10 Iconic Roseanne Characters Who Didn’t Return in The Conners Season 7!

Warning: SPOILERS for The Conners season 7.

As a die-hard fan, I must admit that it was heartening to see most of the main characters from The Conners get their farewell moments during the final season. However, it’s quite disappointing that some key players from the original Roseanne show were absent from this emotional reunion. With just six episodes leading up to The Conners’ series finale, even managing to include the core family members was a tough task. Regrettably, some prominent characters from The Conners cast are barely present in season 7, including Ben, Harris, and Louise.

The turn of events for the final story arc of the series led to an unfortunate predicament. Many aspects of The Conners season 7 seem hurriedly wrapped up, with some character’s finale stories being overlooked for entire episodes. Despite Dan’s lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company being the central plotline of the season, his case ends abruptly with an unexpected check, even though no settlement amount was agreed upon earlier. Given this hasty conclusion to such a crucial storyline, it’s not surprising that some characters were challenging to incorporate altogether.

10. Leon

The Former Lunch Box Owner

In the original “Roseanne” series, Martin Mull’s character, Leon Carp, who was a friend but also a rival of Roseanne, appeared in 46 episodes spanning seven seasons. However, the exact outcome of Leon’s storyline on the show is left ambiguous. At the end of the series, Leon acquired The Lunch Box, but due to a retcon (retroactive continuity) involving Roseanne’s lottery season, it’s unclear how long Leon continued to manage the restaurant. Given that Leon had firm views about the restaurant’s management, it would be intriguing to see what he thinks about the changes The Lunch Box has undergone since Jackie took ownership up until the final Harris years in “The Conners.

In contemplation, Bruce Helford and Dave Caplan pondered about reintroducing the character; however, events took an unexpected turn. Following a lengthy period without viable ideas to seamlessly include the character into The Conners, Martin Mull tragically passed away in 2024, just shortly after the series was commissioned for its final season. In the event that Mull were still alive, it’s hard to predict if his character would have made a brief return for a heartfelt farewell.

9. Jerry

The Missing Conner Child

As a devoted movie critic, I find myself constantly pondering the intriguing plot twists in “The Conners.” One such mystery that remains unresolved is the whereabouts of Dan and Roseanne’s fourth child. While Jackie’s son Andy unfortunately became a victim of the lottery retcon, Jerry was initially confirmed to be thriving on an Alaskan fishing boat at the start of the revival. However, in “The Conners,” there are numerous mentions suggesting that Dan had only three children. Not only has Jerry’s fate never been explained, but it seems as though he has been erased from the show’s continuity entirely.

Previously, Helford has subtly indicated a family divide, implying that Dan may harbor ill feelings towards Jerry due to unspecified reasons. If Dan’s anger stems from Jerry not being present at Roseanne’s funeral, then including Jerry in the finale dedicated to Roseanne would have provided a satisfying resolution to his storyline. However, his omission from The Conners season 7 leaves an open-ended question, at least suggesting an unresolved plot point, or perhaps underscoring a permanent rift between the characters.

8. Chuck

Dan’s Long-Time Best Friend

As a devoted fan and movie reviewer, I’ve been following “The Conners” closely since its inception. However, the gradual disappearance of Chuck Mitchell from the series has become increasingly conspicuous as the show progresses. The absence was particularly felt during Dan’s wedding to Louise, an event that Chuck missed.

Then, in a surprising turn of events after season 4, we learn that his wife Anne-Marie had suffered a stroke, which led to Chuck’s complete exit from the show. It’s intriguing to consider how the narrative could have been enriched if Chuck reappeared during Dan’s period of grief, especially amidst a lawsuit. Such a storyline might have provided a deeper exploration of their shared experiences and emotional journeys, which unfortunately remain unexplored in the show thus far.

Basically, it boiled down to scheduling conflicts. James Pickens Jr., who’s had a long-term association with ABC, was already busy with Grey’s Anatomy as Richard Webber when he joined The Conners. Over time, juggling two demanding roles seemed less practical. Furthermore, since The Conners shifted from the fall season to spring in its later years, it’s likely that filming would have clashed with the production schedule for Grey’s Anatomy.

7. Geena

Darlene & Becky’s Sister-In-Law

Geena’s character, who was first introduced in the “White Men Can’t Kiss” episode of Roseanne season 7 back in 1994, has been portrayed by different actors in each version of the show since its initial run. However, it wasn’t until the revival season that she was unveiled as DJ’s wife. This is just a small part of her intricate acting history within the series.

Initially, I seemed to be returning from Afghanistan, but later on, I chose to step down from military service to be with DJ and our daughter Mary at home. It appeared that my return might have been imminent following the cancellation of Maya Lynne Robinson’s other series, The Unicorn; however, unforeseen circumstances led to my character being reinstated for a foreign deployment without explanation. It seemed they ran out of creative ideas for my cameo in the final season, but I wasn’t alone in choosing not to return after leaving the show.

6. Mary

Harris & Mark’s Younger Cousin

In the continuation series titled “The Conners“, Mary Conner seems to have a more prominent part compared to both her parents. She’s present in multiple episodes without DJ or Geena, and it’s rare for DJ or Geena to have their own storylines that aren’t connected to Mary in some fashion. Additionally, Mary plays a crucial role in the early shaping of Mark’s character as they seem to share a bond reminiscent of siblings, particularly during the seasons when Harris is deeply involved in teenage rebellion.

After Geena departed at the end of season 3, there remained some rationale for keeping Mary involved in the series. Since DJ was working extra hours to support them both, Mary lived with Dan and thus had more frequent appearances on the show than DJ did. However, once DJ’s character was also removed from the series, Mary only stayed on for one additional season. Similar to Geena, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what Mary added to the final hurried season other than providing a familiar presence.

5. Ed Jr.

Dan’s Estranged Half-Brother

In a scene not depicted on-screen, Ed Conner had Dan’s half-brother with Crystal. This half-brother, named Ed Jr., made an appearance in season 4 of Roseanne as a newborn baby. Later, he reappeared on The Conners when it was revealed that their father had passed away.

Initially, Dan and Ed Jr. clashed due to their strained relationship and contrasting views about their late father. However, as the story unfolded, the younger brother came to understand that their father favored them differently. By the series end, they managed to reconcile and mend their differences.

Noel Fisher effectively endears his character to viewers from the get-go on “The Conners,” and it’s always delightful when another actor from “Shameless” joins the cast. Regrettably, just as he was in “Roseanne,” the character only appeared for a single season of “The Conners.” After season 2, his presence faded, leaving fans wishing for more interactions between him and Dan, especially considering that it could have been interesting to see them staying connected. However, the heavy emphasis on Roseanne in season 7 might have made it challenging to incorporate a character with minimal ties to her.

4. Crystal

Roseanne’s Ailing Former Friend

In the TV series “Roseanne,” Crystal, being Roseanne’s childhood friend, played a considerable role with 59 appearances across the original run and revival season. She was there even in the family’s hard times, such as mourning Roseanne’s death during the first season of “The Conners.” However, except for one more appearance in the first season, Crystal is barely seen in the majority of the subsequent seasons of “The Conners” until making a comeback in season 6.

Crystal’s absence from “The Conners” season 7 seems somewhat peculiar due to how her previous role was written. In her final episode, it was disclosed that Dan hadn’t used the money Neville gave him for a ticket, but instead spent it on Crystal’s medical bills. This mirrors Jackie’s mother and Chuck’s wife in terms of an unresolved health issue. By the end of the series, this health concern is left hanging, without any resolution. It remains uncertain if Dan can afford to assist Crystal further after his lawsuit loss in the finale.

3. David

Darlene’s Deadbeat Ex-Husband

In the fourth season of “Roseanne,” David starts dating Darlene, and Johnny Galecki appears in an impressive 93 episodes afterward. He plays a significant role in Darlene’s storyline, while the character of Mark (especially Mark’s death) significantly impacts Becky’s development even up until “The Conners.” Regrettably, David is removed from the series after the end of his relationship with Darlene in season 2, and he is often mentioned as a negligent father who no longer has contact with his children, Mark and Harris.

The showrunners had prepared a storyline for him during the final season, but they ultimately abandoned it because they wanted to honor Johnny Galecki’s semi-retirement in Nashville. Although he made a brief appearance halfway through season 7 of “The Conners,” it seems that his relationship with the character hasn’t improved offscreen, leaving fans disappointed who had hoped for his redemption.

2. DJ

One Of The Original Conner Kids

Before Jerry’s arrival and mysterious departure, DJ was the youngest, cherubic member of the Conner family. He offered child viewers identifiable tales, as well as portraying the quirky character who hid doll heads that had been severed under his bed. However, DJ’s role in The Conners was often limited to a few secondary storylines here and there, which ultimately led to him being phased out of the show before season 5.

No matter if he had accompanied Geena and Mary or not, many viewers anticipated that he would reappear during the last season’s finale. Many fans were frustrated by DJ’s absence in the final episode of The Conners, as they found it odd that he didn’t make an appearance – not even in the Roseanne flashbacks at the end of the episode. Michael Fishman has been quiet about his character’s non-appearance, but it seems like the decision might have been beyond his control. However, it remains striking that DJ’s name was never mentioned during the final episode.

1. Bev

Jackie’s Rail-Riding Mother

In the fifth season of “The Conners”, Beverly Harris managed to reconcile with her daughter Jackie, who had held resentment towards her for years. This was following the revelation that Bev had previously endangered herself to protect Jackie from Jackie’s abusive husband. It would have been intriguing to delve deeper into their restored relationship, but Bev appeared in just two episodes the following season before deciding to travel on the railways and explore the world, as her dementia was progressing.

In the closing scene, Jackie admits she’s lost track of Bev on her phone as previously assumed. This revelation raises concerns, suggesting that a woman with dementia might have misplaced or lost her phone. It may appear that Estelle Parsons didn’t reprise her role in The Conners, but it could be due to scheduling conflicts rather than age-related issues. Nonetheless, Jackie’s disclosure about Bev’s whereabouts in the finale was deeply troubling.

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2025-05-03 18:31