‘The Conners’ Season 2, Episode 14 ‘Bad Dads and Grads’ Review: Unexpected

The Conners is a show that likes to give hot takes on modern society. From the intricacies of family relationships to the messy world of politics, the show never seems to disappoint. This time, the episode tackles what it means to have closure. Also, it sheds the spotlight on unconventional relationships. Perhaps the best twist that it has is that these things happen to the least expected characters.

On Tuesday’s episode of The Conners, Dan Conner (John Goodman) spends quality time with his half-brother, Ed Conner Jr. (Noel Fisher). However, his past with their dad threatens their relationship once more. Meanwhile, Jackie Harris (Laurie Metcalf) re-enters the dating scene. Surprisingly, she meets Ron (Clark Gregg) and Janelle (Jennifer Grey), a married couple looking for something to spice up their 30-year marriage. At home, Harris Conner-Healy (Emma Kenney) and Mark Conner-Healy (Ames McNamara) learn about Darlene Conner (Sara Gilbert) and Ben (Jay R. Ferguson) plans to have a baby.

Closure

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After finally meeting his half-brother after 20 years, Dan decides to get to know Ed Jr. Initially, they were off at a bad start. Dan hated their father with good reason and Ed Jr. equally loved their father for good reason. Things would be easier to neglect were it not for the consequences of their father’s actions. Basically, Ed Sr. was a bad father to Dan which caused Dan to leave him. In contrast, he treated Ed Jr. and his sister, Angela quite well. Dan’s hatred for the old man quickly overshadows his desire to get to know his younger brother so he needed closure. Of course, Dan does so in the most Conner way possible. Taking Ed Sr.’s most prized possession (an unknown, likely expensive car), Dan takes Ed Jr. out to drive and watch as the car explodes, filled with various explosives. Now, free of the anger and resentment, Dan can truly say that he and Ed Jr. are bonding.

Pregnancy Paranoia

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The Conner-Healy siblings have different ways of handling news. Once Harris figures out that Ben and Darlene are thinking about having a baby, she nonchalantly expresses her relief since she does not live at the Conner Family Home anymore. Mark, on the other hand, reacted differently. Sure, Harris tried to make Mark worry about feeling replaced, but Mark had a different takeaway. With that, Mark proceeds to go online and look up the dangers of pregnancy at age 40 and above. While the dangers may be a cause of concern, Mark’s panic was ultimately displaced in a caring, loving way. Eventually, Darlene listens to her son and reassures her that she will not die then she tries to have Mark worry about being replaced.

The Throuple

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Running the recently opened Lanford Lunchbox is not the only new thing for Jackie. This time, she enters the dating scene through a dating app. Sure, she gets stood up by her date, a math teacher, but she ends up meeting nice people. Suspiciously nice people, at that. As soon as it all started, Becky Conner (Lecy Goranson) immediately calls it what it is: an invitation to a throuple (three partners in a romantic/sexual relationship). One may think that such setups are something too odd for someone Jackie’s age, but nope. Jackie, despite her denial, starts to enjoy the setup. She is weirded out by it first, but she likely will push through with it. After all, Jackie thinks that they are the person for her.

‘The Conners’ Season 2, Episode 14 ‘Bad Dads and Grads’ Final Verdict

The Conners takes the most complex of life’s situations and has the least likely characters to experience them. Having Dan, a grown man, who already experienced raising his own family, deal with daddy issues at that age has a different impact. Also, having someone like Jackie face a modern type of relationship at her age is also a strange thing to present. Basically, what the episode tries to say is that it is never too late; a person should simply have to push through with what one wants to do.