Wow. After seven seasons, The Conners has officially closed its doors. The final two‑part episode aired on April 23, 2025, offering a powerful, emotional farewell to Roseanne Conner and her legacy. If you weren’t glued to the screen, you may have missed some subtle but significant moments. I’m going to walk you through everything—from plot resolutions and character arcs to that final break in the fourth wall. Trust me, this one hits hard.
1. Context: How We Got Here
1.1 From Roseanne to The Conners
Originally, The Conners spun off from Roseanne after its 2018 reboot ended following controversy. The show then continued without Roseanne Barr’s involvement. Her character was written off—she died of an opioid overdose.
1.2 Why the Final Season Had a Heavy Burden
The show had to not only wrap up its own storylines but also honor Roseanne’s character in a way that felt meaningful and respectful. Fans expected resolution, emotional sincerity, and some sense of justice.
2. Major Storylines Resolved in the Finale
2.1 Dan’s Legal Battle Over Roseanne’s Death
One of the central arcs: Dan Conner sues a pharmaceutical company linked to the medication that contributed to Roseanne’s overdose. During his deposition, he fiercely defends Roseanne and calls out how society and big pharma often let families suffer.
2.2 The Symbolic $700 Settlement
The lawsuit doesn’t yield a windfall. Instead, Dan gets a check for $700—a small, almost insulting amount, given what they hoped for. It underscores the theme: justice often feels like too little, too late.
2.3 Character Growth & Life Changes
Various Conners get new chapters:
Mark moves to New York, lands a tech job.
Darlene reaffirms her relationship with Ben.
Becky remains sober and makes strides in her personal and professional life.
Jackie returns to the police force.
Dan and Louise face emotional baggage, especially regarding her place in Dan’s life compared to Roseanne.
3. The Ode to Roseanne
3.1 Visiting the Grave
The show brings the Conners together at Roseanne’s grave. Each character shares updates—both joyful and painful—giving the audience and themselves a moment of collective remembrance.
3.2 Flashbacks Without Barr
There are nostalgic clips referencing Roseanne’s earlier days, but notably, Roseanne Barr herself doesn’t appear in those flashbacks—due to contractual reasons. Her memory, her legacy, is honored, but her physical image is not directly shown in new scenes.
3.3 Dan’s Final Goodbye
In the emotional final moments, Dan Conner sits alone on the family couch, reflects on the past, and then looks directly into the camera. He says “goodnight.” It’s a symbolic, intimate break of the fourth wall—friend to audience, man to screen—acknowledging both Roseanne’s impact and the viewers’ journey.
4. Themes That Carried Through the Finale
4.1 Grief, Loss, and Acceptance
The Conners have lived with Roseanne’s absence throughout the show; the finale forces them (and us) to face the reality of loss. Dan’s deposition and the grave scene are about accepting that Roseanne is gone—but not forgotten.
4.2 Justice—and Its Limits
That lawsuit storyline is a mirror to many real‑world fights against big corporations. The minimal settlement reminds viewers that often the outcome is symbolic rather than transformative. It’s real; it’s painful.
4.3 Family Resilience
Despite everything, the family holds together. The values that Roseanne once embodied—humor in hardship, loyalty, imperfect love—still define the Conners. The finale shows that connection can outlast tragedy.
4.4 Honesty Over Gloss
One thing many reviewers noted: the show didn’t try to sugarcoat. It embraced raw emotion. There were messy moments. Real tears. Real regret. And that honesty made the goodbye feel earned.
5. Key Moments You Might Have Missed
5.1 Louise’s Emotional Confrontation
Louise (Katey Sagal) finally voices what many felt: that Roseanne’s presence (even in memory) loomed so large that she often felt second. That tension gets addressed in the finale and helps the show balance Roseanne’s legacy with Louise’s own life.
5.2 Jackie’s Return to the Force
Jackie, who was formerly a police officer, had drifted off. In the finale, she passes her tests and returns to service—a symbolic reclaiming of identity, perhaps making peace with the past.
5.3 The Irony of the $700 Check
When Dan receives a paltry $700 check, the family doesn’t collapse. Instead, they mock the injustice, share a dinner, and then gather for the graveside. It’s painful but also real.
5.4 The Final Couch Shot & Flashback
After the family goodbye and the grave scene, there’s a moment on the couch—quiet, reflective. Flashbacks roll. Then Dan looks up, says “goodnight” to us. That mix of past & present lodges Roseanne in viewers’ memory without pretending she’s still here.
6. What the Finale Means for the Legacy
6.1 Roseanne’s Character Is Honored
Even though Barr isn’t there, the character of Roseanne Conner is treated with respect. The show acknowledges her flaws, her importance, and the grief of losing her—all while allowing the rest of the family to grow.
6.2 The End of a Chapter—Not an Erasure
The show makes clear: Roseanne’s gone, but her presence lingers through memories, the influence on others, and the mark she left. It doesn’t erase her; it lets the family move forward.
6.3 A Message to Viewers
This finale says something to us: that family, no matter how flawed, is worth holding onto. That justice is messy. That grief doesn’t disappear, but you can carry it with dignity. And maybe that’s more real than perfection.
7.1 DJ’s Absence
One character fans noticed missing was DJ Conner (Michael Fishman). He had left the show in earlier seasons and did not return for the finale. Some viewers were disappointed by that omission.
7.2 Roseanne Barr’s Perspective
Barr has expressed criticism over how her character’s death was handled. She reportedly found some aspects hurtful, especially relating to mental health, which adds another layer of sadness to the show’s ending.
7.3 The Settlement’s Symbolism vs. Satisfaction
While the $700 check makes a point, some felt it was too little; others felt it added realism. Whether it satisfies depends on whether you watch for moral resolution or raw emotional truth.
8. Final Thoughts on the Finale’s Impact
The Conners finale isn’t a big fireworks show. It’s quieter. It’s personal.
It works because it doesn’t try to neatly tie up every single loose end; instead, it gives enough closure while letting grief, growth, and memory co-exist.
For fans of Roseanne, this ending feels like a meaningful goodbye—not perfect, maybe, but deeply human.
After seven seasons, The Conners didn’t just end a show—it closed a chapter of American TV. The farewell to Roseanne Conner is tear‑jerking, honest, and painfully real. From Dan’s fight for justice, the haunting graveside scene, real emotional goodbyes, to that final “goodnight” to the audience, the show gave us what many thought impossible: a tribute that respects loss while allowing hope. If you missed any of this, you missed the heart behind the show. The Conners leaves the screen, but Roseanne’s legacy stays alive.
