What I’m Watching: The Conners

The Conners: Season 2, Episode 6 “Tempest in a Stew Pot” (B)

I think this is going to be my last episode of this show. I’m always reluctant to give up on comedies because they’re usually just half an hour, but that’s still time I don’t need to be spending with a series that isn’t either fulfilling me or one that I’d revisit anyway come Emmy time because it’s nominated for a handful of awards. I just don’t care if the family all comes back together again, and I miss Darlene’s multiple boyfriends. Becky and Jackie planning this elaborate stew restaurant did nothing to convince Darlene that it was a better option than the other offer that she had gotten, and they both seem ready to be militant just for the sake of it and stay bitter instead of accepting her decision. Harris isn’t exactly radiating positive qualities, lying to both her mother and her grandfather about seeing her friend Odessa again after the bike incident. I think part of the issue is that it’s not Odessa who’s the problem, but Harris herself, who seems intent on breaking every rule just for the hell of it without ever trying to do anything nice for someone else. As Darlene pointed out, people do like Mark, and his efforts to make Thanksgiving more personal were sweet. I also liked Dan’s line in response to his objection to Dan’s use of the word Indians to describe Native Americans about how he and his kind are on their way out. That’s a fine note for me to end on – I’d be happy watching an occasional episode in the future, but I’m ready to be done with regular viewing.