The Conners Review: The Icewoman Cometh (Season 2 Episode 17)

It’s a sign of just how spot on the writing for a character is when just their presence creates such a visceral reaction both with audiences and characters alike. Such is the case with Nana Bev on The Conners Season 2 Episode 17, “The Icewoman Cometh.”

This woman shows up after being gone for months and immediately creates chaos within her family by telling them she is going to use her money to help her grandkids — while really only meaning Mark. It’s a manipulation move of the lowest form. 

Which if history is anything to go on, Bev is known for being calculating cruel with every member of this family barring the kids. It is only a matter of time before that happens.

So when she basically says that Mary and Beverly Rose aren’t important to her because she doesn’t “know” them and dismisses Harris because her goals aren’t ideal, Bev is really saying that her love is conditional. The whole adult portion of this family knew this already, but it’s disappointing to now see that thrust upon the children as well.

Granted, Mark doesn’t see it as an issue at first, but once that hope of getting his camp tuition paid for is thrown aside he quickly learns how folly that feeling can be. Bev basically takes an overly optimistic child — who has never really asked for anything because he knows his family’s financials — and crushes his whole spirit. 

That is the worst part of all of this. Mark has never been let down before even when his mom couldn’t pay for something in the past because he’s always understood that no one in this family can afford such luxuries. 

To then dangle a carrot in front of him and get his hopes up just to crush them once more by pretending to consider giving the money to his sister is just cruel. This is a dark level even for Bev, but in the end, it all makes sense which doesn’t make us like her any better.

When it comes down to it, Bev is a character that is only in it for Bev’s enjoyment. She loves to see her family squirm and turn against each other. She loves creating strife wherever she goes.

It isn’t all bad though. Bev’s behavior does bring out the best in Harris, which I love to see — yes that is hard for me to say.

Toward the end when Darlene decides she wants to exact revenge on her Nana Bev one last time before she loses the privilege, it is Harris who stops her. Harris, a character who up until recently has been notoriously selfish and self-serving, is the one to stop her own mother from being exactly that.

That my friends is what we like to call character growth, and it is a glorious thing to behold in a character who seemed destined to never change.

It’s a tough call for any well-adjusted person to not become petty when they’ve been wronged by someone. However, Harris — who isn’t well-adjusted by any means — makes that call without even a second thought. 

She is the true hero of this episode. For her to decide that the best revenge on Bev is to prove her wrong about Harris’ career choice is huge. 

Bev comes home with the hope that she can tear her family apart, and instead, she manages to bring them closer together. At the end of the day that is really all that matters. 

Sure, Mark has to get hurt in the process and to lose a bit of his faith in himself. But Harris gains a whole new level of understanding about the right way to do things even when it’s hard.

Meanwhile, Dan has a moment of growth as well that results in two major developments to his character. 

First and foremost he creates this moment with his daughter Becky like he’s never done before. Whenever he bares his soul it’s usually to either Jackie or Darlene — never Becky.

It’s very fitting that when he wants to talk about moving on after a spouse dies he turns to Becky. She is the only member of the family that is going to understand what he is going through completely.

In doing so, he is opening up the possibility that their bond continues to grow and strengthen. Dan isn’t a vulnerable guy and that shows every time the conversation turns to emotional content or speaking about anything that is more than surface-level deep. 

Dan would rather fake a smile and crack a joke than ever admit he is hurting inside or even conflicted about something. Becky sees right through that and nails it on the head when she explains how she felt right after Mark died. 

She knows how hard it is for her father to admit he may have made a mistake with the first woman he’s cared for since Roseanne’s passing. She gives him the chance to hear her out and butt in if he feels the need to and he does.

Ever since this show began without Roseanne, I wondered if they would ever get around to Becky and Dan having this heart-to-heart about what losing the love of your life is like. To be quite honest, it is beautifully written and handled delicately enough without it getting too sad. 

I just wish that when Dan finally does go after Louise, it isn’t met with the harsh reality that he did in fact mess up. Dan deserves a win after all the growth he’s seen this season in dealing with his grief and navigating his changing family dynamic.

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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