Roseanne was a sitcom that resonated deeply with working-class families. Set in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois, the show depicted the Conner family, who lived paycheck-to-paycheck. Despite their financial struggles, they found warmth and support in each other. This portrayal of everyday struggles, from unpaid bills to balancing low-wage jobs, stood out from the typical sitcoms of the time, making Roseanne relatable for millions of viewers.
For the first eight seasons, Roseanne set itself apart by focusing on blue-collar realities. While other sitcoms presented families with financial stability or affluence, Roseanne centered on the harsh realities of working-class life. The show’s matriarch, Roseanne Conner, played by Roseanne Barr, was a refreshing change from the traditional TV moms. She was brash, real, and unpolished, capturing the essence of a strong woman facing the daily challenges of family life.
Season 9 of Roseanne marked a dramatic departure from its original tone. The Conner family, who had always struggled financially, suddenly won the lottery. This shift led to a complete change in the show’s direction, with Roseanne indulging in luxurious experiences and rubbing elbows with the wealthy elite. This departure from the grounded, relatable struggles of the Conners made the show feel disconnected from the reality that had initially endeared it to viewers.
Roseanne Barr and John Goodman (Photo: Roseanne/ABC)Dan’s Affair and the Breaking of Family Bonds
Another controversial aspect of the ninth season was the introduction of a storyline in which Dan (John Goodman) had an affair. For eight seasons, viewers had rooted for the strong, imperfect marriage between Dan and Roseanne, so this plotline felt like a betrayal. The affair not only seemed out of character for Dan but also undermined the show’s core focus on the Conners’ loyalty and commitment to each other.
In the series finale, the show took a dramatic and unexpected turn, revealing that much of what had transpired in Season 9 was fictional. Roseanne, the character, was writing a book about her life, and the events of the season—such as the lottery win and Dan’s affair—were simply creations of her imagination. Viewers learned that Dan had actually died of a heart attack the year before, and Roseanne had been coping with his death by inventing a new reality where he was still alive.
Roseanne’s Grief and the Power of Writing
The finale delved deep into Roseanne’s grief and her way of processing the loss of her husband, Dan. She used writing as an escape from the pain, crafting a narrative in which her family won the lottery and lived a more glamorous life. This creation of an idealized world served as a coping mechanism, allowing Roseanne to avoid the harsh realities of life without Dan. The finale was marked by a sense of personal reflection and a poignant exploration of grief.
The ending of Roseanne left many viewers feeling unsatisfied. The show had been known for its warmth and portrayal of family togetherness, and the final moments, where Roseanne is alone in her basement, seemed to contradict everything the series stood for. The twist felt jarring and left fans with a sense of loss, especially as they saw Roseanne isolated and reflecting on the pain of losing her husband. It was a stark contrast to the show’s usual themes of family unity.
Roseanne’s Grief and the Power of Writing (Photo: Roseanne/ABC)When Roseanne was revived in 2018, the show attempted to correct its controversial finale by bringing Dan back to life and returning to its working-class roots. However, the reboot struggled with the influence of Roseanne Barr’s personal politics, which clashed with the show’s progressive themes. Despite this, the reboot’s return to the Conners’ familiar dynamics and working-class struggles was a welcome change for many fans who missed the original spirit of the show.
After the cancellation of the reboot due to Roseanne Barr’s controversial statements, a spin-off titled The Conners was launched. The show focused on the Conner family without Roseanne, exploring their lives in the wake of her absence. The show tackled themes of grief and loss, resonating with viewers by showing how the family coped with the death of one of their own. The spin-off successfully recaptured the essence of the original series, providing fans with a comforting continuation of the Conners’ story.
Despite the controversial ending of Roseanne and the challenges of the 2018 reboot, the series’ legacy remains strong. Viewers initially fell in love with Roseanne because it presented a family that was grounded in reality, struggling with financial issues but always finding solace in each other. The Conners’ story continued in The Conners, as the family faced life’s challenges with love, humor, and resilience, offering audiences a comforting return to the working-class values that made the original series so beloved.
