The Conners Season 5 Episode 21 Review: Dating, Drinking and Grifter Logic

An argument that seemed to have already been put to bed comes back up during the traditional Conner Poker Night on The Conners Season 5 Episode 21, “Dating, Drinking and Grifter Logic.” This time it appears that a Conner isn’t actually in the wrong, but that doesn’t get them out of the hot seat.

For the sake of this argument, we won’t be lumping Jackie in with the Conner clan — though that’s technically her family. It isn’t often that Jackie does something so completely wrong as she has now, but when she does, somehow, the Conners always find a way to help her fix it.

Which, in some ways, is okay, but in others, it’s a bit selfish and exploitative. She knows that Dan will go to bat for her if the situation were ever to come to a head.

Jackie’s Big Blunder

If viewers will remember back on The Conners Season 5 Episode 18, “Guilt Trip and Road Trip,” Jackie calls up Neville from the road and asks him for a $1000 loan. She tells him that the money is for her, but really it is for Dan to get supplies for the store. 

In the episodes since, Jackie hasn’t really brought it up, nor have the writers indicated that Neville has been made aware of the situation. For it to come up in this explosive manner during the penultimate episode works well for the arch of this season.

Just as viewers are forgetting that Jackie has ever been dishonest to her husband, just as we are thinking ‘What a great couple they are.’ The writers swoop in and remind us that this shoe has been hanging over Jackie and Neville’s heads this whole time.

It’s unfortunate that Dan is put in the position to reveal the dishonesty in the way he does. This move implicates him in a situation that he doesn’t deserve to be the center of. 

Sure, he received money from Neville by way of Jackie — but that money has since been paid back no harm, no foul. And yes, he has every right to be the one to call Neville out on his negative view of the family.

However, Neville blows everything way out of proportion, and instead of having him and Jackie figure their stuff out on their own, the story puts Dan in the center of it. 

It’s not the worst writing choice, in fact, it’s not even the second worst writing choice. However, it doesn’t allow Jackie the growth she’s been slowly building up toward being someone who owns their behavior.

Instead, inadvertently she hides behind Dan and allows him to smooth the situation over with Neville instead of doing it herself. The story starts strong with their initial talk about the money, but instead of following through The Conners gives the moment to Dan.

Darlene Does NOT a Matchmaker Make

As the saying goes, you should never eat where you poop. Which roughly translates into don’t mix work and romantic relationships. The same can be said for romantic setups.

Darlene is taking to her new job with as much grace as one can imagine. This is why it doesn’t come as any surprise when she finds a wounded teenage bird named James and decides to take him under her wing.

What is really unfortunate is that instead of just embarrassing her kid, Mark, this time she also embarrasses herself. Darlene is on this path of making sure she does everything she can to ensure Mark’s life is easier.

Only this time she screws up so royally that it has repercussions in her own life, more specifically that job she sort of hates. James is a sweet young man, but there are definitely some red flags from the beginning that Darlene shouldn’t have ignored.

At least now she knows that Mark trusts her enough to help him let a guy down easy. After all, their relationship has survived much worse and much more embarrassing situations. 

This whole season has been about Darlene learning to not only let go but also find her voice even when helping her children. She doesn’t always make the right mom choice — case in point –, but she will always go to bat for her children’s continued happiness.

While she complains about the food that she is being forced to serve or the people she has to interact with, everyone knows that she would do it all over again.

No matter how much The Conners throws at her and forces her to grow, she will always do what is best for her family. Darlene won’t give a stranger the shirt off her back, but she’d give up her organs if it means helping her children.

That said, Darlene, leave the matchmaking up to your children themselves. They will find love in their own ways, they don’t need you.

 

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 8/7c on ABC.

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