The Conners Review: Young Love, Old Lions and Middle-Aged Hyenas (Season 3 Episode 8)

Boundaries are crossed with mixed results on The Conners Season 3 Episode 8, “Young Love, Old Lions and Middle-Aged Hyenas.” Between Harris’ new boyfriend and Dan’s inability to relinquish control on things, there are laughs aplenty.

As much as Darlene boasts of being a different kind of mom than hers was, she is definitely her mother’s daughter when it comes to Harris’ first boyfriend. To be fair, it isn’t just Darlene crossing that boundary though, her aunt, and sister are just as complacent. 

Unfortunately, their background checks are nothing compared to Darlene’s indiscretion — at least in Harris’ eyes. This moment is monumental for this mother/daughter dynamic that is often more antagonistic than receptive. 

What Darlene really needs to do now, is sit back and reflect on her own experience with her first boyfriend — David — and see that what she just did to Harris is exactly what her own mother did to her. Maybe reflecting on what has happened to their relationship will help Darlene to gain a bit more empathy and understanding of her teen daughter. 

The stage has definitely been set through her conversation with Dan at the end of the episode. He reminds her that her children will always come back to her when they really need her, and even if they get their hearts broke they will survive. 

The Conners has always been really good at setting up these heartfelt, parent/child moments. In fact, it’s probably the part about this show I love the most. 

No matter what ails the family throughout the “storyline of the week” they always manage to come back to center with their moments of love and connection between Dan and his children or Darlene and her kids. 

Dan may have an easy time with letting go of his kids and letting them make their own mistakes, but he hasn’t yet figured out how to give up control of house maintenance. He isn’t a spring chicken anymore, so he really should give up some of these tasks. 

However, “Young Love, Old Lions and Middle-Aged Hyenas” really shows the why behind his reluctance, and it’s what makes Dan who he is — so the audience can definitely understand and relate to that. 

Dan has sacrificed so much due to the economy, the pandemic, and just plain life happenstance. The one thing Dan can control is the maintenance of his home to keep it in as much working order as possible.

Then Ben to comes along, and works with Becky to build her a closet, without talking to Dan about it. It’s understandable that he is going to overreact and put his head in the sand. Dan is a very proud man and this instance felt like him an insult to who he is and his ability to provide for his family. 

It is fantastic to see him swallow that pride in order to both make his daughter happy, and help Ben to feel like he is one of the team. After all, Ben just wants to feel like he can contribute to the family — being as he is the only non-Conner living in the home. 

In a way, it’s like Dan is extending that olive branch. Letting Ben have more responsibility with repairs is a commentary on Ben also being conflicted about his feelings for his own father. Dan is stepping up and pulling Ben into the fold as one of his “kids,” which we always love to see.

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

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The Conners airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

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