The Conners: 5 Things We Want to See in Season 6 (and the 1 Thing We DON’T)
When The Conners returns to ABC (premiere date TBD amid the ongoing Hollywood strikes), it may very well be for a farewell run.
Speaking to TVLine in May, executive producer Bruce Helford told us that Season 6 of ABC’s top-rated comedy could be its last.
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“Sara Gilbert expressed to the network that we don’t want to go out without knowing that we are going out with a series finale so we can build to the right ending,” he explained. “And at this point in time, we feel that [next season] is possibly going to be the last season of The Conners.”
Adding fuel to the fire, leading man John Goodman recently suggested that the Roseanne spinoff is rounding the corner. “I think we may be coming to an end on it,” he said in June. “It’s lasted longer than I thought we would. It was just supposed to be like an eight-[episode] show-and-out thing at one point, but they picked us up again — and they keep picking us up.”
Whether or not this is the end, TVLine has a few requests for the sitcom as it inches closer to the finish line. What follows is a list of do’s and (please!) don’ts for Season 6.
WANT: ROMANCE FOR BECKY
Becky hasn’t been in a committed relationship since the loss of her husband Mark, whose death predated the Roseanne revival. Five years later, The Conners finally introduced a viable love interest in FedEx pilot Tyler.
Lecy Goranson and Sean Astin’s chemistry was apparent from Becky and Tyler’s first exchange at the Lobo. The producers would be wise to secure the Goonies star for a Season 6 arc and take their romance the distance. Becky deserves to be happy, and it’d be uncharted territory to see how she navigates having a significant other as an adult — and as a recovering addict and single mother.
WANT: PEACE OF MIND FOR JACKIE
God knows the Conner clan has suffered enough loss. Even still, with 95-year-old Estelle Parsons unable to make the trek from New York to Los Angeles to tape episodes as frequently as anyone would like, it might be time to write one last episode for Parsons to afford Roseanne’s sister some semblance of closure before losing Mom to Alzheimer’s.
WANT: REDEMPTION FOR DAVID
The character assassination in the Season 5 finale just won’t stand. If the spinoff we pitched isn’t in the cards, then we’re going to need Johnny Galecki to return for a multi-episode arc that sees Harris and Mark’s absentee dad turn things around, once and for all, and regain the respect of his surrogate family.
We loved David during the original run of Roseanne. We’d hate for The Conners to end without David getting his act together.
WANT: CLOSURE FOR DJ
Neither the Roseanne revival nor The Conners knew what to do with Darlene and Becky’s brother. The former teased a father/son motorcycle repair business that went nowhere, while the latter inferred that the Army vet’s post-traumatic stress was more intense than he ever let on… then never followed up on his mental health.
After Michael Fishman was let go, the series explained that DJ was visiting Geena overseas, while Mary remained in Lanford. The writers tried to incorporate Mary as best they could in Season 5, but there just wasn’t much for Jayden Rey to do. That’s why we’re proposing that Fishman and TV wife Maya Lynne Robinson return for an episode revealing that DJ and Geena have put down roots outside Lanford, and they’ve come to collect their teenage daughter.
WANT: A HAPPY ENDING FOR DAN
Few TV dads have sacrificed more for their family than Dan Conner. Even now, he continues to prioritize the well being of his middle-aged children, which is something Louise, bless her heart, has learned to accept. But now that everyone’s largely settled, it’s time for Dan to be selfish.
If this turns out to be the final chapter in Roseanne and The Conners‘ 16-season saga, we’d like to see Dan give up the house and hit the open road with his free-spirit wife. We can think of no better outcome for Darlene and Becky’s father — well, except for winning the lottery. But what are the chances that happens twice?
WHAT WE DON’T WANT: A DEAD-END FOR HARRIS
It’d be easy for Darlene’s firstborn to see younger brother Mark go off to college and resent her mom for not doing more to get her into a four-year university, too. But we’ve had enough of Darlene and Harris’ constant bickering.
We’ve also had enough of Harris’ bad decisions — whether it was committing to Aldo for as long as she did, or inviting a drifter into her grandfather’s home and getting pregnant with his baby. (She later miscarried.)
The time has come for Harris to be proactive. She’s always dreamt of leaving Lanford. Now’s the time to work toward making that a reality.
What do you want to see happen in The Conners Season 6? Share your wish list in Comments.
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