The Conners Review: Tempest in a Stew Pot (Season 2 Episode 6)

Family is truly the tie that binds us together but on The Conners Season 2 Episode 6, “Tempest in a Stew Pot,” that tie is starting to fray. Traditionally speaking many people associate Thanksgiving with tensions rising between family members and fights ensuing.

What happens if the fighting begins before the holiday even starts and you can’t seem to see eye to eye? What happens to your family’s traditions? 

This is the very dilemma young Mark is having to deal with this entire episode. He is in the background of the bigger issues, but ultimately he makes a bigger statement.  

Mark is considerate and always has these great ideas of how to bring his family even closer together. He uses gentle kindness to show those around him that there are finer things in life to worry about than squabbles over money. 

The whole episode, Mark is making turkey placeholders for his family members. However, that is not even the point of his hard work. 

Mark is an example of that family member who always gets overlooked even when they are the ones with the most love and understanding. After all, he makes a turkey for Odessa — putting hours of work into it — when he barely even knows her. 

It’s easy to commiserate with him when he becomes frustrated over his family’s disregard for the holiday in general and all his effort being put forth. His frustration is only a smaller scale of the frustration seen with Becky in regards to Darlene.

It’s interesting to note that Mark — who is named after Becky’s late husband — is parallel to Becky’s struggle this episode. The connection between them certainly isn’t lost on me. 

This connection, no matter how small it is, makes the viewers that much more inclined to see Becky’s side of things. It is easier to see and understand the feelings associated with being underappreciated when they are presented through the eyes of a child. 

If The Conners had decided to present Becky’s struggle — after showcasing just how much thought she’s put into the restaurant idea — without any of Mark’s moments to soften the sting, we wouldn’t want to connect with Becky at all.

As it is, Becky shows us all that she really does have what it takes to reopen the Lunch Box. Maybe if she could find a way to do the business without Jackie as her co-signer people will take her a bit more seriously. 

That’s the problem with Becky though, she lacks the confidence in her own skills to try and reach Darlene independently. While I am a bit irritated with Darlene just dismissing her sister and her obvious serious idea for the space, it would be nice to see Darlene and Becky go into business together. 

While Jackie is a bit of a wild card when it comes to any kind of business venture there is no denying she is still an asset to have if they do create a restaurant together. Jackie is the people person and knows who is who — which is just as important as the business side of things.

Unfortunately, ever since they were kids, Darlene has underestimated Becky because in her eyes she’s always been the beautiful one. This means Darlene doesn’t think her sister has ever had to work for anything in her life.

This would be a great opportunity for Dan to step in and sit both his daughters down and facilitate a conversation between them. If only Roseanne was still alive, this fight wouldn’t have gone far enough that Becky moved out.

I know that I want to see Dan facilitate that conversation, but the reality is Roseanne was that person in the Conner family. Dan has gotten to skate by as the neutral bystander for all these years. 

Now if he wants to keep his family together he is going to have to step up. The Conners would do well to show that level of growth for him.

After all, Dan does admit to Becky that after the rough year he’s had, having his daughters around has been a blessing. What’s to say he doesn’t take it a step further — inspired by Mark’s thankful speech — and ask his daughters to bury the hatchet and really listen to each other instead of just being angry.

I want Darlene and Becky to go into business together instead of being subconsciously in competition with one another, but even more, I want these sisters to come together like they’ve been doing more and more of lately. 

This could also be an opportunity for Bev to step in and talk to them about keeping the property in the family and how working together would be more of a legacy than she ever could have given them. After all, this is Bev’s property and Bev isn’t exactly one to stand by quietly. 

She could offer up a solution — as the landlord — that would allow her granddaughters to work and create something beautiful together. 

Ultimately, it comes down to whether or not Becky and Darlene can even hear logic at this point in the argument. This very well could tear this family apart.

The Conner family has been a staple for decades, it would be a travesty to have that bond irrevocably altered. Let’s hope Mark’s optimism and the perfect feast will mend a few hearts and minds. 

Further Thoughts:

• Harris is a spoiled, whiney, manipulative child who really gets on my last nerve. I miss the days that Roseanne was around because then at least someone was there to put her in her place. 
• To be quite honest, I’m not sure my irritation with Harris is the character herself or the actress portraying the character.
• I want a Mark original turkey placeholder at my Thanksgiving dinner.
• Dan is breaking my heart with all his scenes this episode; his pain and desire for unity are palpable in each second. John Goodman really is one of a kind.

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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