The Conners Review: Beards, Thrupples, and Robots (Season 2 Episode 15)

Everyone is dying of laughter with The Conners Season 2 Episode 15, “Beards, Thrupples, and Robots.” The humor really sets the stage for some strong moments of growth for two often-overlooked characters. 

When Harris is first assigned the task of training her own mother at Price Warehouse, it’s the jokes and the humor that really gain our focus. It isn’t until later on when Harris has a heart-to-heart with her mom about it all that we realize just how much this experience has changed her.

Harris getting a job is probably the best thing to happen to her ever. It softens her edges and makes her more open to differing opinions and views. 

Past Harris would look at her mother’s financial situation and spin it back on herself. Harris now is able to hear her mother’s words and empathize and try to find a way to help. 

This is a level of growth I frankly never expected to see from Harris. She’s been so selfish for so long it feels that it is engrained in her whole being. 

I am just curious to see where she will go from here. Is “Beards, Thrupples, and Robots” a one-time thing or will her sudden unemployment humble her even more?

It’s also nice to see that for once Darlene isn’t the one taking control of their relationship. It must be hard for Darlene to take a back seat to her daughter’s arena, but she does so with so much grace it must be commended.

That’s not to say Darlene doesn’t complain a little bit, after all, would it be a true episode of The Conners if she didn’t? However, instead of bulldozing Harris — as Darlene is wont to do — she steps back and lets Harris teach her how to fold a sweater.

To be honest, the comedic timing of this scene is made even better by the fact that I suspect Darlene is purposely misfolding in order to irritate her daughter. Even with the changing dynamics, it is nice to see these two remain themselves at the core of it all.

Harris isn’t the only one to gain some emotional growth in the Conner clan. In fact, Jackie’s growth is just as compelling and fun to watch as Harris’.

The knockout scene of this episode for Jackie is the apartment sequence with Ron and Janelle. If anyone is a physical comedian on this show it is Laurie Metcalf. 

While Ron and Janelle’s discussion and later argument are surely supposed to be the star, it is Jackie’s physical presence that captures our attention and our hearts. It’s great to see Metcalf’s talents being used to their full potential for what is probably the first time all season.

While the couple are fighting over Jackie, Jackie is standing in the middle trying to stop them both. All the while holding a huge bottle of alcohol.

Her attempts to capture their attention is hysterical in the fact that they both claim to “love” her and yet can’t even be bothered to turn their attention to her. 

An argument can be made that the expected reaction is to bail before it goes anywhere because Jackie feels insecure. This is why the actual ending of this experience comes as a pleasant surprise. 

Sure, Jackie has her moments of insecurity, but she is more than willing to move forward. It is the other partners who can’t seem to agree. 

This is Jackie’s moment of growth. The whole time we have known this character she has always put all her eggs into the basket of relationship satisfaction. 

This means that she puts her all into being fulfilled by the love of someone else and then feeling like a failure if it doesn’t work out. Now, she still put her eggs into that basket, but her takeaway is much more mature.

Jackie is able to walk away from Ron and Janelle and know that their shortcomings are not on her — it’s theirs and theirs alone. 

Based on her past experiences, Dan is correct to defend her initially, but we now know that he didn’t have to. Jackie isn’t hurt by this relationship because all season long she has been working on her solitary self worth and it shows.

Being a small business owner has afforded her the strength to know what she wants and what she deserves. Jackie is worth more than being a pawn in a feuding couple’s game. Roseanne would be so proud.

While it will be an added bonus if this season rounds out with Jackie finding someone who loves her for all that she is, it isn’t necessary for her character growth. Jackie finds more joy and satisfaction from her own actions and passions than from anyone else and that is beautiful.

Further Thoughts:

• Mark is sorely missed this episode. 
• Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s cameo is a waste of their time. The episode could’ve done without it.
• Ben shaving his face actually doesn’t look as bad as they make it out to be

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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