Not for the first time,The Conners Season 6 Episode 13, “Less Money, More Problems,” puts the Conner family into difficult, emotional situations and proves that family is stronger than any other force. The way they always manage to band together and help one of their own in a tight spot is the reason this family has been a beloved TV staple for decades.
Honestly, when we think about TV families that we love and admire, the Conners are almost always on that list. Dan Conner is the kind of father/patriarch that everyone wishes they had or can appreciate because it reminds them of their own father figure.
“Less Money, More Problems” is another example of Dan Conner’s love for his family shining through brighter than ever. His own children and grandchildren might think that Dan is sacrificing his own happiness to help them out, but they fail to realize he gets true happiness from his family.
Mark Conner-Healy, A Beacon of Hope for All Conners
One of the great things about Season 10 ofRoseanne and the entirety ofThe Conners is that we’ve been allowed to watch Mark grow from a child into the young adult he now is. From day one, Mark Conner-Healy has had a determination about him that told others he can’t be messed with.
Looking at where he started — a young child who marched to the beat of his own drum, with a bright flame of personality to match — to where he is now, fans can see that Mark might have become a little less bright, but his determination will never die. Mark knows that he wants to go to the University of Chicago, and he’s stubbornly not going to give that up without a fight.
Because college is expensive, Mark takes on more jobs to earn the money he needs. This causes not only his mother to worry but also his Great-Aunt Jackie and Grandpa Dan.
It’s during his short-lived repo man phase that we get to see the true determination of the Conner clan to stick up for one of their own. Dan and Jackie don’t want Mark risking his life at this job so they go along to help him out.
The events that follow are both heartfelt and humorous. Jackie goes all gangbusters on a woman with a child, while Dan subtly sees just how much Mark isn’t cut out for the repo business.
As always, Dan does the best thing possible for his grandson. He gives him the space to admit defeat at this moment while also encouraging him that a solution could be on the horizon.
After all, it’s the Conner family way. Keep working toward that light just out of reach.
Even better, when it comes down to it, Dan offers to come out of his extremely short-lived retirement in order to save up some money for his grandson’s college education. All because he knows, and Mark knows that the kid is destined to be greater than the Conners that came before him.
Darlene Just Wants Family
Transversely, Mark’s mom is going through her own issues, which require her family’s calculated focus. She’s always been fiercely independent and chosen to keep her family at arm’s length.
That’s not to say Darlene hasn’t ever shown love or appreciation for her family. But, as Dan Conner pointed out duringThe ConnersSeason 6 Episode 11, “Fire and Vice,” Darlene has always been the family’s doom and gloom.
She can be relied upon to not only be the family’s extremely cynical mouthpiece but also to deny she wants them around until she is blue in the face. Darlene’s outward expressions of love and appreciation are so rare that her family finds it suspicious when she does have them.
The Conners has realized that after six seasons, Darlene needs to have a moment of growth and clarity regarding this aversion to attachment. Honestly, I’ve never blamed her for this outlook on life because the one time she surrendered herself completely to trusting another with her love was with David, and we all know how that turned out.
Viewers can tell early on that Darlene is resisting both Becky and Harris moving out because she’s going to miss them. Sure, she makes it about immaturity, impulsiveness, and money, but for Darlene those things hide her real feelings.
It’s very easy to see that Darlene is resisting everything because she doesn’t want to be alone. So, naturally, when she finally breaks down with her dad about how she’s felt like she’s needed to hold the family up for years now, it doesn’t come as quite a shock.
What is shocking is the level of vulnerability she allows Dan to see. Sara Gilbert is well-equipped to cover Darlene’s cynical side with ease, but she does an even greater job of presenting Darlene’s vulnerable, more emotional side.
No sooner has Darlene started crying and being forthcoming with her dad than Harris comes along to joke about killing her. It’s that delicate balance that we love so much aboutThe Conners.
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The Conners returns for Season 7 in the fall on ABC.
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Mads Misasi
Mads is a part-time entertainment journalist and full-time marketing content creator. They love any and all TV Dramas with a few sitcoms mixed in. Join in the fun talking about TV by following them on Twitter: @dorothynyc89.
