10 Harsh Truths About Roseanne 35 Years Later

Summary

Roseanne

's tone always had surreal flights of fancy alongside its realistic working-class milieu, making it a unique sitcom.

The revival of

Roseanne

betrayed the original character, turning her into a caricature of her former self.

The final season of

Roseanne

The attempt at a meta-sitcom in this season was a complete disaster, making it the worst season of the show.

Despite lasting for 10 seasons and having a spinoff called The Conners, re-watching Roseanne, the family sitcom that debuted 35 years ago, reveals some uncomfortable truths. Roseanne was initially a tremendous success in 1988, following the lives of the blue-collar Conners as they struggled to make ends meet in the town of Lanford. Despite their financial hardships, the strong-willed and lovable matriarch, Roseanne Barr's character, always managed to keep the family afloat.

10. Roseanne’s Tone Was Always Strange

After being revived for its tenth season in 2017, Roseanne saw the return of its impressive ensemble cast, including Barr. Although the reboot proved successful, Barr's dismissal followed shortly after the finale, prompted by her racist tweets. Subsequently, the show transformed into a six-season spinoff called The Conners, keeping the original cast intact and continuing the story after Roseanne's character's offscreen demise. Despite the unexpected nature of Barr's public meltdown, the underlying factors that led to Roseanne's eventual downfall had been planted decades earlier. Now, as the show celebrates its 35th anniversary, it is an opportune moment to reflect on Roseanne's legacy, recognizing that this introspection may bring to light some uncomfortable truths about the series.

Roseanne, known for depicting a working-class milieu, provided a refreshingly realistic portrayal amidst the prevalence of affluent sitcom families. However, akin to the down-to-earth tone of Malcolm in the Middle, Roseanne occasionally ventured into surreal flights of fancy, often overshadowed in retrospective reviews. While the unusual moments of Roseanne season 9 acquired infamy, the show consistently incorporated cartoonish fantasy transitions and dream sequences. Though not as overtly absurd as Married... With Children, the sitcom maintained a balance between grounded storytelling and occasional whimsical elements, distinguishing itself from the later seasons of The Conners.

9. Roseanne’s Revival Betrayed Her Character

While the revival of Roseanne received stellar reviews, it is likely that critics were unaware of the extent to which the new version of Roseanne deviated from the original character. The acerbic heroine portrayed by Barr transformed from a caring mother who tearfully apologized to her child for hitting him, to a hooting grandmother who found delight in shoving her granddaughter into a sink during an argument over dishes. In their desperate efforts to cater to viewers with stereotypes about spoiled and overly sensitive Gen Z children, Roseanne's revival ultimately turned her into a caricature of her former self.

8. Roseanne Season 9 Is As Terrible As Critics Said

The final season of Roseanne proved to be a disastrous attempt at transforming the series into a peculiar meta-sitcom. The Conners experienced an unexpected stroke of luck as they won the lottery, leading to a series of outlandish misadventures. Roseanne's husband strayed from their marriage, she became an unlikely hero by thwarting terrorists trying to harm the First Lady, she found herself in a perplexing TV crossover with the stars of Absolutely Fabulous, and, oddly enough, this crossover also served as a parody of the renowned horror film Rosemary's Baby. Astonishingly, the finale revealed that none of these events actually occurred in the show's reality. It is undeniable that while The Conners may have its flaws, this ill-conceived season unquestionably ranks as the worst among all.

7. Roseanne Needed Its Heroine

Barr's termination was justified, however, in the early seasons, she undeniably shone as the original star of the show. In its initial form, Roseanne heavily relied on Barr's dynamic with John Goodman and her chemistry with Laurie Metcalf. The rest of the cast paled in comparison to these seasoned actors, and the storylines lacked inspiration. As the show progressed, supporting actors like Estelle Parsons and Martin Mull were given more prominent roles. Nevertheless, when Roseanne first aired, it truly required its titular heroine's presence for the premise to succeed.

6. The Conners Was Better For Roseanne Than Season 11

Looking back, The Conners─ the spinoff sitcom─ captures the essence of the original Roseanne better than its revival did. As the pilot abruptly bid farewell to Roseanne, The Conners promptly shifted its focus towards storylines centered around Becky's struggles with alcoholism, the family's financial challenges, and Darlene's difficulties at work. While these subjects may appear bleak, they authentically exemplify the realistic issues that Roseanne excelled at portraying. In contrast, the revival of Roseanne in its tenth season became preoccupied with incorporating controversial current events and neglected to delve into these relatable, universal themes.

5. Jackie’s Storyline Was Too Dark

Throughout Roseanne's 10 seasons, Jackie experienced numerous unsuccessful jobs and relationships, culminating in her eventual divorce. Roseanne's season 10 revival even altered the existence of Jackie's son Andy, solidifying her storyline as the most despairing in the series. Fortunately, her prospects vastly improved with her relationship with Neville in The Conners.

4. The Conners Wasted Roseanne’s Best Supporting Star

Leon Carp, portrayed by Martin Mull, defied the typical portrayal of gay characters in ‘90s sitcoms by not solely relying on stereotypes associated with his sexual orientation. This LGBTQIA+ supporting character in Roseanne had a distinct personality, intriguing idiosyncrasies, and even moments of outright villainy. Surprisingly, The Conners, the spinoff series, has never revisited this character, leaving fans puzzled. However, if Leon were to make a return in The Conners, it could potentially unravel some of the long-standing mysteries within the sitcom.

3. Roseanne’s Mother Was Too Awful

2. DJ Never Had A Major Role Even Before The Conners

At first, Bev's mean-spirited cattiness was amusing. However, as the series progressed, she transformed into an outright abusive mother towards Roseanne and Jackie, the show's heroines. While Roseanne's tone initially made this dynamic work, Bev's cruelty in later seasons seemed unnecessary and excessive. The Conners addressed this issue by shedding light on how Bev had sheltered her children from their abusive father. Without this crucial context, Bev appeared too heartless to serve as a comedic supporting character.

Despite receiving criticism, The Conners season 5 did not focus much on DJ, Roseanne's son, compared to his sisters Darlene and Becky. While Darlene emerged as a standout character, Becky was responsible for the show's major teenage drama storylines. However, DJ's presence in most episodes was comparatively insignificant. He was too young to partake in misadventures but too old to be a cute child who simply accompanied the rest of the group.

1. Roseanne’s Optimism Was Misplaced

In the later seasons of Roseanne, the characters often discussed how Darlene and Becky would have greater opportunities and a more promising future compared to their parents. These episodes have become difficult to watch as optimistic characters from the ‘90s talk about the certainty of a better life filled with improved prospects. However, in the revival of the show, Roseanne’s children find themselves just as financially disadvantaged as their parents, if not more so. The Conners season 6 may potentially bring them a much-deserved happy ending; however, the main characters of Roseanne had already ended up in a bleak situation by the time the spinoff began, mainly due to the ongoing economic decline.