Last night’s double-feature of Happy Endings caused me to stop and go, “Huh?” (I know, very eloquent.) The two new — but old — episodes, “Bo Fight” and “Barefoot Pedaler,” could have been the second and third episodes of the season. They chronicled the woes of freshly-split couple Alex and Dave and how the gang tried to negotiate hanging out post-wedding debacle. (The first indication that something was weird was when Dave was seen packing up the last of his things in “Bo Fight” and moving into Max’s place, while we’d already seen him being chastised by Brad and Max in a previous episode for failing to hang his Michael Jordan poster.)
I love the show, but was a little thrown for a loop last night. It makes sense that some of the snorting-beer-out-the-nose-funny episodes were aired first, in order to gain fans (at least that’s my theory). While researching this a bit, I also found an interview with Happy Endings creator David Caspe, which sheds a bit of light on his decision to air the episodes in this manner.
After watching what actually happened post-breakup, I am relieved that Dave and Alex didn’t just go from botched wedding to “quicksand girlfriends” and dating guys who live in the ceiling of your friend’s apartment. It helps to make the series a little more believable (although, what’s believable about Penny downing a quart of vodka in order to understand what her Italian boyfriend is saying?).
I wasn’t as taken with last night’s episodes as I normally am with the show. A bright spot in “Barefoot Pedaler,” though: Max giving the ’90s jam band a piece of his mind, resulting in his confession that he reads Japanese Tiger Beat. That scene cracked me up.
One positive aspect of going back in time last night: I can really tell how much the characters have developed since the chronologically earlier episodes. In the later weeks, Jane seems a little less rigid (although I understand that her neuroticism is part of her charm), with husband Brad becoming quite a funny character who isn’t afraid to put her in her place. Max seems to be acting less like a straight guy who just happens to be gay, and more of a gay guy who just knows that he doesn’t want to be a flamboyant, stereotypical personality that people expect him to be. Dave seems a bit more comfortable with his character in the later episodes. Alex and Penny pretty much seem the same to me, except Penny’s relationships have gotten more absurd … and I enjoy that, because she pulls it off.
I rounded up some opinions from our trusted CliqueClack team as well, after finding out that the show has been renewed for another season. Those of us who have watched have been pretty happy about Happy Endings!
Carla: I enjoy Happy Endings. Pretty funny.
Brett: As a huge fan of Life On A Stick, and Elisha Cuthbert’s boobs, I have seen every episode.
Bob: I’ve grown to really enjoy Happy Endings. Great cast, hip feel, pretty funny jokes, geared to people exactly my age. I think it really won me over this week when Coupe’s character [Jane] bought a ticket for Showgirls by saying, “Two, please, for Jessie Spano’s boobs.”
Debbie: Yeah, it has its ups and downs, but for the most part, pretty funny. I think my favorite episodes were the guy living in the ceiling and the “gaycist” one.
Me: The hipster episode was great.
Kona: I actually like Happy Endings too. Not groundbreaking, but they did say “Shut your whore mouth” on TV, which I enjoyed immensely.
Bob: Penny Hearts-Hitler still makes me laugh.
Chuck: With all the positive feedback, guess I’ll have to check it out.
Do you agree with us, or do you find that Happy Endings doesn’t make a strong enough statement to stand out amongst the myriad couples comedies? Let us know in the comments.
Clacked by Rachel Blum-Jose 
on May 19, 2011 @ 13:23 EST5EDT
The show probably has the best gay character who has ever been on TV.
The show is good, however when the girls are together by themselves the series seems to fall a little flat.