Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Conners season 7, episode 2, “Fame, Flying Fists, and Cold Feet.”

Although the final season of The Conners’ large cast of characters gives viewers many figures to follow and each of them has a compelling character arc of their own. As such, it can be easy to forget all about the show's original heroine. Before the show became The Conners after her off-screen death, Roseanne Barr’s hard-working mother was the original title character of Roseanne.

Although The Conners began with Roseanne’s death from an opioid overdose, the spinoff still kept her legacy alive. The first season dealt with the fall-out from her death, and later outings made both comedic and dramatic references to her ing. When Mark began abusing prescription ADHD medication to keep his grades high, he was reminded of his grandmother’s tragic fate. Similarly, when the family got rid of Dan and Roseanne’s old furniture, Becky made a tasteless joke about sending the old items down to hell with her mother.

The Conners Season 7 Episode 2 Reveals Roseanne Didn’t Believe In Becky and Darlene

Roseanne’s Final Texts To Jackie Saw Her Worry About Dan

As such, it is not shocking that Roseanne’s death plays a major role in The Conners season 7’s main storyline. In season 7, episode 1, “It's Gonna Be A Great Day,” Jackie suggested bringing a court case against the pharmaceutical manufacturers who got Roseanne addicted to their product, but Dan wouldn’t hear of it. In episode 2, “Fame, Flying Fists, and Cold Feet,” Jackie brought up this suggestion again, albeit with more of her usual persuasive force. Jackie showed Dan the last texts that Roseanne sent her, and they painted a tragic picture of the sitcom’s former heroine.

Becky managed to overcome her addiction in the years since her mother’s death, but receiving concrete confirmation that Roseanne didn’t believe she was capable of this couldn't have been easy.

Roseanne and Jackie’s texts saw Roseanne it that she was worried about Dan’s financial future with her unemployed. She said she couldn’t imagine Darlene in a happy relationship or Becky beating alcoholism, proving that although The Conners season 7 improved Darlene’s career, her mother never believed she would find happiness. Becky also managed to overcome her addiction in the years since her mother’s death, but receiving concrete confirmation that Roseanne didn’t believe she was capable of this couldn't have been easy.

Roseanne Not Being Able To Witness Becky & Darlene Overcoming Her Worries Makes It More Tragic

Jackie Shared Roseanne’s Fears With Becky and Darlene

To make matters worse, Jackie revealed Roseanne’s doubts about Becky and Darlene directly to them in an attempt to get them on board with the lawsuit. Becky and Darlene took this well, ing Jackie in convincing their father to take the company to court. However, it was still tragic to discover that, not only did Roseanne die believing that her children would never work through their issues, but their aunt ended up showing them just how little faith Roseanne had in them years later.

While The Conners heroine Jackie might be the show’s most beloved character, Laurie Metcalf’s sitcom heroine arguably took too big a liberty in this instance. It is understandable that Jackie felt she needed to share the texts with Becky and Darlene, and they do appear to prove that Roseanne felt Dan was financially dependent on her. This is invaluable to the family’s court case, as it is hard evidence that Dan incurred a financial loss as well as a personal one when Roseanne ed away due to her continued drug abuse.

Far from an idealized suburban mother, Roseanne was always a troubled character and an imperfect parent.

However, Jackie’s story gets even sadder when she reveals her final messages with her sister devolved into an immature insult match despite how heartfelt Roseanne’s earlier confessions were. This was a well-timed reminder that, while Roseanne’s death was a tragedy, she could be a surprisingly difficult, thorny character during her lifetime. Far from an idealized suburban mother, Roseanne was always a troubled character and an imperfect parent. As such, it does make sense that her final messages about Becky and Darlene were so hopeless, as hard as this might be to face.

Why Roseanne's Fears Is The Perfect Set-Up For A Great Ending For Becky & Darlene

Becky and Darlene’s Happy Endings Can Now Feel More Hard Won

Roseanne was also struggling with addiction at the time, which made her pessimism all the more understandable in context. That said, Roseanne's comments ironically set up perfect endings for Becky and Darlene’s respective character arcs. Although both characters are doing alright, they aren't exactly in the right place with their love interests, Ben and Tyler. Becky still has to finish her Masters, while Darlene is struggling to find time with her husband as he prioritizes work over her.

While The Conners season 7's Jackie story is likely to get more screen time in the coming episodes, the spinoff should still find time to prove Roseanne’s fears were baseless. The Conners ending with Becky and Darlene fully defying their mother’s worries with happy relationships and fulfilling careers would be the perfect send-off for both generations of Roseanne’s heroines.

Enjoy ScreenRant's primetime coverage? Click below to sign up for our weekly Network TV newsletter (make sure to check "Network TV" in your preferences) and get the inside scoop from actors and showrunners on your favorite series.

SIGN UP NOW!