The Conners is hopelessly depressing. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 03-17-2022, 05:40 AM

I more or less stopped watching The Conners from last season and even then would maybe watch a half an episode and turn it off. It sucked that Roseanne Barr got herself fired from her own show (plus the millions that she lost), but I liked John Goodman so much that he could carry the show and he has.

My issue with the series is that it is DEPRESSING as hell. The family, since the 1990's show has not progressed whatsoever. Dan is now a senior citizen who still continues doing construction and carpentry at his age, still paying on a 30 year mortgage almost losing the small, rundown house he has been paying on since the 1980's. Dan never improved his lot since the original show.

The daughters are losers. Both as teenagers were very promising, Becky was an excellent student who could get a college scholarship, and Darlene got a scholarship to a design/art school of some kind. Fast forward thirty years and Becky never graduated, lived on the margins, became an alcoholic, sports a hideous arm tattoo. Darlene wasted her potential also. One would think from the old show that at least one of them would have been a success.

Not to mention Roseanne's sister never grew also, she is still an immature idiot who makes bad decisions.

The Conners is depressing and the characters are depressing and their lot wont change. If there is a show in the 2050's with the children of the daughters, they will also be losers living in the ran down house, Dan will be over a 100 still working and falling behind on the mortgage and the two sisters will still be living in their childhood rooms.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-17-2022, 08:17 AM

I feel like it's pretty accurate. This is the first time in US history where children are less successful than their parents, and being downwardly mobile is the rule, not the exception. There's been a major decline in the Midwest, with jobs scarce.

The original Roseanne series showed Becky giving up on her college dreams to marry Mark and eventually live in a trailer. Darlene went to art school, but there was no guarantee she'd be a success, either. DJ, a soldier, has been the most successful, because the US will always find war.

The Conners is dealing with reality.

Wawwie · 03-17-2022, 09:45 AM

The Conners really is a very depressing show. Nobody has grown at all. Both daughters are total losers and D.J. is actually not a success. In the original Roseanne show, he was a film geek who dreamed of being like Steven Speilberg. He was talented and had great potential only to do a complete personality transplant in the Conners decades later with the solider thing that was totally uncharacteristic of the true and original D.J. Why in the world would D.J. abandon his dreams of being a film maker? Roseanne Barr gave D.J. a new personality to fit her own new personality. She totally ruined the show and it still sucks with its depressing episodes. I stopped watching around the time that Molly died.

Lorimar Television · 03-17-2022, 04:49 PM

It’s a realistic show like Roseanne was (Atleast early on) I still like it.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-17-2022, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

The Conners really is a very depressing show. Nobody has grown at all. Both daughters are total losers and D.J. is actually not a success. In the original Roseanne show, he was a film geek who dreamed of being like Steven Speilberg. He was talented and had great potential only to do a complete personality transplant in the Conners decades later with the solider thing that was totally uncharacteristic of the true and original D.J. Why in the world would D.J. abandon his dreams of being a film maker?

Because what were the opportunities to become a filmmaker in Lanford? This was a decade or more before social media: he couldn't even post his projects to YouTube, assuming they even had a computer. Could the Conners have even afforded film school? And what student actually sticks with the same hobby throughout all for years of high school and then sticks with it through four years of college as well? Not many; most switch majors.

DJ was just at the right age to enter the military around the time of the War on Terror. There probably weren't a lot of opportunities for being creative in any way in Lanford; that's why Darlene had to move to Chicago.

Wawwie · 03-17-2022, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Because what were the opportunities to become a filmmaker in Lanford? This was a decade or more before social media: he couldn't even post his projects to YouTube, assuming they even had a computer. Could the Conners have even afforded film school? And what student actually sticks with the same hobby throughout all for years of high school and then sticks with it through four years of college as well? Not many; most switch majors.

DJ was just at the right age to enter the military around the time of the War on Terror. There probably weren't a lot of opportunities for being creative in any way in Lanford; that's why Darlene had to move to Chicago.

In my opinion, it is very out of character for D.J. and anyone like D.J. to abandon film making for the army. The army does not fit with the original D.J.'s personality. I understand what you're saying about the limited opportunities but someone like D.J. would not pick the army as an alternative.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-17-2022, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wawwie

In my opinion, it is very out of character for D.J. and anyone like D.J. to abandon film making for the army. The army does not fit with the original D.J.'s personality. I understand what you're saying about the limited opportunities but someone like D.J. would not pick the army as an alternative.

For the record, I worked as a filmmaker and ended up working as a military contractor for the US Army. I mean, you go where the opportunities are.

Wawwie · 03-17-2022, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

For the record, I worked as a filmmaker and ended up working as a military contractor for the US Army. I mean, you go where the opportunities are.

Since opportunities were so scarce in Lanford, I would think that someone like D.J. would go to night school to take creative arts courses or something like that.

Dude111 · 03-18-2022, 12:40 AM

I thihk its horrible..... I liked it with Rosanne!

Yong Fang · 03-18-2022, 05:58 AM

I am not sure with Roseanne the series would have been much better in terms of its depressing tone, except that Roseanne would be making funny as hell sarcastic remarks about their plight. I think in the 1990's show, and in every show about a family, we the viewer want to see the family progress and grow and not be stagnant.

I happened to watch the last episode of the show after writing my original post of the current episode (around 3/16) of a mall shooter who escaped the mall and is in their neighborhood and the fear they have and going poo poo when Dan gets out his gun to protect his family and home. But the episode was the epitome of the tone of the whole series, DEPRESSING.

The writers could have made DJ successful and well off, or the unknown and unwritten fourth child "Jerry Garcia Conner". That would be interesting. No slight on the actor who plays DJ but the guy cant act well. I think this is the reason he isnt on much that I have seen. But it would be cool to bring in Jerry Garcia Conner as a successful person, the family needs one winner.

RetroGuy2000 · 03-18-2022, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

The writers could have made DJ successful and well off, or the unknown and unwritten fourth child "Jerry Garcia Conner". That would be interesting. No slight on the actor who plays DJ but the guy cant act well. I think this is the reason he isnt on much that I have seen. But it would be cool to bring in Jerry Garcia Conner as a successful person, the family needs one winner.

I do believe Michael Fishman is uncomfortable in the spotlight, despite growing up on camera.

I, too, would welcome seeing Jerry, as he's a part of the Conner family. It would be cool if he were "the successful Conner".

Wawwie · 03-18-2022, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yong Fang

the epitome of the tone of the whole series, DEPRESSING.

Speaking of depressing, how depressing is Harris? A drop-out 19 year old who was ready to move in with that hideous 38 year old "man" Aldo and his demon offspring? Aldo is so gross! Yuck! I would be afraid to even touch him. He looks like he has bugs crawling in his hair or something.

Virtual · 03-20-2022, 10:07 PM

I agree about the overall vibe being depressing. In the original Roseanne, we see Darlene and Becky having to overcome obstacles and find some success. Fast forward 30 years later, they've made no additional progress and are actually going backwards.

Even worse, it's rubbing off on Darlene's kids. Harris can't help but make bad choices, and Mark (Jr.) recently had an episode where he was taking drugs to be able to stay awake to do all his work for that magnet school, because he was so determined to not be a failure.

03-17-2022, 05:40 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	The Conners is hopelessly depressing. I more or less stopped watching The Conners from last season and even then would maybe watch a half an episode and turn it off. It sucked that Roseanne Barr got herself fired from her own show (plus the millions that she lost), but I liked John Goodman so much that he could carry the show and he has. My issue with the series is that it is DEPRESSING as hell. The family, since the 1990's show has not progressed whatsoever. Dan is now a senior citizen who still continues doing construction and carpentry at his age, still paying on a 30 year mortgage almost losing the small, rundown house he has been paying on since the 1980's. Dan never improved his lot since the original show. The daughters are losers. Both as teenagers were very promising, Becky was an excellent student who could get a college scholarship, and Darlene got a scholarship to a design/art school of some kind. Fast forward thirty years and Becky never graduated, lived on the margins, became an alcoholic, sports a hideous arm tattoo. Darlene wasted her potential also. One would think from the old show that at least one of them would have been a success. Not to mention Roseanne's sister never grew also, she is still an immature idiot who makes bad decisions. The Conners is depressing and the characters are depressing and their lot wont change. If there is a show in the 2050's with the children of the daughters, they will also be losers living in the ran down house, Dan will be over a 100 still working and falling behind on the mortgage and the two sisters will still be living in their childhood rooms.

03-17-2022, 08:17 AM	#2
RetroGuy2000 Julie,Julie Anne,&Felice 4Ever Forum Star Join Date: Dec 27, 2013 Posts: 16,914	I feel like it's pretty accurate. This is the first time in US history where children are less successful than their parents, and being downwardly mobile is the rule, not the exception. There's been a major decline in the Midwest, with jobs scarce. The original Roseanne series showed Becky giving up on her college dreams to marry Mark and eventually live in a trailer. Darlene went to art school, but there was no guarantee she'd be a success, either. DJ, a soldier, has been the most successful, because the US will always find war. The Conners is dealing with reality.
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03-17-2022, 04:49 PM	#4
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	It’s a realistic show like Roseanne was (Atleast early on) I still like it.
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03-17-2022, 09:45 AM	#3
Wawwie Member Forum Star Join Date: Jul 26, 2006 Location: New York Posts: 14,376	The Conners really is a very depressing show. Nobody has grown at all. Both daughters are total losers and D.J. is actually not a success. In the original Roseanne show, he was a film geek who dreamed of being like Steven Speilberg. He was talented and had great potential only to do a complete personality transplant in the Conners decades later with the solider thing that was totally uncharacteristic of the true and original D.J. Why in the world would D.J. abandon his dreams of being a film maker? Roseanne Barr gave D.J. a new personality to fit her own new personality. She totally ruined the show and it still sucks with its depressing episodes. I stopped watching around the time that Molly died.

03-18-2022, 12:40 AM	#9
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 36,319	I thihk its horrible..... I liked it with Rosanne!

03-18-2022, 05:58 AM	#10
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	I am not sure with Roseanne the series would have been much better in terms of its depressing tone, except that Roseanne would be making funny as hell sarcastic remarks about their plight. I think in the 1990's show, and in every show about a family, we the viewer want to see the family progress and grow and not be stagnant. I happened to watch the last episode of the show after writing my original post of the current episode (around 3/16) of a mall shooter who escaped the mall and is in their neighborhood and the fear they have and going poo poo when Dan gets out his gun to protect his family and home. But the episode was the epitome of the tone of the whole series, DEPRESSING. The writers could have made DJ successful and well off, or the unknown and unwritten fourth child "Jerry Garcia Conner". That would be interesting. No slight on the actor who plays DJ but the guy cant act well. I think this is the reason he isnt on much that I have seen. But it would be cool to bring in Jerry Garcia Conner as a successful person, the family needs one winner.

03-20-2022, 10:07 PM	#13
Virtual Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 15, 2022 Location: US Posts: 118	I agree about the overall vibe being depressing. In the original Roseanne, we see Darlene and Becky having to overcome obstacles and find some success. Fast forward 30 years later, they've made no additional progress and are actually going backwards. Even worse, it's rubbing off on Darlene's kids. Harris can't help but make bad choices, and Mark (Jr.) recently had an episode where he was taking drugs to be able to stay awake to do all his work for that magnet school, because he was so determined to not be a failure.