Why The Conners Season 7’s Darlene Plot Went Nowhere—and Why That’s Actually a Win

Attention: This piece includes plot revelations from The Conners season 7, episode 4 titled “Danny Boy, the Interview, the New Hire, and the Hanging Chad – Proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

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While the finale of “The Conners” series somewhat rendered one plot point in Season 7 unnecessary, it was preferable to how the “Roseanne” spinoff handled things differently. Despite its flaws, it would be challenging for any fan of “Roseanne” to dislike the ending of “The Conners.” The conclusion of the original “Roseanne” series was notoriously poor, with Roseanne’s narration suddenly revealing that John Goodman’s character, Dan, had died at the start of Season 9, and all the previous season’s events were a fantasy she concocted to cope.

In simpler terms, the emotional farewell in the final episode of The Conners season 7 was a more suitable conclusion to the series, as compared to the overly sentimental moment in question that might have been difficult to surpass. However, the introduction of new characters in season 7 seemed superfluous and did not significantly contribute to the overall narrative. In particular, Jean, the heavy-drinking lawyer portrayed by Jane Lynch, was absent during Dan’s court proceedings, even after coaching him, and the Conners ultimately lost their lawsuit against the pharmaceutical manufacturers who were responsible for Roseanne’s overdose.

Darlene and Chad’s The Conners Season 7 Relationship Didn’t Go Anywhere

The Conners Series Finale Saw Ben and Darlene Reconnect

Zoe Perry’s character, the cop, made fun of Jackie’s efforts to rejoin the force without knowing that Jackie had actually passed the physical test, so she never got to admit she was wrong. On the other hand, Becky from The Conners had a positive ending in season 7, but Darlene’s storyline with a new character might have been the least meaningful subplot. For weeks, Darlene drank and complained about her husband Ben and Seth Green’s character, Chad, whom she found herself emotionally attached to. Eventually, she recognized this as an emotional affair and confronted Ben about his excessive work hours.

In The Conners season 7, Darlene’s storyline felt unsatisfying as it lacked any significant conflict. Initially, Ben seemed distant, but then he swiftly transformed into an attentive partner, resolving their issue without a proper build-up. Unlike other characters like David Healy, Beverly, or DJ who were either absent or underdeveloped in the season, Darlene was central to the plot, yet she found herself involved in a storyline that failed to progress or offer any resolution.

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Darlene And Seth Green’s New Character Got A Surprising Amount Of Screen Time

At least the final episode of the series didn’t suddenly put a strain on Darlene and Ben’s marriage in the end. However, it seemed to overlook a more suitable resolution for her character. An article published in 2018 by VanityFair highlighted that Darlene aspired to be a writer throughout the original series and its revival, yet she lacked the financial means due to raising her children. Therefore, it felt unusual that she didn’t collaborate with Ben at his magazine, considering this was an opportunity that aligned with her dreams.

It’s true that Harris being underdeveloped in The Conners stood out more than Darlene’s subplot, given her extensive screen time in season 7. If you recall, Darlene’s new collaboration with Ben could have rekindled their romantic feelings and provided the career she’d long aspired to. Unfortunately, the series finale of The Conners missed an opportunity to give Roseanne’s character a satisfying culmination, which would have made for a fitting ending to her storyline.

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2025-04-30 15:08