Unveiling the Top 6 Reasons The Conners Season 6 Will Thrive Without Roseanne

Bringing back Roseanne in The Conners season 6 would be an ill-advised decision. The original sitcom, Roseanne, enjoyed popularity in the 90s until its poorly received final season. However, when the show was revived in 2017 for season 10, it successfully negated the negative reception of season 9. The revival pleased audiences by reintroducing beloved characters from the original series. Unfortunately, season 11 was compromised by Roseanne Barr's racist comments on Twitter about Valerie Jarrett, a former advisor to Barrack Obama. As a result, Roseanne was promptly canceled and The Conners was created as a spinoff. The show managed to address Roseanne Barr's departure by killing off her character in the pilot episode, shifting the focus to the remaining members of the Conner family. The Conners quickly gained popularity among viewers. Currently in its sixth season, the show has evolved beyond the aftermath of Roseanne's death, instead centering on her children and grandchildren. Therefore, there are multiple compelling reasons why bringing back Roseanne in season 6 of The Conners would not be a wise choice.

5 The Conners Season 6’s Roseanne Return Is Unrealistic

In The Conners universe, Roseanne's death is a permanent fixture. Unlike other sitcoms, where deceased characters often return through fantastical means, The Conners stays grounded and realistic. This show is not a meta-textual deconstruction of the genre like Community or 30 Rock, so bringing Roseanne back wouldn't fit. It would feel out of place in the familiar suburban setting of Lanford.

If Roseanne were to somehow return, it would overshadow everything in The Conners season 6. This is why David Healy wasn't brought back in later seasons, as it would have detracted from the development of the main cast. The problem would be even worse with Roseanne's return, as it would require a fantastical plot twist. Even if she only appeared in a dream, it would erase all the progress the Conner family made in moving on from her untimely death.

4 The Conners Bringing Back Roseanne Is Desperate

3 The Conners Season 6 Has No Role For Roseanne

Retconning season 9 of Roseanne to resurrect John Goodman's character, Dan, was already a desperate move. However, it would be even worse if a similar tactic were used in the revival of Roseanne. Family Guy's temporary elimination of Brian demonstrated that bringing back deceased characters is a clear sign of desperation for any sitcom. The Conners already heavily relies on Roseanne's supporting characters for its most emotionally charged storylines, which can give the impression that the show lacks confidence in its new characters. This issue would be considerably amplified if The Conners season 6 chose to focus on a deceased character instead of its living ensemble.

With regards to the living characters in The Conners, the spinoff is already packed with important figures, making it difficult for the show to shift its focus onto a former star who has been forgotten. Darlene has effectively taken over as the main character, replacing Roseanne. The show already struggles to give its extensive cast enough screen time, and Jackie is finally starting to receive the attention and storylines she truly deserves. In order to make The Conners season 6 more compelling, it would be more beneficial to concentrate on Jackie's challenges rather than trying to incorporate Roseanne into the series again, especially since her departure was already fittingly addressed. Jackie's narrative offers greater intrigue compared to any new plot involving Roseanne.

2 The Conners Is A Better Show Without Roseanne

Roseanne season 10 relied on clichéd jokes about generational differences and political correctness. This carried over to season 1 of The Conners before the show wisely abandoned this approach. However, based on her latest critically panned stand-up special, Roseanne’s comeback would likely mean more of this tired perspective. The Conners season 5 finale showcased a touching and humorous story that involved every member of the titular family. In contrast, one of Roseanne season 10’s episodes depicted the titular antiheroine submerging her grandchild in a kitchen sink as punishment for talking back. This unwelcome shift in tone illustrates that the absence of Roseanne is not a loss for The Conners' dramedy.

In the years since the show wrote off Roseanne, The Conners has moved away from the reactionary humor that characterized Roseanne’s season 10 revival. As a result, the sitcom has come closer to the tone of Roseanne’s first nine seasons. Roseanne’s initial run did not include many storylines centered around reactionary topics such as cultural appropriation, and The Conners' decision to abandon these themes in later seasons allowed for a greater focus on the show's main characters. Mark’s struggles to afford college align more with a classic Roseanne story arc than his school banning a Fortnite Halloween costume for being "too violent," and Roseanne’s return could jeopardize this.

1 The Conners Season 6 Has An Opportunity To End Roseanne’s Story For Good

Beverly's death has the potential to connect the narratives of Roseanne's 10 seasons and The Conners' six seasons, creating a poignant and fitting conclusion to the overarching story of both shows. Bringing back Roseanne could jeopardize this outcome, especially considering that The Conners season 5 has already set up a tragic ending for Beverly. In this straightforward storyline, Roseanne's return would only complicate matters. Beverly's declining memory offered Jackie a powerful opportunity to forgive her abusive mother, an unfolding narrative that would have been impossible with Roseanne still alive.

Jackie's courage to confront Beverly and her subsequent realization of her mother's struggle with dementia highlighted the depth of Laurie Metcalf's underappreciated supporting character. While Jackie did have moments to shine in Roseanne, this specific plotline would not have been as effective in the earlier series. As the titular character, Roseanne's relationship with Beverly would have dominated the storyline. In contrast, focusing on Jackie elevated the episode's impact, resulting in a stronger narrative. Therefore, when The Conners season 6 eventually portrays Beverly's death, it is crucial for Jackie, rather than Roseanne's returning heroine, to be the central focus of this final storyline.