The Conners Review: Sex, Lies and House Hunting (Season 4 Episode 13)

Once again, Jackie pulls in the laughs on The Conners Season 4 Episode 13, “Sex, Lies and House Hunting.” Between her quips about rooming with family and not needing her mother to be dead to bury her, Jackie creates the humor this episode needs to stay afloat. 

While the rest of the episode isn’t terrible, there are stories we can do without — looking at you Becky and the professor. Jackie helps to make those moments more palatable.

Darlene the Independent Woman

One of the major highlights of this episode is Darlene finally reclaiming her independence. For so long she’s been wrapped up in everyone else’s problems that her own confidence has been destroyed.

However, one condescending comment from a realtor about her inability to be trusted with a house as a single woman sends her back on track. Of course, it doesn’t seem that way at first with how she drags Ben into it.

Once again, I thought I was going to spend the entire episode seething at the show for pushing Darlene and Ben back together. We’ve been there, done that, moved on.

Thankfully, Darlene pretending to be in a relationship with Ben has the opposite effect. It helps her to see that she’s lost her independence somewhere along the way.

The Ben We Used to Know

The conversation with Darlene and Ben in the Conner kitchen is the best, most heartfelt conversation they’ve had in a long time. It reminds us why we fell in love with Ben back in the beginning. 

He encourages to Darlene to not give up on the house despite financial setbacks. The offer he gives to co-sign on the loan isn’t meant to be diminishing or negative in any way. We finally believe Ben is doing it because he wants to see Darlene successful and happy.

Even better, when Darlene turns him down, he accepts that. It’s been a really long time since Ben has been respectful of Darlene’s wishes and boundaries.

He comments about how she’s back to being the Darlene he used to know and we can’t help but agree. Darlene would never let a man help her out in a big way like that, and I think Ben knew that.

I truly believe Ben offered to co-sign just so he could help Darlene over that last hump to reclaim her independence. He was all too happy to accept her denial of his help.

Becky and the Professor

When the idea of Becky and her professor dating was first presented, I found it to be heartwarming. Becky is finally finding companionship with someone who is age appropriate for her. 

However, this episode proves that maybe he still isn’t the right guy for her. In order for them to be together, they have to sneak around and hide. 

It really cheapens what could be a very cute and wholesome relationship. Becky deserves to be able to date the man she cares about and not hide in the corner to avoid getting him fired.

Part of me wanted them to end things at the end of the episode, but then the romantic part of me wants to see Becky happy. All in all, the story is a bit stale and frankly not worth caring about.

That’s not to say Becky needs drama or excitement, but maybe give her a relationship she can be proud of. She deserves to have someone like the professor who has a steady income and his life put together.

Just not while she’s his student. 

Stray Thoughts:

• Who knew outdated candy would play such a big role this episode. 
• When did Darlene and Harris mend fences? Did I miss something?
• Seriously give Jackie her own show. I would watch it religiously.

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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