The Conners Review: Pilot Lights & Sister Fights (Season 2 Episode 18)

The laughs are strong but not enough to save this episode. Maybe this writer is expecting too much out of The Conners Season 2 Episode 18, “Pilot Lights & Sister Fights,” but the depth just isn’t there.

With the promise of a fight between Darlene and Becky centered on Ben and Becky’s new bond, the episode shows potential. However, one quick scene of anger and a simple apology later, the whole matter is resolved. 

Becky and Darlene are known to have some real knockdown, drag-out fights, so it’s expected that this situation could result in much of the same. It is entirely possible that these two have become more agreeable in their maturity — which, quite honestly, is boring.

To be completely honest, it seems rushed and unfulfilling to have Darlene so upset with Becky over Ben’s actions one minute and totally apologetic the next. Honestly, Becky deserves the scorn because she is not victimless in the whole situation.

When you think about it, Becky may be overwhelmed with her daughter, but that means she should be turning to her family, not just her sister’s boyfriend for the support she needs. All the late nights and crying is manipulative and uncool.

It is satisfying to see Darlene get irritated at Becky (and by proxy Ben) when she finds them hanging out together and laughing in the middle of the night. Sure, it is sweet of Ben to be helpful, but not when it affects his ability to function enough to do his job. 

It’s one thing to be awake when Becky just happens to also be awake because of the baby and offer to help. It’s another thing entirely to skirt your responsibilities to your start-up business in order to do things for Becky.

Becky could’ve easily called her brother or her father about the pilot light situation instead of crying hysterically when Ben declines to fix it immediately because of his responsibilities. Yes, Ben should have still said no, but Becky knows he is a soft-hearted person who always wants to help and she manipulatively plays into that.

To me, Darlene conceding that she shoved all her insecurities about having a baby onto Becky seems like a cop-out, and not even a good one. To be completely honest, this whole Darlene-wants-a-baby situation isn’t even my favorite. 

It just seems unoriginal and out of character for Darlene. I’ve said this before and I will say it until I am blue in the face: Darlene has always been adamant about not wanting any more children. 

Yes, people can change their minds about things, but a baby just isn’t something you quickly revert your strong feelings about. This isn’t a new stance for Darlene, she’s been against more kids since the beginning. 

So for a strong-willed and strong-opinioned character like Darlene to suddenly be all weepy about not being able to have a baby just doesn’t sit right. It makes Ben a little less likable because he’s putting his desire for children onto her.

That being said, the quick one-liner jokes during this whole debacle really stand up and are laugh-out-loud funny, especially the line at the end about having sex with Emilio. If critiquing the episode on the laughs alone, this episode would be a hit. 

Well, that and drunk Dan. 

Dan going after Louise, fudging it up again, getting drunk, and confessing his love for her to her bandmate is all classic Dan and we are here for it. It’s really nice to see Dan finally getting back to the character we know and love.

It’s a sign of growth for him that he’s not only taken off his wedding ring but also that he confesses actual love for Louise. The man has come so far and for it all to happen while simultaneously getting drunk makes for comedic gold.

What’s even better is that Dan gets the opportunity to confess his feelings for Louise when he’s sober the next day, as well. One of the downfalls of story development is when writers choose to have their characters confess intense feelings while intoxicated and not follow it up with an immediate sober revelation.

The Conners succeeds minutely because it allows Dan the chance to back up his drunken thoughts with sober ones. This shows that Dan is entirely genuine in his emotions and that he is serious about taking his relationship with Louise to the next level. 

He’s been grieving Roseanne for almost two years; for him, that is long enough. This is probably one of the greatest story arcs for Dan of the entire series. 

He gets to be his own character and explore emotions he hasn’t had to deal with in a long time. His complete ineptitude for proper courtship really shows and adds to the laughs. 

When Louise makes the comment that it is all very high school, Dan reminds us just how inexperienced he is by replying that he hasn’t had to do this since high school. Trying to move on from something that has been a part of him for most of his life has been hard, but Dan is ready and Louise is thankfully willing. 

An episode all about Dan and his relationship woes could’ve been a successful win for The Conners.

 

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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