The Conners' Ingenious Secret Plan for Replacing Roseanne Would Astound You!

Summary

The decision to focus on the entire Conner family in The Conners instead of just Darlene was a smart move, as the original show always thrived on the ensemble dynamic.

Focusing exclusively on Darlene would have seemed desperate and overlooked the show's recognition of Roseanne's death. Despite Darlene's popularity among fans, her character's flaws and continuous self-sabotage rendered her unsuitable as the spinoff's protagonist, as it would have been tiresome to witness.

Originally, it was planned for The Conners to replace Roseanne's main character with one of her family members. However, it turned out to be a fortunate decision that the show did not go down this path. The Roseanne revival was initially highly anticipated, considering its immense success in the 90s as a sitcom that provided an amusing yet touching portrayal of working-class life in middle America. The show centered around its hard-working protagonist, Roseanne, and her endearing but mischievous children. Although season 9 of Roseanne received a disastrous response, tarnishing its critical reputation, the series was still widely regarded as a classic television comedy.

At first, the 2017 revival of Roseanne was expected to follow the same trajectory. However, when the lead actress, Roseanne Barr, posted a series of racist messages on Twitter, the show was promptly canceled. This led to the creation of the spinoff, The Conners, which shifted its focus to Roseanne's family as they grappled with the sudden death of the titular character. Despite hints of this twist in the previous season, Roseanne's offscreen demise still came as a shock. Nonetheless, the original idea to continue the series without her was even worse and would have prematurely ended the show, depriving viewers of the opportunity to experience The Conners.

Roseanne’s Proposed Darlene Spinoff Was A Bad Idea

According to Variety, Roseanne's death initially would have shifted the show's focus onto Darlene. However, this would not have been successful for several reasons. Despite Darlene being a fan-favorite character, the sitcom has always been an ensemble comedy even when it was titled Roseanne. One of the main challenges faced by The Conners season 6 is properly concluding each supporting character's storyline. This is a concern because the series has a large cast, all of whom are well-developed characters with their own character arcs.

The disastrous Roseanne-centric episodes in season 9 proved that the show always needed the entire Conner family, despite its original title. Just like when the creators attempted to make Roseanne the sole focus in the past, centering the show around Darlene wouldn't have been any more successful. While Darlene was well-liked (though not as much as Roseanne), this wasn't the issue with the premise. The problem was that Roseanne was never meant to be a one-woman show, which explains why Barr's later projects did not reach the same level of success as her biggest hit. Similar to how Leonard and Penny couldn't carry The Big Bang Theory, Roseanne needed the Conners.

The Conners Changed Roseanne’s Format (Just) Enough

The decision to make The Conners a show centered around the entire Conner family, rather than solely focusing on Darlene, was a crucial change that justified the continuation of the series after Roseanne's death. If the show had solely revolved around Darlene, it may have seemed desperate and an attempt to downplay Roseanne's absence. The Conners managed to navigate through the impact of Roseanne's sudden death, utilizing the event to create both comedic and dramatic moments for the show's characters.

It would have been unwise for The Conners to solely establish Darlene as the show's new protagonist, considering there was no need to prioritize her over the other characters. The most popular episodes of the show revolve around Harris, Dan, Becky, and other characters who were given equal focus alongside Roseanne during the original revival. If anything, the 2017 revival of the show placed too much emphasis on Roseanne and should have given more attention to the rest of the family from the beginning. Making Darlene the central figure in the spinoff would have contradicted this intention.

Darlene Was Never Roseanne’s Heroine

Darlene, a sarcastic and beloved supporting character in the original run of Roseanne, could be a bit overwhelming if she were the main character. Her acerbic demeanor and tumultuous relationships with David and Ben often frustrated viewers. Unlike Roseanne, who could be argumentative but never seemed to actively sabotage her own happiness, Darlene frequently made questionable choices, such as cheating on Ben with David. It was difficult to root for her when she constantly disrupted her personal life just as it seemed to be stabilizing. Unfortunately, Darlene's indecisiveness and obstinacy also affected her family's well-being, causing further frustration.

It is important to note that sitcom characters do not necessarily have to be likable in order to be funny and entertaining. Seinfeld's protagonist was arguably worse than his nemesis, Newman, yet the show was still considered a classic. However, Roseanne was not in the same vein as It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Despite its edgy moments, the show was ultimately a heartwarming family sitcom. Therefore, witnessing Darlene continuously jeopardize her own happiness and the well-being of her children through unhealthy relationships and unstable employment became exhausting. While this character flaw worked within the context of a larger series, it made her an unsuitable candidate for a main character role.

The Conners Season 6 Could Set Up A Darlene Spinoff

Five years after her mother passed away, Darlene is happily married to Ben. If she can find a job that she doesn't despise, which is quite a challenge for Darlene, the show could potentially create a spinoff about her life, avoiding an unintentionally depressing outcome. To achieve this, The Conners season 6 could employ a classic sitcom trope and jump several years ahead into the future. By doing so, Mark would have completed his college education, and Darlene would no longer need to support her son by working as a lunch lady at the college cafeteria to cover his tuition costs. Consequently, Darlene would have the opportunity to pursue her own interests.

Throughout her life, Darlene has never truly had the chance to discover her own desires, as she became a mother at a young age, even before the original run of Roseanne concluded. This paves the way for The Conners season 6 to establish a spinoff centered around Darlene by showcasing her newfound financial independence and personal space, crucial elements for her to pursue her ambitions. Ben, Darlene's current love interest, is the most stable and supportive partner she has ever had. With Harris and Mark on the cusp of leaving home, The Conners season 6 can fill in the gaps of Mark's college years, allowing Roseanne's spinoff to finally focus on Darlene's journey.