‘Happy Endings’: 4 Scenarios the Special Charity Event Set Up to Explore in a Revival
The ABC series Happy Endings aired from 2011 to 2013. Though beloved by viewers and critics alike, episodes airing out-of-order and timeslot changes — as well as a lack of a promotion from the network — resulted in its cancelation after three seasons. But fans have never given up hope of a revival.
On July 20, 2020, a special episode, titled “And The Pandemmy Goes To…” aired on Sony Pictures Television’s YouTube channel, along with a Live Q&A. In addition to raising money for a good cause, this prompted fans to ask about the future of the series. Here’s what we hope they’ll explore.
Dave’s social media distancing retreat
When he joined his friends on the Zoom call, Dave is even more out of the loop than usual. That’s because, as he explains, he’s been on that retreat that Jared Leto was on. Thus, he has no idea about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In addition to sharing the unfortunate name of his proposed restaurant, he drops quite a few names.
The special teases a little of what Dave’s been up to since the series ended, and a revival would likely re-imagine his career now that he’s no longer running his food truck. And though his work antics have always been fun, what we really want to see is how these new famous connections he made in Joshua Tree will pan out — you know, if they’re real.
Brad and Jane’s quarantine routine
Speaking of what’s real, Jane learns in the special that Brad has been lying to her. While she’s been focused on being the most-prepared human being in the fight against coronavirus, her husband has been secretly living in the basement. When Jane discovers Brad’s not in Florida, rather than getting angry, they have sex.
What would be fun to see is more of what it was actually like for the two of them. There’s a lot of talk about how intimacy will change on screen for productions that are starting back up. Finding ways to keep them apart and showing what they were doing when apart could be a fun way to work around this.
Penny and Max’s married life
The hook of the special was that Penny invited her friends to virtually chat to tell them she’s getting married (to a doctor). During the call, the man in question calls to break up with her, continuing her struck of bad luck in love. She’s devastated, of course. But then a very stoned Max swoops in, and Dave married them.
Penny and Max’s relationship was one of the best dynamics in the original series. The writers would probably get a kick out of showing them try to cohabitate for a while, go on double dates where they have to explain everything, and drive their friends crazy. Of course, it would ultimately be revealed that they’re not actually married.
Alex’s baby daddy
Some of the series biggest swings have come with Alex. Not only is she a hardcore coronavirus-denier, but she reveals at the very end of the call that she’s had a baby. The audience doesn’t get to see it (leaving the legitimacy of this claim up for debate), but she does start to reveal the child’s father when the call freezes.
This is arguably the most crucial scenario to dive into if the show is revived. With the way Happy Endings has gone in the past, It’s just as likely that the baby isn’t real (or human) than it is that Alex got pregnant after sleeping with a man she met on the street or used a sperm donor. The possibilities are endless.
