What is the inexplicable appeal of the Roseanne revival?

Prior to the premiere of the Roseanne revival, there was speculation about how audiences would react, given the star has been a vocal supporter of Donald Trump.

During the 2018 TCA panel, Roseanne Barr confirmed her political views would factor into the series, particularly how partisanship has caused discord among family members. Barr’s hope for the show appeared to be to use it as a platform not just to entertain, but also as a way to encourage communication and mutual understanding.

So far, the series’ attempts to open up discourse has been disappointing. Roseanne is a critical and ratings success which is most likely due to the allure it holds for an audience who have felt a lack of representation on the small screen. But there are inherent inconsistencies as it tries to appeal to viewers who finally feel like someone has their back — an unapologetic loudmouth — while not alienating those who prefer a more progressive Roseanne Conner. This balancing act has resulted in a show rife with disingenuous political correctness and an unapologetic ignorance about the world we live in.

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Roseanne Conner makes it clear in the premiere that she’s pro-Trump because he promised to create jobs while shaking things up. Sadly, his campaign promises haven’t come to fruition. Dan and Roseanne are still strapped for cash, struggling to keep their house and unable to pay for their prescription medications, and it’s undocumented workers who are responsible for taking food off their table.

Eldest daughter Becky is a waitress who attempts to become a surrogate so she can afford to buy a home. Middle-child Darlene is forced to return to the nest with her two kids, Mark and Harris, in tow and is unable to find a job. In the Trump era, the Conners are worse off than when we last saw them.

There have been other changes. The Conners own a gun (Roseanne refuses to keep a gun in her diner in season 5), they say grace, and Roseanne’s formerly razor-sharp wit has become as dull as an old butter knife. The once outspoken feminist now calls her granddaughter Harris an “entitled little bitch.” And the Roseanne whose physically abusive childhood caused her to experience incredible guilt and regret after spanking D.J. is now a fan of corporal punishment.

How and why Roseanne has undergone such a metamorphosis remains a mystery. She’s still bossy and bullies those around her, particularly her sister, Jackie, who is the lone voice for liberalism. As a result, she’s portrayed as a flaky spinster with good intentions but misguided and easily dismissed opinions.

But, wait, the Conners aren’t all bad. Darlene’s son, Mark, likes to wear girl’s clothes. Dan and Roseanne don’t understand his behavior, but they accept it. Roseanne goes as far to defend Mark’s clothing to his classmates. And in what is a transparent attempt to avoid criticism the show received in the past regarding a lack of diversity among the cast, D.J., Dan and Roseanne’s eldest son, has a biracial daughter, Mary. Although, viewers see more of Mary in the opening credits than they do in the first six episodes.

The show pulls out all the stops in episode 7, bringing back the Conners only black friends and finally giving Mary some screen time. Roseanne also spies her Muslim neighbors who she is convinced are terrorists. This doesn’t stop her from trying to use their WiFi, suggesting to Darlene their password could be “DeathToAmerica.” Nothing like putting a tasteless, humorless spin on xenophobia.

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Roseanne finally meets the couple, Samir and Fatima, and learns that she’s not the one with something to fear. The show makes a half-hearted attempt to debunk the oh-so-popular theory that white people are the victims, and their rights and beliefs are being pushed aside or discounted altogether. This popular Conservative ploy perpetuates fear, so while Roseanne is spying on her neighbors, politicians are doing far scarier things while she isn’t looking.

Roseanne has a teachable moment when she witnesses firsthand Fatima insulted by a checkout clerk and immediately comes to her defense. All of a sudden, Roseanne is redeemed because she encountered someone dumber than she is, but whose knee-jerk reaction to Fatima was no different from Roseanne’s other than her slurs were out in the open while Roseanne’s were made behind closed doors.

Roseanne expressed an intolerance for racism 20 years ago, but she and the woman who plays her he become dismissive when it comes to the topic of race. Barr came under fire for a line of dialogue that takes place when Roseanne and Dan discuss Blackish and Fresh Off the Boat, referring to them as shows about “black and Asian families,” and Roseanne claiming, “They’re just like us.”

Ignoring or marginalizing the racial and cultural significance of those shows and their characters might be construed as a misguided attempt to project color blindness, but the comment is really just insensitive and ignorant.

The show devotes an entire episode to Mark’s gender fluidity but has failed to address the challenges Mary faces growing up during a time when racists have become emboldened thanks, in large part, to the man the Conners voted into office.

Barr isn’t obligated to make the world a better place. It’s okay to produce a family friendly show that attempts to extract humor from the mundane. But it’s Barr who promised us engaging discourse on the current social and political climate. We were supposed to gain a better understanding of opposing viewpoints. Yet, after seven episodes, it remains impossible to reconcile this incarnation of Roseanne Conner compared to the woman who took pride in being “poor white trash”  and was tolerant of everything except stupidity.

The Roseanne revival has failed to recapture the ground-breaking glory and sometimes provocative tone of the show’s earlier seasons. Barr appears out of her depth when it comes to the complexity of issues like healthcare or Colin Kaepernick’s protest, and her solution is to dismiss them with snide comments and sweeping generalizations. There’s no outrage, no call to action, just a disheartening acceptance and even defense of the status quo, and there’s nothing funny about that.

Next: Roseanne renewed for Season 11

Has the revival missed the mark for you? What do or don’t you enjoy? Drop us a comment below.

Roseanne airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.