The Conners Review: Lanford…Lanford (Season 2 Episode 4)

Darlene is forced into a decision on The Conners Season 2 Episode 4, “Lanford…Lanford.” While this decision is not the obvious option, it is the correct one.

Darlene has been cheating on both of these men for about a month now. It’s not really the greatest example for her to show her own children, but also it’s not the best depiction of her character. 

Ever since the beginning, Darlene has always been a bit headstrong and determined. However, she has always toed the line between right and wrong. 

Darlene may be snarky and quick to be critical of others, but she has never really been the type to use people as she has been with Ben and David. She’s not a manipulative, vindictive person much like she has been this season. 

To be honest, this characterization of her this season has made her much less likable. Hopefully, this lapse in judgment on her part will be a great defining moment for her.

The Conners would do well to show Darlene really grow from this and realize that her decisions have started to influence her daughter. Really we just want Darlene to realize that she isn’t doing her family any favors by acting this way — sneaking around, lying, and bribing.

She is being extremely selfish by playing both of these men, and it is only a matter of time before she gets found out. It is karma that her moment of emergency becomes a moment of revelation for David and Ben — though David isn’t too quick on the uptake.

To see Darlene finally make the effort to go to therapy with David just so she can break up with him and to see him turn the tables on her is what Darlene deserves. To be honest, going into this episode there were high hopes for Darlene to use therapy as a way to reflect on herself and realize her missteps since losing her mom.

The well-timed/well-placed flashback scene to the early days of Darlene and David’s 25-year reign really brings home the effect of Darlene’s new place in their dynamic. For the last 25 years, Darlene has held all the power, and now David is finally asserting himself in the ways he always should have.

I am glad that David is finally pushing back. He’s a character I have always loved and as he got older I had hoped he would become more assertive. So, David finally doing just that has me clapping and cheering.

Darlene now has to realize that she can’t move through life without consequences for her actions. She spent years not truly valuing David as a person and now she has lost him.

David realizing that he does have a voice and can use it against Darlene is the character development for him we have all been eagerly waiting for. The real question, though, is whether or not he will stick to his guns in this newfound confidence. 

The fact that Darlene could go from that therapy session and immediately think that she still has a chance with Ben shows just how much she hasn’t really evaluated her current decisions.

Maybe she should have taken a step back and willingly given up both relationships for the benefit of her own good mental health. 

Instead, she goes to Ben thinking that she can still keep him despite the risk that he knows about David. Sure, she apologizes for David, but in my opinion, she should have apologized the first time it happened and then chose not to continue the relationship. 

Maybe now Darlene will use this new single life as an opportunity to focus on her kids and her family. This will better prepare her for what it truly means to be in a relationship with someone. 

Clearly, Darlene needs some work on figuring out what being in a relationship really means. Even when she was a teenager with David she wasn’t willing to actively listen to someone else. 

Darlene needs to work on being a better, more active listener and being more selfless versus being selfish. This whole experience should open her eyes, and I really hope it does. 

It would be great to see The Conners explore Darlene continuing therapy or at least taking the time to look long and hard at her recent decisions. Maybe she will be able to pinpoint the real issue at hand and find a way to move forward in a healthy, less destructive manner.

How will David’s newfound assertion drive the continued relationship with Darlene and his kids — in the role of a father? Will he really be able to stay out of his old pattern of falling back into it with Darlene? Will he be able to find it in himself to stick around?

This whole thing could be beneficial for him as well because David needs to put romance aside and really focus on his kids. He has a lot of repairing to do in his relationships with them. 

Putting some distance between each other and their romantic relationship tendencies could be the best thing for Darlene and David. 

Further Thoughts:

• I am absolutely here for the change in the relationship between Dan and Becky. For the longest time, they didn’t stand on common ground, but now they are readily leaning on each other and it is sweet.
• Have I mentioned lately how much I love the Conner family’s open acceptance of Mark in all his eccentricities? 

What did you think of this episode of The Conners? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Conners airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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