Happy’s Place Season 3 Episode 1 “Office/Space” shows Bobbie not having a good time as change just keep cycling through the restaurant and the new speakeasy upstairs. And the problem that Bobbie is facing is showcased not from a place of jealousy or anger that Isabella is doing her own thing and that others are following. Bobbie loves her family. But even for someone like her, change is hard.
Back in Season 2 we left off with Isabella starting off on a new venture with the alcohol-free speakeasy upstairs at Happy’s. At the same time it almost seemed like Bobbie and Emmett were done and over with. This being a comedy, I knew that they were probably going to get back together somewhere down the line. But the show established that so many things were shifting in quick succession, with this romance in last place. And while Bobbie and Isabella did hit some rough patches in “Couples Counseling,” it didn’t mean that the problems were over.
MORE: Need a reminder of how Season 2 ended? Read our review of Happy’s Place Season 2 Episode 18 “Couples Counseling.”
Bobbie isn’t being irrational or acting like a child because Isabella is flourishing. She’s just a little untethered right now. And it goes to show that as much as I have talked about the importance of Isabella having her own goals and aspirations in my season 2 reviews, what does Bobbie have outside of this restaurant and family? What are her goals? What are her dreams? Because you never stop dreaming. And I think Bobbie has come to that realization that there is an emptiness that she has to face instead of consistently trying to fix something and make someone else happy. What makes Bobbie happy?
That’s not to say that Isabella and the rest of these characters don’t make Bobbie happy. They do. Still, I would really like to see Bobbie exploring something outside of the restaurant and her group of family and friends while also doing some self reflection about how it’s okay to ask for help and that love isn’t conditional. And sometimes you have to trust others as much as they trust you and maybe take your own advice while you’re at it.
Another surprising theme in Happy’s Place Season 3 Episode 1 was about assumptions.
Bobbie assumed that Isabella would like the office. Isabella assumed that Bobbie was annoyed by her when they shared an office. Gabby assumed that her not making this perfect drink was a reflection of her as a person. And Emmett and Bobbie both assumed that the other needed space. All were assumptions by people that love each other but didn’t talk to each other. So if we’re going to ask for Bobbie to self-reflect a little bit, I think all of these characters need to work on asking instead of just assuming as well.
If anything, the most delightful thing about this Season 3 premiere of Happy’s Place was Takoda. I haven’t been shy about the fact that I think that the show has given him less than other characters on this show. And it was really funny seeing Takoda sass Bobbie. Because he is working. How is he supposed to know everything? Also his efforts matter. He should get credit for fixing up the office. And I liked how he pushed back on Bobbie while not changing who he is as a character. Instead, I’m seeing dimensions of him, and I love it. Give me more!
Happy’s Place airs new episodes every Friday at 8p.m. ET on NBC.
