Warning: SPOILERS ahead forHappy’s Placeseason 1, episode 13, “Mama’s Drama.“One scene inHappy’s Placeseason 1, episode 13, titled “Mama’s Drama” reveals the freshman comedy’s biggest flaw. The Reba McEntire-led sitcom is supposed to be an ensemble comedy, although it mostly focuses on Bobbie’s (McEntire) relationship with her new half-sister, Isabella (Belissa Escobedo). Subplots tend to revolve around the secondary characters who work at the tavern, althoughoneHappy’s Placecharacter has been ignoredmore than the others. In line with this premise, “Mama’s Drama” depicts Isabella introducing her mother, Maritza (Justina Machado) to the staff at the tavern.
Maritza’s visit is frustrating for almost everyone. The episode focuses on Isabella’s difficult relationship with her mother, who blames Bobbie for Isabella’s choice not to go to graduate school at Stanford. However,an early scene inHappy’s Placeinvolves Gabby (Melissa Peterman) confronting Maritza about the affair with Happy that resulted in Isabella’s birth, stating that she will “never forgive” Maritza for this. Gabby is the only one of the secondary characters who has any significant interactions with Maritza, while the other staff members all try to cheer upHappy’s Place’s Steve (Pablo Casteblanco) after he says he misses Colombia.
Happy’s Place Episode 13 Highlights How One-Dimensional Most Of Its Characters Are
The Secondary Characters Are Especially One-Note
Gabby’s confrontation with Maritza underscores the series' problems with character development. For the most part, secondary characters are defined by one characteristic. Gabby is slightly more developed than the others: She wants desperately to be a mother, tends to be clingy, and thinks she knows better than everyone else what to do in any given situation. Still, these traits barely give her any depth.Gabby, like mostHappy’s Placecharacters, is used for punchlines rather than being fleshed out,and even her tragic backstory is played for laughs.
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That said, Gabby isn’t the only character with this problem. “Mama Drama” tries to humanize Steve by having him miss his native country. However, his feelings aren’t really explored. Instead, the joke is that the reason he can’t go back to Colombia is that all his relatives have immigrated to the United States, and no sooner does he explain that than the episode moves onto a joke about his OCD. Similarly,Happy’s Place’sTakoda (Tokala Black Elk) gets little to no developmentand all that is known about him is that he is level-headed, has four children, and is Indigenous.
How Happy’s Place Can Flesh Out Its Characters Without Drastically Changing The Show
Following Through On Storylines Would Go A Long Way Toward Solving This Problem
Although the characters are not fleshed out properly, they each have defining traits. They are also often used in subplots, though those stories don’t add much understanding of who the characters are. Thus,the best way forHappy’s Placeto approach this problem is to take the storylines given to secondary characters seriously.Happy Place’s dropped storylinehabit is a significant contributor to the issue of characters not having the depth they need to have, but this can easily be reversed.
If Gabi’s motherhood journey had been referenced during her conflict with Maritza, it would have made Gabby feel more well-rounded
Instead of something like Steve doing exposure therapy being used as a joke for an episode and then forgotten,Happy’s Placecould give its supporting characters real storylines and follow through on them. For example, Gabby’s motherhood story vanishes in episode 13 after being the focal point of episode 12. If Gabby’s arc had been referenced during her conflict with Maritza, it would have made Gabby more well-rounded. Unfortunately, the way stories are presented right now makes it seem as if characters are being pushed around to suit the plot, which makesHappy’s Placefar less dynamic.
