The first few episodes of this season were kind of a downer and only sorta funny but after that it slowly got some of the biting humor back that the original series had.
Once they got away from Roseann's death and back to daily life things, the show started getting better. I'm glad I stuck with it and gave it a chance.
816 Reviews
Negative reviews from Roseanne supporters most likely
tzk1213 November 2018
The show is still good. Yes, it's obvious Roseanne's voice is missing, but the show is good on it's own merit, not just because of one personality. I actually like it better cuz I find Roseanne's voice jarring and annoying, but she can be funny. lol! I will continue to watch the show since I like the storylines and it's still funny to me.
Pretty funny, even without R.
joellyn-mumcian17 October 2018
I hope this gets some other "better" reviews. The 1 and the 3 ratings I thought were unnecessarily harsh. I thought "The Conner's" was a pretty fair re-boot. It was funny, sad in the right places, and I really didn't miss Roseanne. Maybe those other reviews were from die hard Rosanna Barr fans.
It just isn't working.
ShartyMcFly26 November 2018
I have watched all the episodes so far because I want to like this show. I loved the original and still enjoy the reruns so much. However, the new show is simply not good. I love Laurie Metcalf but she is horribly overplaying her character much like she did in the original runs last season. I don't know who told her this was the way to go, but it's awful. Goodman looks bored and seems like he's forcing his lines. Sara Gilbert seems to be trying to fill the void left by Roseanne and she's just not up to it. Darlene was an interesting teenage character but her flat, monotone one-liners just don't deliver. As for the rest of the cast, there's too many extra characters and very little character development. If I'm supposed to care about any of the grandkids, they need to be featured more than a couple minutes each week. What made the original so good was the relationships - Roseanne was at the center of that with Dan, Jackie, Becky and Darlene. I gave it a chance, I think I'll stick with the reruns and take a pass on this.
I like it
maseyjean27 October 2018
Yes, it sucks that Roseanne is absent, but I've always enjoyed the supporting cast. I think that they're holding their own pretty well in this series. It's funny to me and it doesn't feel much different than the original series, other than the obvious being that Rosie isn't there. Great acting here and I can appreciate it.
Terrible writing with no humor
wienke-386203 August 2019
I thought Goodman could still carry this show without Roseanne. I was wrong.
I guess this is what you get when you show zero loyalty to the woman who built your careers. Pretty disappointing ending to a really funny show.
Better without Roseanne
ecaftnucuoykcuf11 November 2018
Virtually all of these negative reviews are based on the producer's decision to nix Roseanne, rather than the show itself. While neither of the 2018 shows are as good as the original Roseanne, The Conners is better than the original reboot w/ Roseanne. That show was entirely political from beginning to end and based entirely on Roseanne's political views. The Conners manages to avoid all of that and replace it with a bit more humor. Granted, sitcoms in general aren't particularly funny or well written, but I actually think this is one of the better ones among the current offerings.
How Hollywood Imagines the Lower Class Lives
amexspam10 March 2022
The writing of the early years of the Roseanne show was based on memories, and recent realities, of actual "working class" people. "The Connors" writers are - based on their bios - all millionaire Hollywood sexagenarians, living in Mailibu, that grew up in upper middle class homes, attended Ivy league schools, and went up from there...Top 1% clueless cultural misappropriation. This still might work if the show was at all funny, but it simply isn't.
I liked it.
thoopous1118 October 2018
Maybe some if these bad reviews are not based on the show itself but on people's anger that Rosanne was fired. I thought the writing and the acting were as good as anything in the original. Rosanne picked the cast and set the tone so I guess that's a tribute to her. I thought her tweets were offensive but she's a comedienne, not the president, so holding her to a higher standard seems kind of unfair. . I think the show will go on without her. Darlene was always my favorite character anyway.
Surprisingly good
ragana17 October 2018
I didn't think it would work without Roseanne but I also didn't think a new Star Trek series would work after the original. The humor is intact, the relationships are strong, Roseanne's death is dealt with in a dark, sad, and culturally appropriate manner. It's an excellent jumping off point for the show, future story lines, and character growth. It has the makings of being just as wonderful as the original if people can just get past their "It's Kirk or nothing!" I mean "It's Roseanne or nothing!" attitude.
Started at a solid 5 and has moved downhill from there
Nyssareen_777 March 2022
This show started out at a solid 5. Despite the sudden loss of the driving force of the show, the first season of The Conners seemed to do a decent job. They highlighted how an average family can weather poverty and loss while also dealing with the generational conflicts that will naturally happen when you have three generations trying to inhabit the same space without killing each other. In the second season it started slipping, and has continued to do so ever since. Now in season 4 we have reached a generous 2/10 and absolutely NONE of the original magic is left. It is almost entirely filled with this or that political/social agenda and the acting and writing have both become painful to witness. No matter what your opinion of Rosanne's politics is, anyone who is being honest has to admit that the original series was awesome (until we got to season 9 and things started to go seriously off the rails) where this show started off average at best and is now a complete dumpster fire.
Glad I gave it a view........Two Thumps Up!
mija28817 October 2018
It's amazing how many chose to go low with their review without ever watching the show or, DID watch it but went into it with plans to be negative no matter what. In my opinion, the premiere episode was VERY good and I wasn't expecting it to be but I chose to give it an honest shot with my only real disappointment coming with the fact Roseanne Barr made the choices she did. I WILL be a regular viewer and I'm proud of the cast AND crew for trusting in their belief that there was still a story to tell and they were up to the challenge.
Not that bad
lthunting22 November 2018
I tried. It's bombed without Roseanne
michael-0330324 November 2018
Where's Roseanne?
jrdjrdmcdglgmlcm18 May 2023
You know--without Roseanne, The Connors just does not pass muster. The original "Rosanne" was a groundbreaking and much more controversial series than this: the writers had more freedom to express their humor, the jokes weren't stale and cookiecutter in the original. Clearly the writers have tried to make the humor in this series as PC as possible, but everything just falls flat.
Admittedly, Roseanne's comment that got her canned from the "Roseanne" reboot wasn't a good thing to say, but it's hypocritical how Hollywood will not let her return to the series. To me, the action of not forgiving a gaffe--even a terribly offensive gaffe--says more about Hollywood's character (or lack thereof) than it does Roseanne's.
Anyway, Roseanne was the nexus that glued the characters harmonically together, without Rosie the show just doesn't work.
Admittedly, Roseanne's comment that got her canned from the "Roseanne" reboot wasn't a good thing to say, but it's hypocritical how Hollywood will not let her return to the series. To me, the action of not forgiving a gaffe--even a terribly offensive gaffe--says more about Hollywood's character (or lack thereof) than it does Roseanne's.
Anyway, Roseanne was the nexus that glued the characters harmonically together, without Rosie the show just doesn't work.
It's not Roseanne, but it's Good!
peggy-zelaya18 November 2018
As a devout Roseanne viewer who has seen every Roseanne episode at least 10 times it was hard for me to hear of her firing and the show getting cancelled. I was reluctant about "The Conners" but I found that it is just as funny. It really is. Aunt Jackie is great and Dan carries the show well. I will say that I HATE the opening of the show without Roseanne's laugh. They should have totally changed it. That's the only reason I'm giving it an 8.
I liked the first episode
davelynch1621 November 2018
I see a lot of bad reviews giving 1/10 I will leave my rating until I watch it some more. I found the first episode both funny and a little touching. The jokes were similar. The same sarcastic tone. It's sort of strange that an actress can get fired from a popular show for making a comment that very few people Barr (excuse the pun) the media were following anyway, while the President of the United States can get away with just about anything. To sum up, episode one is a fitting tribute to the show's former title character. I'll give episode one 9/10 and save my rating based on the first series, of which I will be following.
Not that bad
Tron_Swanson17 October 2018
Warning: Spoilers
So the first episode of Roseanneless Roseanne actually isn't really that bad.
The main stand outs for me are definitely Dan and Jackie. The way the Jackie goes full neurotic around the house because she doesn't want to leave for fear she would be leaving Roseanne is great. Another high point is Dan in all his John Goodman goodness. He's still got jokes and is still one of the funniest characters on the show. His emotional moments were on point too. And the way they handled Mark coming out to Dan was sweet.
The only bad I really saw was the scene where the family finds out it was an OD that killed Roseanne felt kinda forced.
Overall I think this could be a decent show despite the absence of Rosanne.
The main stand outs for me are definitely Dan and Jackie. The way the Jackie goes full neurotic around the house because she doesn't want to leave for fear she would be leaving Roseanne is great. Another high point is Dan in all his John Goodman goodness. He's still got jokes and is still one of the funniest characters on the show. His emotional moments were on point too. And the way they handled Mark coming out to Dan was sweet.
The only bad I really saw was the scene where the family finds out it was an OD that killed Roseanne felt kinda forced.
Overall I think this could be a decent show despite the absence of Rosanne.
What's with the one star ratings??
michellepugh-964-46145529 November 2018
Seriously?
sarah_sle11 April 2021
Is this show a joke? It seems so! The acting and parody to today's life is! Get real! The Rosanne show use to be great because real people could relate to it and it made us laugh! This crap just makes me cringe!! Stop Already!! You're all embarrassing yourselves!!
It's going to fine
waynetripp-6855217 October 2018
Jackie's attempt at the kitchen re-org sums up rather nicely what The Conners needed to do to move on from Roseanne
Ed-Shullivan17 October 2018
Obviously this spin-off series from Roseanne needed to first achieve closure from the family matriarch Roseanne. Just like with any other death in our own family, we discuss the deceased with endearment and our fondest memories and so this new TV spin-off "The Conners" did exactly that. I saw this pilot episode still contained the Conners family as a whole and with time permitted, The Conners will persevere and find their own comedic way with that same old tinge of dramedy in their weekly storylines.
I see a lot of other IMDB viewers want to kill the series early. I say give The Conners a full first season and let's wait and see if the storylines remain current and possibly include the polarization of the U.S. politics with stories relating to the political positions of the Democratic and Republican parties on major issues such as taxes, the role of government, entitlements (Social Security, Medicare), gun control, immigration, healthcare, abortion, environmental policy and regulation.
The Conners still have a lot to say and I have a feeling a lot of the initial IMDB low reviews are "fake reviewers" whose worse fear is that the Conners message just may hit a wider TV audience as progressive in their views. Lets wait and see how Jackie and the rest of the Conner clan reorganize the Conner kitchen and the rest of their lives without Roseanne before passing judgement.
I give the series pilot a 7 out of 10 rating with a wait and see approach to see if The Conners show can remain current in its issues and with good dramedy.
I see a lot of other IMDB viewers want to kill the series early. I say give The Conners a full first season and let's wait and see if the storylines remain current and possibly include the polarization of the U.S. politics with stories relating to the political positions of the Democratic and Republican parties on major issues such as taxes, the role of government, entitlements (Social Security, Medicare), gun control, immigration, healthcare, abortion, environmental policy and regulation.
The Conners still have a lot to say and I have a feeling a lot of the initial IMDB low reviews are "fake reviewers" whose worse fear is that the Conners message just may hit a wider TV audience as progressive in their views. Lets wait and see how Jackie and the rest of the Conner clan reorganize the Conner kitchen and the rest of their lives without Roseanne before passing judgement.
I give the series pilot a 7 out of 10 rating with a wait and see approach to see if The Conners show can remain current in its issues and with good dramedy.
I Just Can't...
scottroxmphs20 November 2019
Ok, so the whole Roseanne thing happened and now we're left with her family to carry on. I gave it a try, I really did. I'm glad they brought back the original Becky (she's my fave over Chalke) and I think it's cool they now added Peggy Bundy to the cast (yes, I know it's Katey Segal). However, it just seems like it keeps getting worse and worse for the Conners. I mean, how long can a black cloud stay over one family? This is depressing as hell. In the old days, they weren't rich by any means but they were funny and made light of it. Now it's just dark, like slit your wrists dark. I know many viewers have lots of questions like "where's the son?" and "where's this character?" and so on. My question is when did Darlene get to the point she's sleeping with two guys and fighting them off with a stick cause she's so irresistible? Am I missing something here? And the kids... no wonder David left them high and dry. I'm sure they're fine actors but the characters are really awful. Last night the wrong person got slapped. Props to Gilbert for taking that hit like a real woman. I wish Jackie would've smacked the fool out of Harris as well. Poor Dan. He drinks more than ever, looks emaciated, and doesn't want the tail thrown at him by Segal who is much hotter than any woman who has been on that show. Speaking of characters, was Matthew Broderick that desperate for a role? I mean, it's so damn dark it's not funny. It's painful to watch like a slow motion car crash. The only person who comes out winning is Roseanne. No Arnie, Crystal, or Booker. I don't think anyone can salvage this show and Dan is one of my favorite TV fathers of all-time. Just makes you miss the days of when everyone could take a joke and we weren't afraid of being so PC. We really had it good when we could laugh at ourselves and the Conners as a whole. Now I feel like there should be a toll free Help Line number at the end of every episode to donate to Becky's daughter, Jackie for The Lunchbox, DJ (just cause he's a good guy) and Dan for a six pack.
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