'The Conners' Proved It Could Survive Without Roseanne

Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for The Conners Season 7.

In 1988, the original Roseanne series premiered and aired for nine seasons. After show ended in 1997, fans lost touch with the Conner family until Roseanne rebooted in 2018. Unfortunately, the reboot only lasted one season, after its central star, Roseanne Barr, was fired from the series due to controversial remarks on social media. Barr’s release from the revival inspired The Conners spin-off, which mainly focused on Roseanne’s husband, Dan Conner (John Goodman), and their kids, as they navigated life after Roseanne’s passing due to an opioid overdose on the show.

The revival has run for seven seasons, nearly as long as the show that originally inspired it, and will conclude with a six-episode season this week. However, given the character of Roseanne’s integral role in the series, the revival couldn’t successfully go on that long without someone to take her place. However, The Conners‘ final season promo has confirmed Roseanne’s replacement, creating the perfect trio of Dan, Becky Conner (Lecy Goranson), and Jackie Harris (Laurie Metcalf) to highlight the success of the series and ultimately using Roseanne’s sister as her stand-in.

Jackie Has Filled Roseanne’s Shoes on ‘The Conners’

Overall, choosing to showcase Jackie was the perfect homage to the series and all that it stood for over the years, as she became an even more integral part of The Conners after Roseanne’s passing on the show. Jackie did her best to fill Roseanne’s role as a powerful female figure the Conners could look up to and respect. She offered her nieces, Becky and Darlene, endless support as they navigated motherhood and adulthood. She also extended her help to the younger characters and took on more of a grandmother role, offering Mark (Ames McNamara) a supportive ear when he told the family he was gay. She also intervened with Harris (Emma Kenney) often and tried to address issues differently from the rest of the family.

On top of that, Jackie also lent Becky support during her recovery and schooling as a single mother. Jackie became the emotional backbone and fixer of the family by either limiting blowups to a minimum or offering the family “checks-in” as their mother Roseanne would’ve done. Even with Dan remarrying, Jackie was his silent partner throughout the seasons and took on the role of his confidante as he continued to navigate fatherhood as a widower, while also being a reliable mother figure to the rest of the younger Conners.

Seth Green's Oz from Buffy the Vampire Slayer wears a cream-colored shirt with a brown collar and talks to someone off screen

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He will play Darlene’s new friend.

Jackie and Dan Have Undeniable Chemistry on ‘The Conners’

The undeniable onscreen dynamic and chemistry between Metcalf and Goodman have also contributed to the success of The Conners, solidifying the bond their characters have formed over the years. The two have mastered subtle but meaningful glances, adding to the authentic lived-in feel of the series. Their connection helps solidify Jackie’s role as an emotional anchor and authority figure. Thanks to decades of history between them, Dan and Jackie have a respectful dynamic even when they don’t see eye to eye. While they initially have a turbulent relationship, the loss of Roseanne allows them to become stronger allies.

Throughout the revival, Dan and Jackie often brainstorm ways to keep the family afloat or simply enjoy each other’s company. Even Dan’s new wife knows to leave the tough family decisions to long-term family members. Meanwhile, Jackie was given more opportunities for comic relief, but adopted more of a one-liner style that balanced the occasional grim storylines like her sister’s sarcasm once did. Overall, the two balance each other out, much like the original series’ married couple. In the areas where Dan can be more grounded, Jackie is more explosive and unpredictable, allowing them to complement one another.

In the end, Jackie has certainly stepped up in The Conners and, although she’s not exactly a replacement for Roseanne, she’s become the heart of the show. The character has grown throughout the series, as well, and gained more confidence in the process as an exemplary role model for the younger generation. While the revival may have lacked a certain luster without its original star, Roseanne’s sister was by far the best-suited cast member to take her spot. Jackie has evolved into a version of the family matriarch that fits the post-Roseanne era — tough, flawed, loving, and quick-witted, just like her sister, but all in her own way, allowing her to usher The Conners through seven successful seasons.