Every Roseanne And The Conners Series Finale Ranked

by

Only a handful of shows manage to deliver a powerful series finale, let alone three. However, viewers of “Roseanne” and its spin-off, “The Conners,” are familiar with this franchise achieving a remarkable feat – a trilogy of poignant farewells to their audience. Two of these endings were premeditated, while the third was a response to a scandal. These partings have varied in form, ranging from a radical reinterpretation of the series’ recent years to an emotional tribute to fans that broke the fourth wall, and an episode that inadvertently hinted at a character’s demise. Each ending has been distinct from its predecessor, with some fans finding aspects they disliked, while others have cherished them.

Among the three finales, which one stands out as clearly superior compared to the others, can be considered the strongest. Conversely, the one that falls short and appears weaker is one of the finales. The remaining finale lands somewhere in the middle, neither particularly strong nor weak when compared to its counterparts. Here’s a ranking of every single finale from the “Roseanne” universe, arranged from worst to best.

3. Roseanne (2018)

As a dedicated gamer, you might not realize this, but every finale of “Roseanne” has had an unexpected impact, something the show’s creators could never have envisioned back when they were penning those episodes. The 2018 finale of “Roseanne,” which later morphed into “The Conners” in the fall without its namesake star following Roseanne Barr’s dismissal due to a racially insensitive tweet, subtly foreshadows the downfall of Roseanne Conner (played by Roseanne Barr). It does this by emphasizing her knee surgery.

In the episode titled “Knee Deep,” Roseanne finds herself at the hospital, confronting her own mortality before undergoing surgery. Though she survives the operation, she subsequently becomes addicted to painkillers given for post-operative care. Tragically, this addiction leads to an overdose during the offscreen intervals between seasons, a heartbreaking event that unfolds in the premiere of “The Conners.” This unexpected turn of events wasn’t part of the writers’ initial plans when penning the finale, but the episode “Knee Deep” skillfully foreshadows this plot twist.

In the episode titled “Knee Deep”, Darlene Conner, played by Sara Gilbert, decides to leave her job as a waitress and return to journalism. This career choice is still a significant part of her life when “The Conners” begins, eventually leading her to marry her second husband, Ben Olinsky (Jay R. Ferguson). The episode “Knee Deep” is quite impactful, but it lacks the emotional resonance necessary to be considered the franchise’s most powerful finale.

2. The Conners

1. “The Conners” ends with a delightful blend of emotion and wit, steering clear of excessive sentimentality, thus giving its finale depth and significance.

2. In “The Truck Stops Here”, Dan (John Goodman) testifies in a class action lawsuit against the drug company that produced the pain pills which led to Roseanne’s overdose. After a season-long struggle with indecision, both he and Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) debate what is morally right, culminating in the family receiving an astonishing $700. Unable to suppress their laughter, they find humor in the situation.

The remaining Conners are doing somewhat better. Darlene and Ben work on their marriage issues, Dan makes Louise feel valued again, Becky and Tyler make progress in their relationship and contemplate sharing a home. Jackie gets the most joyful news as she overcomes the final obstacle to rejoin the Lanford Police Department. The previous episode saw some significant characters reach their conclusions, such as Mark. The finale, particularly its touching final scene that concludes with a brilliant quote from Goodman, is lovely and impactful.

1. Roseanne (1997)

The last episode of the original “Roseanne” series could be seen as the strongest finale in terms of its cultural influence and creative boldness, despite some criticizing it as one of the most peculiar finales ever. The “Roseanne” reboot might have chosen to disregard this episode from the series’ continuity, but its lasting impact on popular culture should not go unrecognized.

In a daring twist, the last ten minutes of “Into That Good Night” part two dramatically overturns everything you might believe about the family. Remarkably, this is precisely what happens in the final season of the original “Roseanne”. The Conner family, having won the lottery, faces the challenges that often accompany immense wealth. The series seems to end on a high note, with the family content, rich, and fulfilled. However, as the camera pans across the family dining table, it reveals the surprising truth about their situation.

It was revealed that after Dan, Roseanne’s TV husband, died from a heart attack at Darlene’s wedding in real life, Roseanne fictionalized the entire final season as a means to deal with his death. She transformed significant events throughout the series and even altered characters’ sexual orientations for her own comfort. For example, she portrayed Jackie as straight instead of gay, and had Darlene marry David (Johnny Galecki) rather than the pairing in the show’s actual continuity. Similarly, Mark (Glenn Quinn) was married off to Becky (Lecy Goranson), contrary to their on-screen pairings. The series concludes with a solitary Roseanne pondering the creative process, which serves as a more accurate reflection of Roseanne Barr’s ongoing struggles with the show’s writing team and the challenging experience of giving birth to this sitcom itself.

Read More

2025-04-25 23:30