The Conners
Warning : Spoilers ahead for The Conners time of year 5 , episode 15.WhileThe Connersseason 5 had a huge opportunity with the write up of Harris ’ pregnancy , theRoseannespinoff failed to take advantage on this chance . The Connersuses its position as a situation comedy about a play - class American phratry to point out on a range of social , ethnical , and political issues , as did its predecessor , Roseanne . It can be problematic forThe Connersto balance drollery and social commentary at meter , butRoseannestruggled with this balance and still maintain a comedic flavor .
However , whileThe Connersseason 5 addressed a storymost family sitcoms avoid when the spinoff delved into Darlene ’s unemployment , the series also miss promising story chance . While Darlene ’s son Mark came out early on in the spinoff , The Connersseason 5 has mostly ignore his universe as theRoseannefollow - up focus on other character . Worse than this , however , wasThe Connersseason 5 , sequence 15 , “ Possums , Pregnancy and Patriarchy , ” which fundamentally fail its main character to avoid a tricky topic .
Related : The Conners prove Roseanne ’s Influence Can Be Problematic
Harris’s Conners Season 5 Story Could Have Made Sitcom History
At the root of “ Possums , Pregnancy and Patriarchy , ” Harris reveal that she is fraught . This lead her to seek counsel from her family , andDarlene proves she ’s the new Roseanneby instantly fighting with Harris over her life decisions . However , the episode does n’t name the Holy Scripture “ abortion , ” even though Harris has state that she does not need to become a mother in recent episodes . In an attempt to sidestep a divisive issue , The Connersseason 5 efficaciously rewrite Harris ’s entire theatrical role .
There are almost no case of situation comedy characters get at abortion in TV history , save forMaudeseason 1 , episodes 9 and 10 , “ Maude ’s Dilemma . ” This prescient outing aired in 1972 , whileMaudecreator Norman Lear ’s seriesThe fact of Lifelater featured a high school student revealing she had terminate a pregnancy offscreen sometime earlier . SinceMaude ’s groundbreaking episode , situation comedy have almost always head off the field of study of abortion . Even in socially conscious sitcom likeThe ConnersandRoseanne(which touched on the field of study twice ) , the selection of abortion is ruled out or run low unmentioned .
The Conners Season 5 Let Down Harris’s Story
Recent TV episodes have address abortion , but none of these have been major net sitcoms . With “ Possums , Pregnancy and Patriarchy,”The Connershad the chance to change this . Harris is n’t a character who ever expressed any interest in parenthood before , and only six months in the beginning , she broke off her conflict to Aldo specifically because he expect a child from their marriage . As such , Harris ’s alternative to avoid miscarriage did n’t fit her role and felt more like an endeavor to avoid angering viewers than a conclusion that honored her character .
AsJackie ’s tragic season 5 arc proves , The Connersisn’t averse to discussing lumbering , ambitious subjects . Over its last two seasons alone , the series has address dipsomania , prescription medicine drug abuse , unemployment , poverty , the lack of access to medical indemnity and adequate care , LGBTQ+ bullying , mass shootings , and parental maltreatment . As such , the choice to institute up the issue of miscarriage by fix Harris ’s grapheme significant was an perceivable decision . However , Harris ’s choice not to terminate the pregnancy did not gel with her established character . It pilot in the face of everything viewers make out about her ( no matter of a devote viewer ’s opinion on miscarriage ) .
Related : The Conners Season 5 Episode 13 Release Date ( And Hiatus explain )
Roseanne Makes This Conners Mistake Worse
astonishingly , Roseannehandled the subject of abortion full thanThe Conners time of year 5 back in the ‘ 90s . In the two - part episode ofRoseanneseason 7 , episodes 10 and 11 , “ Thanksgiving ’ 94 / Maybe Baby , ” Dan and Roseanne ’s first scan suggested foetal abnormalities . WhileRoseannesupporting character , DJ , offered to help the duet raise this tyke , Dan and Roseanne still had a candid discourse as a couple over whether they could open to raise another child , countenance alone one with particular want . While the episode ’s ending conveniently revealed the scan was wrong , theRoseannestory at least acknowledged the existence of abortion , which is more thanThe Connersmanaged in season 5 .
More : The Conners Season 5 professor It Does n’t Need Roseanne cameo
