Though it had a short run on television, Happy Endings is a charming and hilarious sitcom that still has many passionate fans. The series was set in Chicago and followed a group of friends in their 30s as they navigated relationships, work and just hanging out with each other.
While it might sound like a run-of-the-mill sitcom, Happy Endings was elevated by the sharp writing and wonderful cast. Sadly, the show was canceled after only three seasons, but it is one of those shows that is just as entertaining to rewatch. Check out the best episodes of Happy Endings according to IMDb.
Party Of Six (8.0)
One of the most enjoyable parts of this series is watching this group of friends get into a situation that goes from bad to worse. In "Party of Six", the group attempt to reverse the curse apparently hanging over Penny's birthday, but that proves more difficult than they thought.
As the group makes their way from one restaurant after another, they keep hitting roadblocks, like having Dave's ex as a girlfriend, or revealing Brad planned to break up with Jane at the same restaurant. It makes for a fun one-night adventure.
No-Ho-Ho (8.0)
Like all good sitcoms, Happy Endings got into the holiday spirit with its own Christmas episode. In "No-Ho-Ho", the gang finds out that Jane has been lying about her birthday for years because it is actually on Christmas Day and it always gets overshadowed by the holiday. Feeling bad, they attempt to throw her a Christmas-less celebration.
It is a fun and unique take on the usual Christmas episode, with everyone trying their best to remove the holiday spirit from everything. It's hilarious seeing the others gradually being seduced by their favorite holiday fun.
The Butterfly Effect Effect (8.1)
The show really has fun when there is a divide in the group which makes "The Butterfly Effect Effect" so memorable. The gang is eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring which they know kicks off with Brad and Jane's annual blowout fight.
However, knowing how much it means to their friends, Brad and Jane fake their fight only to accidentally find themselves really at odds. It is a great way of exploring the group dynamic and the stuff with Max living like a bear is hilarious.
Spooky Endings (8.2)
Another fun and festive episode is "Spooky Endings", which has the gang getting into some Halloween fun. While Brad and Jane are stuck housesitting in the suburbs, the rest of the gang goes to a Halloween party where their costumes cause some trouble.
Penny and Max's elaborate couples costume backfires when Penny takes an interest in someone else while Dave's Austin Powers costume is more outdated than he realized. But most of the fun comes from Brad's run-in with some mischievous trick-or-treaters.
Cocktails & Dreams (8.2)
"Cocktails & Dreams" finds Dave's food truck becoming a hit spot in the city thanks to his old-timey cocktails. Along with his newfound success, others in the group start having sex dreams about Dave which causes some complicated feelings.
Seeing the gang deal with these steaming dreams is great, especially with Brad. We also get to see Max panicking because his boyfriend is too perfect while Alex goes to extremes with her new diet.
The Kerkovich Way (8.2)
The on-again-off-again romance between Dave and Alex was at the center of the show since its beginning. "The Kerkovich Way" finds a clever way of dealing with their complex feelings for each other. After a drunken one-night stand, Alex enlists Jane's help to trick Dave into thinking it never happened.
Jane is a hilarious character and this episode really has fun with her evil genius-like behavior. There is also a great subplot involving Penny and Max competing in a scavenger hunt where they try to take down an arrogant perfect couple.
Four Weddings and a Funeral (Minus Three Weddings and One Funeral) (8.2)
The show really excels when it finds ways to bring the gang together for a big event. A lavish wedding fits the bill perfectly, especially when there is a lot of added drama to make the whole thing more complicated.
As their friend Derrick prepares to get married, Brad loses his job and struggles with telling Jane. Max is reluctant to reunite with his former Madonna cover band. Also, a love triangle crops up between Dave, Alex, and Penny. It is an entertaining and appropriately wild season finale.
The St. Valentine's Day Maxssacre (8.3)
Yet again, the show has a blast with some holiday mayhem. On the most romantic night of the year, Max forces the whole gang to use his limo service as their own romantic plans gradually fall to pieces.
Following a trip to the dentist, Brad is too drugged up to make much of his night out with Jane. Dave becomes convinced that his girlfriend is going to break up with him, so he sabotages their date. And Max himself has to deal with his own Valentine's mistakes of the past after running into an ex.
Big White Lies (8.3)
It's ironic that one of this sitcom's funniest episodes comes from them shamelessly indulging cliched sitcom storylines. After Penny lies to avoid spending time with an annoying childhood friend, the lies begin spiraling out of control.
The episode also plays on the classic sitcom Three's Company as Max and Dave have to deal with their nosy landlord. It is a comedy of errors that just keeps building and building on itself until it is completely out of control.
The Marry Prankster (9.0)
As much as this group of friends is quite close, they also do some terrible things to each other for fun. After the rest of the gang humiliates Max with a prank, he vows to get terrible revenge on them, leaving them to live in fear.
The episode manages to cram in so much hilarious and entertaining moments as well as a huge character moment with Penny getting engaged. The over-the-top way Max's pranks the group is a lot of fun, and the Usual Suspects-like ending with Alex is great.