Alright folks Conner family fans brace yourselves. It's the beginning of the end as The Conners are back for their seventh and final season and things are kicking off with a bang – and maybe a lawsuit? Yep you heard that right Lanford's favorite working-class family is facing down some serious drama as they navigate saying goodbye and honoring their past all at once.
Roseanne's Ghost Still Looms Large: The Conners Tackle a Lawsuit for Her Death in Emotional Final Season
You know The Conners started with a major punch to the gut right? Roseanne's passing. Well in a move that's bringing things full circle the final season premiere throws us right back into the aftermath of her death. Aunt Jackie drops a bombshell: thanks to a new court ruling the family can actually sue the big pharmaceutical companies that made the opioids that played a part in Roseanne ’s overdose. Talk about opening up old wounds.
Now Dan being Dan he is not exactly thrilled about dredging all this up again. He's barely put his life back together after losing Roseanne and the thought of revisiting all that pain? Not appealing. But Jackie? She's pushing for it. Executive producer Bruce Helford said it felt "natural" to bring Roseanne back into the story in this way to "honor the memory of the matriarch" and to explore those classic "little guys vs. big guys" themes that The Conners does so well. It's gonna be an emotional rollercoaster for sure with Dan at the center of it all.
Jackie's Back on the Beat? Aunt Jackie Considers Rejoining the Police Force in a Surprising Twist
Speaking of Jackie while she's busy trying to get Dan on board with the lawsuit she's also got a wild idea of her own: becoming a cop again! Remember Jackie's brief stint in law enforcement way back when? Apparently she's feeling the urge to put on the uniform again. As Bruce Helford joked "Have you ever seen Jackie make a good decision? No." But executive producer Dave Caplan points out it's more about Jackie wanting to "close some loops" and deal with how she left the force way back when.
In a funny bit of casting Laurie Metcalf ’s real-life daughter Zoe Perry (you might know her from Young Sheldon) guest stars as a local police officer who is not convinced Jackie has what it takes to rejoin. Apparently Jackie and this officer even get into an arm-wrestling match which spoiler alert Jackie loses. It sounds like these scenes between Metcalf and Perry are comedy gold and could have gone on forever according to Caplan. Will Jackie actually become Officer Jackie again? We will have to wait and see.
Love in Lanford: Relationship Drama for Darlene Ben Becky and Dan in Final Season
It wouldn't be The Conners without some relationship drama right? Darlene and Ben are hitting a rough patch because Ben's magazine is keeping him super busy and Darlene is feeling a bit neglected. Caplan teases that Ben is on a "journey" to figure out his legacy and Darlene is not necessarily on that same path which is causing some friction.
Becky and Tyler are dealing with post-honeymoon phase of their relationship. They are trying to show love through grand gestures like quiche but Becky also needs to focus on finishing her degree. Caplan says they are exploring the "reality of what a long-term relationship's going to be" and how Becky and Tyler navigate that.
And then there is Dan and Louise. Louise is trying to support Dan through the Roseanne lawsuit drama but it's a tricky spot for her. Helford notes it’s a "rock and a hard place spot for his new wife to find the appropriate place" being supportive of Dan but also not having the same history with Roseanne that the rest of the family does. Louise is not one to stay quiet though so expect her to speak her mind as always.
Emma Kenney on Saying Goodbye: "Bittersweet" Ending for The Conners
Emma Kenney who plays Harris Conner-Healy has been on The Conners since it started and she says the final season is "definitely bittersweet ." She was only 18 when she started on the show and now as it wraps up she feels like she has grown up alongside her character. Kenney compares the set to "adult summer camp" and says she will miss the relationships with the cast most of all. She promises fans can expect the signature Conner mix of humor family drama and those moments that "hit home" emotionally in the finale season.
Laurie Metcalf Warns "No Big Bow" Ending: The Conners Finale Will Be Real Not Wrapped Up Neatly
Don't expect a perfectly happy ending all tied up with a bow for The Conners. Laurie Metcalf says the finale season won’t feel "completed" because there is "a lot to wrap up" in just six episodes. She notes it won't have a "big bow tied up with the Conners" and will stay true to the characters' storylines. Lecy Goranson echoes this saying they are not doing anything "wacky or kind of culminating" for the finale. It is just not their style. The Conners is about "real people and real life situations" and the finale will reflect that. Expect a realistic and emotional send-off not a fairy tale ending.
What to Expect in The Conners Final Season:
- Roseanne Lawsuit Drama: The family grapples with the option to sue opioid companies for Roseanne's death.
- Dan vs. Jackie: Dan and Jackie clash over the lawsuit and how to honor Roseanne's legacy.
- Jackie's Cop Dreams: Aunt Jackie considers rejoining the police force leading to humorous moments with a skeptical officer.
- Darlene & Ben's Struggles: Relationship tension as Ben focuses on his career and Darlene feels neglected.
- Becky & Tyler's Reality Check: Navigating the post-honeymoon phase of their relationship and balancing romance with real life.
- Louise's Balancing Act: Louise tries to support Dan through the lawsuit drama while finding her place in the Conner family history.
- Emotional Farewell: Expect a bittersweet and realistic ending that reflects the show's focus on working-class struggles and family bonds.