The Conners Review: Messy Situation, Miscommunication and Academic Probation (Season 4 Episode 15)

Sometimes helping a friend through something you’ve also been through is harder than it seems. The Conners Season 4 Episode 15, “Messy Situation, Miscommunication and Academic Probation,” dives into that in the best, most heartfelt way.

We always love a good guest appearance by James Pickens Jr., and this story far from disappoints. It’s one thing to insist Dan is a stubborn, set-in-his-ways old man, but it’s another to show even his friends walk that path.

Facing Heartache with Humor

One of the many reasons we love The Conners is because it takes a situation that sucks all around and puts humor into it. This show is the embodiment of “if we aren’t laughing, we’re crying.”

So, when Chuck tells Darlene and Dan that his wife has been in the hospital due to some strokes, the two Conners respond by making jokes. They aren’t cruel jokes, simply jabs to get Chuck off the couch and taking better care of his home. 

This is their brand of dealing with all that life throws at you, and for them it works, but for Chuck it doesn’t. Chuck digs in his heels and kicks them out, but the strange thing is that Dan is more than willing to abide by his ruling.

It’s great to see Darlene step up in this instance and push her father for more information. Any other member of the family would’ve dismissed it as Dan just being Dan.

You Got a Friend

Forcing Dan to voice his concern about helping Chuck through something he barely got through himself not only moves this story forward, but also the overall story of Dan Conner. Once Dan and Louise got married, the mentions of Dan’s grief over Roseanne became fewer and fewer.

He hasn’t moved forward from that experience though, he’s simply put it on stasis while he made other moves in his life. It was always on the back burner, until now.

Having him face it through his communication with Chuck is the perfect way for Dan to finally put it all to bed and also help his dearest friend. Once again, he approaches the difficult conversation with a few small jokes mixed in to keep things a little lighter.

Because Dan dives in and talks as though Ann Marie died, Chuck is able to let go of his stubborn streak and admit that he is terrified of losing her and having to live without her.

As much as we love Dan, he isn’t a fine example for really anyone, except for Chuck and this situation.

Dan is able to show Chuck that whether he loses Ann Marie or not he’s got a whole family of backup to help him through.

Not Good In a Crisis

While Dan is able to help his friend through his major life change, Becky can’t say the same for herself. While some might see that as being weak or just giving up, I see it as a strong, yet difficult decision to reach.

When the chips are down for Glen, he billows his head under the ground and hides. Becky tries to help him through that with her positive reinforcement ways, but to no avail, which is a big red flag for their relationship.

Maybe if Becky were in this situation with her late husband Mark, who we know she loved, things would turn out differently. However, in my opinion, Becky backing out of this relationship now is better for her than if she’d stuck with it and willfully gone back to the shadows.

It’s hard enough keeping a relationship secret when you know beyond a doubt that you love someone. To have that added on top of the knowledge that Glen needs overwhelming emotional support when he’s in crisis means Becky deserves to get her life back.

I know I was very invested in this relationship when it started because I thought it could be good for Becky. But, I’ve now realized along with Becky that she already has a child to take care of, she doesn’t also need a man-child. 

The Conners does a great job of allowing her the freedom to back out before things go too far. While it was a good thing at first, all new relationships seem shiny until you get a closer look. 

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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