The Conners Review: The Preemie Monologues (Season 2 Episode 3)

The family unity and support continues on The Conners Season 2 Episode 3, “The Preemie Monologues.” This time instead of highlighting how Darlene has carried on the traditions of their mother, Dan is proving that he’s still able to successfully parent his daughters.

In his whole life, Dan has never really had to step in and be the lead when it came to parenting. He was always the back-up, the fun parent. 

Now that Roseanne is gone — and has been for almost a year — he is really stepping up to fill the great shoes she left behind. We see it mostly in how he interacts with his grandkids, but on “The Preemie Monologues,” he flexes his muscles with regards to Becky’s problems.

This is the perfect move for The Conners because it reasserts itself as a show grounded in family bonds and parenting hi-jinks. The first season sort of floundered at times because it was trying to be Roseanne without Roseanne, instead of trying to become its own show. 

Now in Season 2, it is showing us that this family can still be a part of our television viewing lineup carrying elements of its predecessor while still standing on its own unique footing. 

By switching between Dan and Darlene as the focus of the leader of the family, The Conners is allowing us to see that some of the best family dynamics come when the responsibilities of the family are split between two members of the family who have the family as a whole’s best interests at heart. 

That’s not to say they don’t make mistakes or fail at times, but the beauty in this story is their ability to take that failure and make it into a success. It is nice to see the focus be on Dan for the first time in a while. 

This episode is a nice look into what Dan needs vs. what he believes his family needs. He is willing to sacrifice anything if it means that his daughters are happy and healthy. 

Dan will always go to bat for his girls — as he should — even if he doesn’t always agree with what they are doing.

After watching him with Mark last season and now Bev this season, audiences get to witness firsthand how his grandkids are softening him up for new experiences, new experiences like his connection with Louise.

Here is an opportunity for Dan to grow and heal — a journey he is just starting so he’s nowhere near ready to even cater such thoughts.

Despite not being ready The Conners is creating the opening for Dan to work his way towards being ready. It is going to be a journey that will be enjoyed every step of the way.

Louise is no Roseanne, but she is a good thing for Dan as he braves this new world of being a widower. She is obviously the type of woman he deserves because she is giving him all the time and space he needs. 

To think that watching Mark have no shame in his feelings for another boy at school started Dan on this path of healing. Now, little Bev is also helping him to find the courage deep down inside to allow Louise in ever so slightly. 

It’s as if Roseanne is working her magic from the beyond through her beautiful grandkids, all to ensure that Dan is never alone and always feels loved. 

This whole preemie experience is softening Dan up to the notion of adding even more family members to the running total of occupants in his home. Dan should be utilizing this time to really focus on himself; instead, he is discovering that his home isn’t really a home if his daughters aren’t occupying rooms — filling him up.

There is nothing but love and pride in every molecule of Dan’s being as he presents the newly furnished basement bedroom. He truly has come very far in how he interacts with the members of his family. 

Dan is the patriarch of the Conner family, and now he is finally stepping up and filling those shoes. It’s as if Dan is feeling more open and honest about his feelings because he wants to try and fix the mistakes he made as a parent in the past. 

Further Thoughts:

• Dan talking though Bev is the cutest thing and really makes our heart swell. Dan is simply the cutest with his strengthening bond with his grandkids.
• It’s nice to see Dan Aykroyd as one of Dan’s poker buddies, but I really want to see him on the episode a bit more.
• Darlene choosing to be open and honest about her relationship dilemma with Harris shows growth and skill as a parent. 
• Becky going off at work over the overwhelming weight of debt and responsibility is such a mood.

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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