Visual Studio cannot retrieve data from MYSQL Database - “Object reference not set to an instance of an object”

Question

I am building a web page (ASP.NET, using VB) and am trying to connect to a MySQL database. I can see table and field names, but cannot retrieve any data. By all other indications, it looks like the connection is working. It appears as "Open" and I can see all my tables and fields in the Server Explorer, and the connection/tables appear as an options for data-related objects. However, as soon as I click to "retrieve data" from any of the tables, I get an empty tab with nothing in it. Here's a YT video that demonstrates what SHOULD happen when I click "retrieve data"

https://youtu.be/CNCLLBhQLtE?t=401

When I try to connect any objects from the toolbox to the database (Grid View, Dropdown) I get this error:

"Could Not Create Connection

Object reference not set to an instance of an object"

Again, I can see all the tables and fields in available for selection but cannot see any data.

I downloaded an older connector to solve a solve a prior issue, so I previously its the connector that is the problem. Connector versions I have tried that have not worked:

8.0.17 (would not even connect with this version) 8.0.16 (Same error)

I had even more issues when I tried to download Visual Studio 2.0 instead.

Solutions to similar problems I have looked at that have not worked:

Visual Studio 2015: SQL Data Source: Unable to retrieve schema. Ensure that the ConnectionString and SelectCommand properties are valid https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Desktop/Unable-to-Connect-to-MySQL-database/mp/756449#M364509