The Conners Season 5 Episode 22 Review: The Grad Finale

On one of the series’ sweetest, most nostalgic finales to date, The Conners Season 5 Episode 22, “The Grad Finale,” reminds us that family is what this show will always be about. No matter what drama or crisis arises, this clan will stick together through thick and thin.

For the first time in a long time, Mark behaves like a typical teenage boy would in the face of significant changes. Most of us end up frustrated at him throughout the episode because we can see what he can’t — that his mom is coming from a place of love.

The big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Mark’s father will appear during his graduation. The answer we get is beyond our expectations.

What’s in a Name

Throughout the episode, Mark is clinging to this ideal of who he wants his father to be. It comes at the expense of listening to reason and remembering how much his father flakes on him.

We all want our parents to be the perfect examples of what they should be, especially during special occasions in our lives. It is no surprise that Mark is searching for the missing piece of himself during this turning point.

High School Graduation signifies the end of childhood and the start of more significant responsibilities. It means something different to each person who experiences it, and if we don’t get that experience there’s a chance we go our whole lives wondering what it’d be like.

The Conners does a fantastic job of reminding everyone that graduations are a time of big upheaval, either positively or negatively. Mark’s upheaval is within realizing that what he’s been searching for this whole time has been in front of him.

The first clue we get that Mark’s “father” answer isn’t going to go the way we expect is when he reads his speech. He starts the speech off by saying he is Mark Conner. 

To most, that doesn’t trigger a revelation because it truly is his name. However, to the more keen-eared fan it’ll signify a shift in how Mark identifies himself — gone is the hyphen of his last name giving credence to David Healy.

Family is What You Make It

Mark removing the Healy from his identity gives Ben all the recognition he deserves. It becomes a sweet moment between father and son that has been a long time coming. 

The relationship between Mark and Ben has always been on the more positive side, but there has definitely been a wall between them. Now, they can exist as father and son without the concern that one is more invested in the relationship than the other.

Hearing Mark apologize for his previous behavior — dismissing Ben as being anything of significance in his life — is healing and gives the season the warm wrap-up it deserves. This whole clan has seen its fair share of heartbreak and hardship this season, but The Conners is a story of resilience and perseverance. 

This brings us to our previous statement about graduation being a big upheaval in a young person’s life. “The Grad Finale” is truly a grand rewriting of the rest of the family’s wrong graduation experiences. 

Louise manages to seal her place in the family by giving space for Harris, Becky, Jackie, and Dan to all get the graduations they were promised but never received. Family is an important part of making sure your graduation upheaval is a positive one. 

While Dan and Jackie’s graduation might be 50 years in the making, their family has now become their biggest cheerleaders. As Dan so aptly points out, he had to create most of them to get the family reception at graduation he deserves, but it is worth it.

Family whether blood or found should always be worth the hassle and heartache. 

 

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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