The Conners Season 6's Shocking Twist That Surpasses Roseanne's Demise

Summary

The Conners

In season 6, there is a chance to create a more impactful and dramatic moment than Roseanne through the potential death of a highly recognized supporting character. With Bev, who is battling advanced dementia, passing away, it would carry more emotional weight and captivate the audience unlike Roseanne's abrupt end.

Bev's death would bring

The Conners

The Conners season 6 has the opportunity to surpass the intensity of Roseanne's demise by delivering a powerful and conclusive moment for one of its most complex characters. Although the show may not opt for a devastating tragedy, it can still bring forth a dramatic event that will leave a lasting impact. The Conners initially faced a major setback when Roseanne Barr's controversial tweets resulted in her departure from the show. As a result, the eleventh season was transformed into The Conners, with Roseanne's character being written off through an offscreen drug overdose. This unexpected turn of events rattled viewers and caused the show to take a significant amount of time to find its comedic groove in subsequent seasons.

However, despite the excessive number of Roseanne cameos in The Conners season 5, the spinoff successfully managed to recapture the perfect blend of warmth and cynicism that made the original '90s sitcom incredibly popular. This made it quite surprising when Bruce Helford, the executive producer, mentioned the possibility of season 6 being the show's final installment. Nevertheless, The Conners season 5 introduced a potential tragedy that could serve as a poignant series finale. Instead of ending with a character death that viewers despised, season 6 of The Conners could conclude with the deeply touching passing of a beloved supporting character.

5 The Conners Season 6 Killing Bev Is Almost Inevitable

The death of Bev, played by Estelle Parsons, in The Conners would bring a more significant closure compared to Roseanne's demise. Bev has been battling advanced dementia for quite some time, and her fate has been alluded to throughout the fifth season of The Conners. Unlike the surprising and unexpected death of Dan in the original finale of Roseanne, Bev's death would not feel like a sudden twist introduced solely for shocking viewers. Similarly, it would not feel like a forced attempt by the show's creators to work around a real-life incident, as was the case with Roseanne's abrupt exit.

Instead, this twist would feel more earned and its tragedy would be more compelling as a consequence. Bev, being a full generation older than both Dan and Roseanne, makes her death less shocking or unexpected compared to theirs. Additionally, her distant relationship with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, such as Darlene, Harris, and Becky, means they would not be as devastated by her passing as they were by Roseanne's sudden departure. As a result, Bev's death would evoke emotions but would not disrupt the series' overall tone.

4 The Conners Season 6 Doesn’t Need To Kill Off Bev

It was widely expected that Roseanne Barr's character would be written out of the show following her racist tweets, unlike Bev's departure in The Conners season 6 which was unrelated to real-life events. Consequently, the death of the supporting character in The Conners season 6 could carry more significance for viewers, as it would not be perceived as a regrettable necessity, but rather a deliberate creative decision. Bev has been a part of the show since its inception, enduring numerous hardships. Therefore, allowing the character to meet death with dignity would serve as a final act of kindness towards Bev after years of struggle.

3 Bev Is Roseanne’s Saddest Character

While Bev's potential demise in The Conners may be seen as tragic, it could also bring a sense of relief for the character. Bev endured a difficult life, but she also made things challenging for those around her. Despite hiding her children from their father's physical abuse during their upbringing, she later subjected them to emotional abuse, leading to resentment. She never reconciled with Roseanne before her passing and only found solace with Jackie due to her dementia in The Conners season 5. Thus, Bev's death in The Conners season 6 could serve as an opportunity to redeem one of the show's most difficult figures.

In episode 8 of The Conners season 5, titled "Of Missing Minds and Fries," Bev's reconciliation with Jackie after the discovery of her dementia was a positive development. While impaired, Bev displayed a sweeter side towards her surviving daughter, leading Jackie to forgive her mother's shortcomings. Instead of introducing more guest stars, The Conners season 6 should build upon this storyline and focus on Jackie's relationship with her mother during her final days. This would allow the show's most sorrowful character, Roseanne, to finally find the peace that had eluded her throughout her challenging life.

2 Bev’s Death Brings The Conners To An End

The Conners season 6 should not kill off Jackie now that she has finally found happiness with Neville. Additionally, it would not be suitable for the spinoff to kill off Dan again, considering that Roseanne season 9 had already done so and the revival had retconned this event. Therefore, the only character whose death can bring a meaningful conclusion to The Conners is Bev. If The Conners season 6 marks the end of this long-running sitcom, it can compensate for the unsatisfactory ending of Roseanne's original run. While removing Roseanne Barr saved The Conners, the spinoff still needs to find a fitting conclusion for its expansive multi-generational family narrative, and Bev's death is the perfect fit.

1 The Conners Season 6 Can Make Bev’s Death Matter

If the spinoff of The Conners ends after its sixth season, Bev's death could become a pivotal moment in the show's history. However, if the series continues beyond that, there would be even less connection to the original Roseanne cast, resulting in a potentially reduced emotional impact. Since DJ Conner's character was already dropped in The Conners season 5, the show runs the risk of feeling like a mere imitation of its former self by season 7. Yet, if The Conners season 6 serves as the series' conclusion, the sitcom can bid a fitting farewell to one of its finest characters and end on a high note.

The impact of Roseanne's death on The Conners was limited because the show couldn't excessively focus on her absence. The writers were in a difficult situation as giving too much attention to Roseanne's death took away from the humor of the show, while mentioning it too rarely made the characters appear unsympathetic. On the other hand, Bev's death would not be as sudden or unexpected, so it would not face the same level of scrutiny. Additionally, Bev's will could offer some financial security to the family that had been working hard for decades. Whereas Roseanne's death left The Conners devastated but with no choice but to carry on, Bev's passing could leave Roseanne's heroes saddened but finally in a more stable position.