What I’m Watching: The Conners

The Conners: Season 1, Episode 7 “Hold the Salt” (B+)

I really liked this episode, in which both plotlines were quite funny. Darlene dressing up for work had her entire family talking, and I like that Ben started their banter by telling her that she knew exactly what kind of woman he was attracted to. Their sexual chemistry was strong, but they really clashed when it comes to their alpha personalities. Darlene refusing to take off her shoes, trying to open a bottle of white wine, and forcibly adding salt straight into the dish was entertaining, and I love that they both used the phrase “I tried it in my mind and I hated it” to shut down the other’s gentle suggestion of what to do. Meeting Blue to hear her complaints about David’s submissiveness woke her up to the kind of person Ben really was, and the notion of them both letting go of control and trusting each other should prove extremely entertaining going forward. Matthew Broderick’s return as Peter showed that he wasn’t just the most boring person in the world, painfully detailing the meaning of Crayola, but that he might have less genuine intentions when it comes to the joint bank account he opened with Jackie. It was sweet to see Dan stepping in to look out for her best interests and conveying that to her when she yelled at him a lot in their own little way of communicating, clearly wanting the best for the other but never willing to admit that they possibly care for each other.