With the Oct. 16 premiere of The Conners [1], Roseanne Conner is officially dead. Ever since the cancellation [2] of the revived '90s comedy Roseanne [3], and the subsequent creation of its spinoff [4], everyone has been wondering how the new show will write off the Conner family matriarch. The Conners' first episode wastes no time revealing that Roseanne has died, though it takes a bit longer before they reveal that she overdosed on medication [5] for her knee injury.
The death couldn't have been that surprising to viewers — Roseanne's opioid addiction [6] was addressed in the show's 10th season and Roseanne Barr disclosed the news while appearing on Brandon Straka's YouTube show a few weeks before The Conners premiered. Nonetheless, the well-known character's death definitely rubbed some viewers the wrong way. While there were fans who appreciated the show's new focus and direction [7], others felt that the decision to axe the actress will ultimately ruin the beloved fictional family. Check out some of the differing opinions on The Conners' season premiere ahead.
