The Conners: A Grim Reality for Jackie

The Tragic Reality of The Conners

It's a grim reality for Jackie.

Estelle Parsons as Bev in The Conners

The Conners is looking at a tragedy worse than Roseanne's death because of a history-changing plot twist. ABC's premier comedy started out as a revival of the iconic family comedy, Roseanne, but after Roseanne Barr was fired from the series, the writers had to find a way to move the titular family forward, hence turning it into a soft reboot sequel. Losing its main character was tough, especially when looking for ways to explain her absence in the new series. Ultimately, The Conners decided that it was best to permanently write her out of the project by killing the character. It has been years since Dan and the clan lost their matriarch. After the unfortunate incident that led to her demise due to overdose, The Conners shied away from further tackling it. Aside from the tragic nature of Roseanne's passing, the actor's firing was also controversial, and the spinoff sequel elected to move on from it by playing safe when it came to dealing with the matter. As The Conners potentially ends with season 6, however, the family is once again facing another massive loss. This time, it could be worse than Roseanne's untimely demise because of an unexpected truth about the family's history.

The Conners family sitting around the couch in a cabin in the sitcom

Bev's Condition Doesn’t Allow Her To Be Fully Redeemed

Laurie Metcalf's Jackie and Estelle Parsons' Bev hug in The Conners Season 5 Episode 13

Bev has dementia. One of the longest-running arcs in The Conners is Bev's impending death. For a while, Jackie and Roseanne's mother struggled through an unknown health condition, until it was revealed to be dementia. It's no secret that while Bev has had a complicated relationship with her kids, her dynamic with Jackie is more complex, if not even manipulative. Roseanne was more pliant towards her demanding mother's attitude when she was still alive, but Jackie was defiant, acknowledging how badly they were being treated. So when it was revealed in The Conners season 5 that Bev had secretly protected her kids against the abuse of their father, the perspective on her changed. Unfortunately, her predicament won't allow her to fully make up for everything else that she did to hurt her kids. The dementia sullies her memory of things, so while she may be able to remember the good things that she did, such as protecting her daughters, it's possible that she doesn't have any recollection of everything else she did to harm them. Without her remembering and acknowledging the bad things, it would be virtually impossible for her to take accountability, and that's the only way for her to be redeemed. Even if she shielded Roseanne and Jackie from their parents then, it doesn't negate the bad things she has done.

Nat Faxon's Neville Laurie Metcalf's Jackie and Emma Kenney's Harris sit on the couch together in The Conners

Bev’s Death Doesn’t Give Jackie Enough Time To Properly Repair Their Relationship

Jay R Ferguson's Ben Olinsky sits beside Sara Gilbert's Darlene and smiles in the kitchen on The Conners

Jackie and the family prepare to say goodbye to Bev. The Harris' matriarch kept her family secret for decades, only revealing the truth in The Conners season 5 — years after Roseanne's death. Considering her health situation, it's safe to say that she doesn't have a lot of time left, and it won't be enough for her and Jackie to properly make amends. Despite their tumultuous relationship, Jackie seems to have already mellowed towards her mother. While she was always defensive, and even antagonistic with her, she has become more receptive towards her, especially considering her current predicament. This is a big step towards their reconciliation, but it's unlikely that they have the time to fully mend their decades-old rift. Learning that Bev did make some sacrifices for her may be what Jackie needs to forgive her. However, that would be the best-case scenario for their future. They can no longer forge a brand new relationship that would make up for all the time that they lost. Perhaps that's enough, considering their history, but had Bev started making amends much earlier, she and Jackie would have had a longer time to develop a better dynamic. Maybe Roseanne may have been able to participate.

The cast of The Conners sit on the couch beside an image of Katey Sagal's Louise and John Goodman's Dan embracing on their wedding day

Bev’s Impending Death Leaves Jackie As Their Family’s Only Surviving Member

Caleb and Harris smiling in The Conners season 5