The Conners Review: Protest, Drug Test, and One Leaves the Nest (Season 3 Episode 6)

Social justice has reached the Conner family on The Conners Season 3 Episode 6, “Protest, Drug Test, and One Leaves the Next.” While that is all well and good, some of the reasons for it seem to get lost in translation.

To be quite honest, it’s about time the wage inequality and economic gap make an appearance on this pivotal show about working-class America. Too bad, the way it is presented serves only to make Harris unlikeable once more.

While Harris has every right to protest in honor of her family’s constant struggle. What isn’t correct is her treatment of her mother and grandfather as a result of it.

Does it suck that the world runs on money? Most definitely. However, Harris takes that frustration a step further and takes it out on the two people in her life who struggle the most.

This move pushes her back into the bratty, spoiled teenager narrative that she hasn’t been a part of for quite some time now. There is a delicate balance between being socially conscious and being a responsible citizen of the world. 

Hopefully, Harris continues to work toward the center on this issue. I’d hate to see her lose her fighting spirit just because she can’t “afford” to take the time and protest publicly. 

What The Conners could do — to really redeem her major development setback — is to allow Harris to find other ways that she can be a fiscally responsible adult, and also protest against a system she doesn’t believe in. 

Personally, I feel Harris throwing her rent check at Dan and saying he’s her “landlord” not her grandfather took everything about her story arc a step too far. The show could’ve left it at throwing her rent check and the depth of her disrespect would’ve better hit the mark.

Another moment — while amazing to see — that didn’t quite make the impact it should’ve is Robin’s fight as a trans-woman. She comes out as a result of mandatory supervised drug tests and then says she won’t fight because she’s tired of fighting. 

While it is fantastic that Becky steps up and becomes Robin’s voice I do feel that the true nature of that protest gets very cloudy. This is due largely in part because Jackie shows up and commandeers the whole thing and the women protesting are giving more arbitrary reasons for being against it. 

The story would have a deeper, more meaningful impact if Jackie hadn’t been anywhere near it. While it’s obvious why Becky doesn’t come out and say the biggest violation this new policy poses, it would’ve still been nice to see Robin throw her hat into the fire.

Robin could’ve simply stood in solidarity with the other women — never once mentioning her reason for fighting it — instead, The Conners decides to give her a way out. The power her voice could’ve had is a huge hole in the plot of this episode.

That’s not to say she is valid in her reason for sitting it out. I just think that her joining the protest in solidarity would not only speak volumes for her personal reasons against the new policy, but also with regards to her relationship with those under her.

It’ll be fascinating to see if in the future Becky continues to at least be cordial with Robin — her previously sworn enemy. While Darlene and Robin’s friendship shouldn’t be changed or adjusted, it would be nice to see Robin have a very different relationship with Becky.

The one thing that could have really saved this episode is if the Dan and Louise story arc took center stage a bit more. To be completely honest, they are way more fascinating than any of these protests.

It’s heartwarming to see Dan fight Louise leaving because he’s going to miss her. I’m curious how much of that anxiety stems from losing Roseanne. What if he sees Louise going home as abandoning him?

Dan rarely shows any vulnerability but, between Louise and financial trouble he really breaks down just how broken he is. Dan isn’t the same man who could stand tall and be proud of the person he was.

The Conners is at its best when it breaks it down and rips away all the “extra.” Those raw, real moments are what seal the deal and make this sitcom great.

What did you think of this episode of The Conners? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

The Conners returns Wednesday, January 13th at 9/8c on ABC.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

What to Watch on TV: Fargo, Coroner, Selena: The Series