[ad_1]
Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for The Conners season 7, episode 4, “Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad”
Although The Conners season 7, episode 4 doesn’t feature any big emotions from John Goodman’s Dan, it is this very absence that sets up the perfect end to his character arc in Roseanne’s spinoff. The Conners’ large cast of characters and its multi-generational scope means that, inevitably, the family sitcom always ends up short-changing some of its stars. Becky’s young daughter, Beverly-Rose, has only been seen once in The Conners season 7’s first four episodes and, with only two episodes left to go, it is unlikely she will receive much more time in the spotlight.
Similarly, Harris’s disappointing The Conners season 7 story hasn’t engaged with the symbolic weight of her taking over the Lanford Lunchbox in any real way. The restaurant has been part of the Conner family for generations thanks to Jackie, Roseanne, and Beverly. As such, Harris’s revamp of the Lunchbox could have been a chance for her to prove herself and do justice to her grandmother’s legacy. Sadly, this plot has barely been mentioned in season 7 outside a subplot in episode 4, “Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad.”
Dan Fails To Express Emotion Over Roseanne’s Death In The Conners Season 7, Episode 4
Dan Remained Unmoved When Talking About The Tragic Event
Early in “Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad,” Harris hires a new waiter because she is attracted to him. However, she is forced to fire Stony Blyden’s guest character shortly afterward when he proves to be a legendarily hapless waiter. He is unconcerned, admitting that he only took the job so he could ask Harris out on a date. The subplot is sweet but completely sidesteps the significance of the Lunchbox to the Conner clan, much like Dan tries to avoid his own complicated feelings about his family’s past.
Dan can’t discuss his feelings over Roseanne’s sudden death in “Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad,” and this inability is one of the saddest moments the character has had in a long time. Even Roseanne and Jackie’s The Conners plot wasn’t as tragic as seeing the aging widower admit that he couldn’t open up about his late wife. However, this sad scene also had practical implications for the family’s future. The Conners are embroiled in a court case as they have taken the pharmaceutical manufacturers responsible for Roseanne’s overdose to court seeking compensation.
This conversation could foreshadow a big, stirring courtroom scene in the finale where Dan finally breaks down over Roseanne’s death.
When John Goodman’s character failed to express emotion over Roseanne’s death, Jackie and his lawyer Jean feared he would make it harder for the jury to empathize with his plight. Thus, “Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad” sets up a perfect ending for Dan. This conversation could foreshadow a big, stirring courtroom scene in the finale where Dan finally breaks down over Roseanne’s death. Not only would he win over the jury, but he would also finally show the viewers how much the loss affected this typically stoic character.
How Dan’s Struggles Sets Up A More Emotional Ending For Him
Goodman’s Roseanne Hero Should Finally Break Down Over His Wife’s Death
If there is one thing that The Conners season 7’s superfluous new characters are good for, it is setting up great endings for the rest of the cast. Jane Lynch’s heavy-drinking lawyer Jean is funny, but her primary purpose in the spinoff is to facilitate the court case plot line. Dan initially refused to even take the drug manufacturers to court, and when he finally joined Jackie in taking on the case, he didn’t want to speak on the stand.
Related
The Conners Season 7, Episode 3’s Mark Plot Makes David’s Absence Worse
The Conners season 7 episode 3 made the absence of Johnny Galecki’s Roseanne character David worse with the end of Mark and Darlene’s big fight.
As such, Goodman’s Dan taking the stand to talk about what Roseanne meant to him would be a perfect ending for The Conners season 7 and an ideal way to say goodbye to the show’s original title character once and for all. When The Conners killed off Roseanne as the series began, the spinoff felt eager to move on from this tragedy. Her memory was maintained, but the show was understandably quick to stop focusing on her death.
Why Dan’s Emotional Moment Over Roseanne’s Death Needs To Happen In The Conners
The Conners Season 7’s Dan Plot Can’t Repeat The Roseanne Spinoff’s Biggest Mistake
However, the speed with which The Conners moved on as a series and Dan’s emotionally detached attitude sometimes make it seem like the loss was no big deal to him. Despite how little he talks about it, Dan truly loved Roseanne and was fundamentally devastated by her death, and season 7’s finale can prove this with an emotional speech from Goodman’s character. The spinoff owes viewers this much after its best earlier story arc ended with a similarly pivotal scene taking place off-screen.
|
The Conners Cast Member |
Character |
|---|---|
|
John Goodman |
Dan Conner |
|
Laurie Metcalf |
Jackie Harris-Goldufski |
|
Sara Gilbert |
Darlene Conner-Olinsky |
|
Lecy Goranson |
Becky Conner-Healy |
|
Katey Sagal |
Louise Conner |
|
Emma Kenney |
Harris Conner-Healy |
|
Ames McNamara |
Mark Conner-Healy |
Jackie and Beverly’s big emotional reconciliation inexplicably happened off-screen in season 6, episode 3, “Moms and Rats,” even though this moment could have been a highlight of the show’s entire 7-season run. Roseanne’s painful death casts an even larger shadow over The Conners than Bev’s years of mistreating Jackie, so the Roseanne spinoff can’t repeat this mistake with Dan’s testimony.
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.
[ad_2]
Source link