When Roseanne was canceled in 2018 due to racist comments, it seemed like the end of the show. However, ABC quickly reworked it into The Conners, continuing the story without its original lead. For years, the series has avoided any direct involvement with Roseanne Barr.
Barr’s exit was not subtle. Her character, Roseanne Conner, was killed off in The Conners’ first season due to an accidental opioid overdose, making a return nearly impossible. However, the show’s final season has unexpectedly brought her death back into focus. This has raised questions among fans who are wondering if she could return for one last time.
Roseanne Conner’s death has been revisited in the final season
The final season of The Conners has placed Roseanne Conner’s death at the center of its storyline. In the premiere episode, “It’s Gonna Be a Great Day,” the family talks about suing the drug manufacturer responsible for the opioids that led to her accidental overdose. The plotline was inspired by a real-life 2024 Supreme Court ruling on opioid-related lawsuits.
Executive producer Bruce Helford mentioned that Dan Conner, played by John Goodman, would be forced to “dig back into all of that grief” and face consequences as the season unfolds. The unexpected focus on Roseanne’s death has left some fans wondering if Barr could make a surprise return before the series ends.
Could Roseanne Barr actually return?
Given that Roseanne Conner was written out as deceased, a traditional return seems unlikely. However, The Conners has played with this reality before. In the original Roseanne series, Dan Conner was said to have died in Season 8, only to be revived when the show returned in 2018. The writers explained his death away as part of a fictional book Roseanne had written, essentially rewriting the show’s history.
When asked directly about a possible Barr cameo in the series finale, Helford told The Wrap, “We aren’t bringing anybody back from the dead.” But when pressed about whether a ghostly version of Roseanne might appear, he simply said, “Well, I didn’t say not, but yeah.” While The Conners has successfully moved forward without Barr, fans wonder how the show will incorporate and acknowledge Roseanne Conner in the season finale.