The Conners Review: Hot For Teacher and Writing a Wrong (Season 4 Episode 12)

Mark continues to work towards his goals on the latest episode. His ambition is definitely something to be commended because its not something we usually see in the Conner family.

The Conners Season 4 Episode 12, “Hot For Teacher and Writing a Wrong,” recovers a bit from the previous episode by once again focusing on the second oldest Conner grandchild. It proves that Mark deserves to be in focus more often.

What is Mark’s Journey?

While this episode centers on Mark, it’s disappointing that he doesn’t actually get to do more. The last time the show centered on him —The Conners Season 4 Episode 10, “Spills, Pills, and The Midnight Lasagna,” — Ames McNamara got to really show off his acting skills.

On “Hot For Teacher and Writing a Wrong,” we mostly get to see Mark utilize his quick tongue and throw a few zingers around. Yes, the episode is about him creatively coming up with new ways to make money for college, but I just expected a bit more.

To have his whole writing essays business get discovered, shut down, and an alternative solution found within the span of 22 minutes is extremely rushed. What happened to fleshing things out a bit more to really hit the emotions on the head?

That’s not to say this idea isn’t a solid one at its core. Mark going quickly from a drug addiction to thinking on his feet to afford college is commendable, albeit a bit rushed — again.

The Conners could definitely benefit from some longer arcs in their storytelling. If the deep impact of drug addiction and its correlation with academic performance was to really be felt it needed to last longer than just one extremely emotional episode.

Are we supposed to believe that Mark can simply turn off what was supposedly a desperate need like that? This definitely causes us to take pause with what the writers are hoping to do with Mark’s character overall.

Either way, bringing Mark to the forefront of all the family drama is always fun. He’s snappy with a comeback that is bound to leave us laughing.

Becky’s Hot for Teacher?

The other slightly confusing part of this episode is Becky. Sure, her discovering her teacher has a crush on her and she has a crush on him is fun and fresh.

However, I’m starting to wish Becky could find people to love who are a complicated mess for her. This man is definitely age-appropriate for her and made of the right stuff.

But, the big issue that comes into play is his role in her life — her Psych professor. It’s complicated, messy territory to have them both decide to move forward with exploring their feelings.

I just hope I am wrong in thinking it’ll be another disastrous relationship for her. Becky deserves to find a man who she can think in the long term with and who can accept her daughter.

She also deserves to have another shot at love. It’s been a long time since Mark died and now that she’s working toward her own successful future, she deserves to look for that feeling of love and companionship again.

Stray Thoughts:

• Why is Darlene eating with Ben? That whole moment made no sense.
• I love when they mention Jackie’s colorful history — i.e. her illustrious time as a cop.
• Beverly Rose is getting so big! She needs to stop growing.

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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