstances are different. They still care for each other, that’s very obvious. But they can’t go back to how things were ever again. So it’s time to either rebuild or move on. And they’re choosing the latter.
On one side you have Bobbie, she really has been presenting this put together front after what happened with Emmett. And it makes sense. She’s a pillar of strength at Happy’s Place. And if there’s anyone that I know that wouldn’t want to expose how hurt they are, it’s going to be Bobbie. And that carefully curated “I’m okay” front starts crumbling when Monica appears, someone who Emmett could move forward with.
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It’s not like Bobbie hates Monica, that’s made very clear by the end of “Borrowin’ Trouble.” It’s just that Monica symbolizes possibility. Or like the title of this episode says, she represents borrowing trouble from the future. Monica could take away a chance of Bobbie and Emmett getting back together. But he could also move on with someone great, as is evidenced by the good time that Monica had with Bobbie, Isabella, and Gabby.
On the opposite side of this is Emmett. I know he always presents himself as this grump who’s closed off. But I think he’s pretty in touch with his emotions when things get down to it. And Takoda and Steve noticed that there’s something going on with Emmett that they confront him about. And when it didn’t work out, because they love and respect Emmett, they waited. They gave Emmett the space to build up to what he needs to say. Friendship at its finest honestly.
When Emmett finally does come clean about what’s bothering him, it’s something that feels really relatable. Being honest ruined things. So in his mind he’s like I’m just not going to talk. But he’s doing the same thing that Bobbie and the rest of the gang were doing. He was borrowing trouble from the future. Talking does destroy sometimes. But it also heals. And I think that’s what Emmett and Bobbie need more than anything if they’re ever going to get back to a place where they can be together.
At the end of “Borrowin’ Trouble” Monica asks Emmett out for coffee. And it’s a clear sign that Happy’s Place is trying to have both Bobbie and Emmett heal separately. Emmett will try connecting with someone else and possibly form a romantic relationship. And Bobby will heal and hopefully move on to another romantic interest herself, something that the original Reba show never did and that grates my nerves to this day. Bobbie deserves to be wined and dined, even if it’s with someone else.
Do I think this is the end of Bobbie and Emmett? No. This is a workplace comedy. And shows like that usually establish a potential core couple from the start. For example, you had Pam and Jim in The Office. I knew they were going to end up together from the start. And when Ben appeared in Parks and Recreation, I knew that no matter what happened, he and Leslie would be endgame. And that’s what I believe for Bobbie and Emmett. They just have a journey ahead of them as evidenced by “Borrowin’ Trouble.”
Lucky for them, I’m committed to Happy’s Place for the long haul.
Happy’s Place airs new episodes every Friday at 8pm ET on NBC.
