HAPPY’S PLACE Season One: Episode 1

Name: HAPPY’S PLACE Season One: Episode 1
Item: HAPPY’S PLACE Season One: Episode 1
Author: Review

"Reba’s Return to Comedy"

Content: +1 Moderately questionable elements. (Discernment required for young children.)

Entertainment Quality:

	None	Light	Moderate	Heavy
Language
Violence
Sex
Nudity

Credits →

What You Need To Know:

Reba McEntire returns to comedy in HAPPY'S PLACE, streaming on Peacock. Following her father's death, McEntire's character, Bobbie, assumes ownership of the family-owned bar. However, her ability to run the business is jeopardized when a previously unknown sister shows up after being named a co-owner in the will. Though the sister challenges the status quo, she just wants a family and a place where she belongs, which Bobbie begrudgingly gives her after realizing their father brought them together for a reason.

HAPPY'S PLACE emphasizes the value of family and includes strong references to Christianity, including Bobbie giving up her worries to God and a prayer at the end of the episode. While the show's premise relies on an extramarital affair and drinking, both are chastised throughout the show. Though one joke relies on a politically correct comment about a character having fewer opportunities because she isn't white, overall, the jokes are genuinely funny and make the series an entertaining watch. Furthermore, there is no nudity, violence, or foul language. Thus, Movieguide® finds the show worthwhile, though we advise caution for younger children.

Content:

(BB, CC, PC, S, Cap, A, M):

Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements:

Strong Christian and Biblical worldview with an emphasis on family, kindness and the rebuking of sexual impurity. McEntire’s character, Bobbie, cherishes all the time she got to spend with her father growing up and the work they put in together to run their business together. She also says she will let God sort out the anxieties in her life and prays at the end of the episode;

Foul Language:

One instance of scat humor as Bobbie calls another character a turd;

Violence:

None;

Sex:

The series centers around an extramarital affair;

Nudity:

None;

Alcohol Use:

Mild alcohol use as the show takes place inside of a bar and Bobbie drinks after receiving bad news, but no one is shown getting drunk and Bobbie gets chastised for day drinking;

Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse:

None; and,

Miscellaneous Immorality:

Bobbie is mean to Isabella after learning they are related rather than opening her heart to her newfound sister. One politically correct comment from Isabella who remarks she’s had fewer opportunities in life because she’s not white.

More Detail:

HAPPY’S PLACE is a comedy on Peacock that reunites Reba McEntire and Melissa Peterman. Though not a reboot of REBA, fans of the show will enjoy HAPPY’S PLACE as the duo is back in action. This time, McEntire’s character, Bobbie, faces the shock of a lifetime after learning that her father had an affair, and she has a secret sister.

Less than a week after her father’s funeral, Bobbie returns to her family-owned bar to continue running the place. She’s been helping her father operate the business for over ten years, so becoming the sole owner is no problem. One of her first customers is Isabella, a young lady whom an attorney told to meet him at the bar. Soon after, the attorney summons Bobbie and Isabella into the back office.

Both women are confused as to why Isabella is brought into the office until the attorney reveals that Bobbie’s father, Happy, had an extramarital affair, of which Isabella was the result. Thus, Happy put her in his will and left Isabella as a bar co-owner. Isabella is ecstatic when she finds this out, while Bobbie is crushed.

Isabella learns the ins and outs of running the bar, but Bobbie boxes her out at every turn, informing her that she doesn’t want or need any help and that the business is already running smoothly. After talking with the employees, however, Isabella realizes there are areas the business could improve on, and the employees agree they would like some of Isabelle’s changes to be implemented.

Furious at this, Bobbie storms off, and Isabella realizes she isn’t welcome there. She follows Bobbie into her office and reveals she’s leaving as she’s spent too much of her life in places where she hasn’t been welcome, and she’s not about to spend any more, even if she has found a long-lost sister. Despite this touching discussion, Bobbie remains cold towards Isabella and is relieved she’s leaving.

However, on the way out, Isabella accidentally knocks over a picture frame hanging on the wall that holds an old drawing inside. As she cleans it up, she finds her name on the back of the drawing, and she and Bobbie realize it’s a drawing she made as a toddler. It dawns on them that Isabella meant something to Happy, and he had a purpose behind bringing them together after his death. This finally softens Bobbie’s heart, and she admits Isabella should stay. Meanwhile, Isabella feels overjoyed that she finally has a place where she belongs and a sister with whom she can get close.

Episode one of HAPPY’S PLACE sets up a strong beginning. The characters are entertaining, and the jokes flow one after the other. Furthermore, Bobbie and Isabella have much room to develop, both personally and in their relationship with each other. While the series isn’t setting out to do anything new, it could certainly connect with a core audience quickly and is especially alluring for fans of REBA.

The show also offers strong Christian and Biblical values, as the importance of family is reiterated throughout the episode. Bobbie reminisces about her time with her father, while Isabella laments her years without close ties to her family. Bobbie also positively references God’s ability to sort out the future and prays at the end of the episode. While light drinking and an affair are the basis of the plot, the show is worthwhile overall, though Movieguide® advises caution for younger children.