As much as I love Happy’s Place, Season 2 Episode 15 “Emotional Real Estate” didn’t hit the mark for me. And it’s not because the show has changed into something unrecognizable. It still has the same laughs, heart, and emotion. My problem is how they are dealing with Gabby and her mom considering what the storyline they’ve laid out.
Entering “Emotional Real Estate,” I was hoping that this would be the last that we see of Jane Lynch’s Val. And it’s not because I don’t like Lynch. I think she’s a phenomenal actress and I like seeing her on my screen. I was hoping that this would be the last that we would see of Val because the story dictates that Gabby stands up for herself and doesn’t need her mother’s approval anymore.
The entirety of Happy’s Place we’ve seen how Gabby’s mom has been a shadow hovering over every single decision she’s made. Val has also crushed Gabby’s spirit to a point where her self-esteem is clearly in the trash and everything that she does in her life brings up a sad memory about her mom. And I get that Happy’s Place uses Gabby as comedic relief. But behind that comedic relief is real pain, something this show has demonstrated with other characters like Bobbie with her hesitation to sell her mother’s house because of the memories tied to it.
“Emotional Real Estate” made a mistake by moving Gabby and Val into the same house. They’re still going to have the same problems of living together that they had in the apartment. And as someone who grew up with a narcissistic parent, trying to heal yourself and the relationship with your parent does not work if that parent is in your safe space. This home cannot be Gabby’s safe space because her mother is there. A mother that has continuously done nothing but put Gabby down, even when she’s not there.
This decision to have Gabby and Val move in together is made all the worse because Bobbie issues an ultimatum to sell the house to Val. That’s not how you fix a relationship and that’s not how you treat your friend. Fixing a relationship like the one between Gabby and Val has to be a choice. Gabby has clearly chosen to try to mend the bond with her mother. But I don’t think Val has. If anything, she is doubling down and crushing Gabby’s spirit to a point where the only safe place she’ll have is the restaurant or her room.
And I understand that I’m not Gabby. I’m just a viewer.
But I can’t help but think about when I lived with my narcissistic parent. My haven was my room. And every single time I stepped out of that room, I felt unsafe and like I couldn’t be myself. That’s what I see when Gabby and Val are together. And that’s why I feel like Happy’s Place missed an opportunity by having Gabby stand her ground and draw a line in the sand when it comes to the way that her mother crushes her.
Happy’s Place Season 2 Episode 15 “Emotional Real Estate” missed an opportunity to tell a story about self-determination and survival when it comes to living with a narcissistic parent. Because Val might be able to change. But Val is not one of the main characters. Gabby is. And all I want to see is Gabby realize her inner strength and to walk this world based on her own choices, wants, and fears. Her living with her mom is not going to allow that to happen.
If anything, the only thing that saved this episode was everything that was happening with Emmett and Steve. There was levity to their interactions even though it was dealing with a heavy topic like moving on and going on your first date in years. But those moments were treated with care that delicately balanced the humor and seriousness of it all. And it’s another thing that I wish that they would have done with Gabby and Val in “Emotional Real Estate.” Because this episode, it ain’t it.