S10.E08: Netflix & Pill

[TattleTeeny]

3 hours ago, Keywestclubkid said:

It’s not that deep? Those were her back up pills 3 bottles worth plus the baggie in the water bottle how many friends does she have that will just give complete bottles of pills away? I mean if they aren’t gonna take them they are gonna try to make money off them if they are that poor.  I mean they are apparently in a poor poor town. Who just gives these things away?They way she was talking she was eating them like candy. 

 

I didn't mean "deep" as in this is not a problem, but "deep" as in I don't think people were Googling black-market-pill street values and Roseanne wasn't spending an amount she'd have to somehow hide from Dan. And they are not confined to knowing only their "poor poor" section of Lanford and the denizens therein. And if she paid for them, no one was "giving" them away. As for the rest, all I can say is that I could name a bunch of people right off the bat who would sell or buy prescription drugs. One text and I could have Percoset, Xanax, or Vicodin in an hour.

Edited May 16, 2018 by TattleTeeny

[SparklesBitch]

8 hours ago, bigskygirl said:

I also do not care for the ole will you are single with no children so my life is so much harder than yours because I have children and you don't spiel. Becky works hard while Darlene sits at home whining about how hard her life is. 

 

But I think it’s true, though. People don’t like to hear it, but life IS harder if you have kids to support. True, Becky works hard and Darlene definitely SHOULD have taken the casino job to at least have some money and benefits rolling in rather than holding out for something in her field. I’m glad she did take it even though I can understand why doing so would feel like giving up on her writing career, though. 

As for Darlene’s life being harder, I think it’s a legit point. She has to think about more than herself. She has to make enough money to support 3 people. 

I mean, just as an example.....I’m single and in my mid-thirties and have no kids. I have a STEM degree and after a LOT of putting in my time being a temp worker in labs with crap pay and zero benefits, I’ve been in a stable, permanent position for the last 7 years and finally make enough money to pay all of my bills, live in an apartment in a neighborhood that I love, and have some expendable income. Even though I worked really hard to get where I am, I know how lucky I am. 

But.....if I had kids during any of that time where I was a temp, it would have been even more worrisome than it already was to have a job without benefits and to make as little as I was making. If I had kids to support, there’s no way I could have responsibly spent that time working my way up. Not without some sort of help, anyway. 

Heck, even now that I make about $60K a year + benefits, in my area of the US, there’s no way I could afford to support 2 kids on my own. Single me does pretty well....single me trying to support me AND 2 kids on what I make right now would have us all destitute. 

So, even if nobody wants to hear it, I really do think Darlene had a fair point. She has more people to support, and in an economically depressed environment, her life is going to be harder than Becky’s. More worries, more sacrifice, etc. 

Just my opinion, of course. :)  

Edited May 16, 2018 by SparklesBitch
Words are hard

[bigskygirl]

34 minutes ago, SparklesBitch said:

But I think it’s true, though. People don’t like to hear it, but life IS harder if you have kids to support. True, Becky works hard and Darlene definitely SHOULD have taken the casino job to at least have some money and benefits rolling in rather than holding out for something in her field. I’m glad she did take it even though I can understand why doing so would feel like giving up on her writing career, though. 

As for Darlene’s life being harder, I think it’s a legit point. She has to think about more than herself. She has to make enough money to support 3 people. 

I mean, just as an example.....I’m single and in my mid-thirties and have no kids. I have a STEM degree and after a LOT of putting in my time being a temp worker in labs with crap pay and zero benefits, I’ve been in a stable, permanent position for the last 7 years and finally make enough money to pay all of my bills, live in an apartment in a neighborhood that I love, and have some expendable income. Even though I worked really hard to get where I am, I know how lucky I am. 

But.....if I had kids during any of that time where I was a temp, it would have been even more worrisome than it already was to have a job without benefits and to make as little as I was making. If I had kids to support, there’s no way I could have responsibly spent that time working my way up. Not without some sort of help, anyway. 

Heck, even now that I make about $60K a year + benefits, in my area of the US, there’s no way I could afford to support 2 kids on my own. Single me does pretty well....single me trying to support me AND 2 kids on what I make right now would have us all destitute. 

So, even if nobody wants to hear it, I really do think Darlene had a fair point. She has more people to support, and in an economically depressed environment, her life is going to be harder than Becky’s. More worries, more sacrifice, etc. 

Just my opinion, of course. :)  

Darlene went running home to mommy and daddy when things got tough. By the sound of things, she got fired from her job. People or married couples without children should not be penalized when it comes to the job market because they do not have kids. I would not be surprised if Darlene stays longer with Dan and Roseanne even when she does get back on her feet. She also did not seem to concern about money when Dan brought it up one illness could wipe her out when it came to her own kids.

[mythoughtis]

2 hours ago, bichonblitz said:

I think Roseanne and Dan were pretty good providers. They didn't lose their house, they managed to get their mortgage payments made and raise all of their kids there. There was always food on the table and trips to the mall to buy them clothes and shoes. Sure, they had to struggle, money was tight, they had to jocky money around to get the utilities paid sometimes, but when one of them was out of work they always managed to find other work, even if they hated the jobs they found. So I would say that was being a good provider. 

So why are they so destitute now? The very first revival episode showed them as being just as poor as they are on this last episode.  Darlene and the kids had only been there a week at that point, so its wasnt that. 

Edited May 16, 2018 by mythoughtis

[TattleTeeny]

31 minutes ago, bigskygirl said:

Darlene went running home to mommy and daddy when things got tough. By the sound of things, she got fired from her job. People or married couples without children should not be penalized when it comes to the job market because they do not have kids. I would not be surprised if Darlene stays longer with Dan and Roseanne even when she does get back on her feet. She also did not seem to concern about money when Dan brought it up one illness could wipe her out when it came to her own kids.

But Becky wasn't penalized for it (and no one should be), and Darlene did become concerned and then appealed to Becky by citing valid reasons for changing her mind. 

I earned close to $80k per year at my last job (I make a bit less now...but also have far less stress) and have a modest condo, and I couldn't see comfortably supporting two kids here in North Jersey on that. So I definitely see why a person would feel that they should "run home to mommy and daddy" in a bad situation.

Edited May 16, 2018 by TattleTeeny

[LadyintheLoop]

Quote

What have they been doing with their money all these years?  Shouldn't their house at least be paid off by now?  Their kids have been gone for years.  

Remember Jerry? They weren't empty nesters for very long. I get the impression that they were maintaining a precarious financial balance till Darlene and the kids showed up.

I think they were all hoping Becky would "comp" that meal (you know, steal it from her employer).

[wknt3]

23 hours ago, Alexis2291 said:

Tonight’s episode definitely felt like classic Roseanne. I do hope the writers figure out what to do with DJ next season, though. 

Pretty sure their plan for him next season is the same as this one. Keep him in the background and hope we don't notice that he's the weak link in the cast.

[BitterApple]

50 minutes ago, mythoughtis said:

So why are they so destitute now? The very first revival episode showed them as being just as poor as they are on this last episode.  Darlene and the kids had only been there a week at that point, so its wasnt that. 

If I had to guess, I'd say two failed businesses did them in. Roseanne was never more than a minimum wage earner and Dan went back to drywalling after the bike shop closed. They were living paycheck to paycheck when they had one mortgage, so imagine the struggle trying to pay off two.

We haven't been given any definitive answers about the Lunch Box, but if it went under that means it likely spent a while barely keeping afloat. So after all that investment, Roseanne would've been no better off than she was when she first opened it. 

[RedInk]

I understand that the show is trying to shine a light on the working poor, but so much of it is actually obnoxious, poor decision making and wasted opportunities that it really doesn't play for me.  And I guess the writers are doubling down on this victimhood thing bc there's no Greek chorus character telling the younger generation to own up to their mistakes and get their act together. Like Darlene, I have a liberal arts degree, but I have managed to stay gainfully employed for the last 20 years. Do we buy that her only viable choices are "writer" and "casino waitress?" And she tells Becky to get a 2-year degree so she can make a 6-figure salary in hotel/restaurant management right out of the gate? Er...maybe? But Darlene can definitely get teaching certification in a couple of months and have a job with benefits & a pension. She has options, is what I'm saying, but her choices suck.

Edited May 17, 2018 by RedInk

[CatsAndMoreCats]

1 hour ago, mythoughtis said:

So why are they so destitute now? The very first revival episode showed them as being just as poor as they are on this last episode.  Darlene and the kids had only been there a week at that point, so its wasnt that. 

There are no guarantees in life.  Work hard, be nice, do your best to provide for your family, and still find yourself in the Connors' situation at age 65.  It sucks.  But it's real life for a lot of us.

[Bastet]

47 minutes ago, TattleTeeny said:

Well, while I would personally never take the those risks--especially as the main support of a family--I guess I get the mentality of wanting to seize what could be a chance to create a sustainable business.

Yes, they explicitly discussed that when Jackie suggested going into the business that became The Lunch Box and Roseanne initially declined -- the ever-present dilemma between using money to pay off bills, which will just turn around and pile up, so that your whole life will be just making ends meet, or taking a chance on something that could wind up putting you in a more secure position long term and let you be your own boss, have something that's really yours.  (Not to mention the constant push-pull, which Dan and Darlene's conversation in this episode brought up again, between obligation and aspiration - how to meet your responsibilities without abandoning your hopes.)

And one of the greatest things about season four is how the economic collapse of Lanford plays out over the course of the entire season; things are quite different when he loses the shop as they were at the time he opened it (which is why the previous guy was doing decent business with it, and why Dan and Ziggy believed they could, too).

[Rap541]

It depends on your state as far as teaching certification goes, mine took a year and I had to pay for it. Darlene could certainly substitute teach - it' not a lot but it's money.

I dislike the character Becky but felt for her in this. It's a better job, one illness could wipe her out as well and you know there would be hell to pay if she did what was best for her. As a single person, let me remind you folks with kids... the nieces and nephews, if they exist, don't feel as obligated to help you out as your kids do.

[Miss Ruth]

3 hours ago, SparklesBitch said:

[Darlene] has to make enough money to support 3 people. 

Or continue to let her elderly parents support them.

[TattleTeeny]

Maybe they did but there are tons of people in the same situation who haven't taken the same risks. Without taking specific shots at the state of affairs in this country or getting political in a TV forum, I'll just say that any of us could easily be there right now--and worse--if a devastating health issue or something else came up. Last year, my friend who was insured and decently paid in a stable career, had to sell her house and get a small apartment because of a health issue. And my 70-something veteran dad, who always worked can't afford to get the healthcare he needs now as a senior citizen (which he'd yell at me for calling him!).

Edited May 17, 2018 by TattleTeeny

[Ottis]

First, what the hell are “full benefits?” Is that pay and medical and dental? Pension? 401(k)? Retirement? If it’s pay and medical and dental, what does Dan mean that it’s rare to find jobs like that? Most jobs have that. And more. Unless you are working part time, or don’t have the education or skills to get a full time job. If its the latter, then whose fault is it that you can’t find a job with “full benefits?”

Speaking of, what year is it on this show? They act like it is the middle of the Depression. Unemployment is at or near record lows. There are Midwestern towns in decline, sure. So you move or cast a wider net. 

Jackie has become Barney Fife.

I didn’t like that they made Darlene have to take the casino job. Anyone else but her. 

I did like that this ep was less about political statements, and more about life, even if it is an alternate reality. 

[chitowngirl]

If you work for a small company, even full time, they don’t have to provide any benefits at all. My son gets 5 vacation days and they top out at 11 vacation days. No sick days. And if you want to take an unpaid day off, it needs to be requested and it depends on how busy it is on whether or not you can get it off. 

Lots of big companies take full time positions and fill them with part-timers so they don’t have to pay for benefits. Or they don’t replace people at all. They just increase work loads-not necessarily increasing pay to go with that. That can keep unemployment numbers down.

Edited May 17, 2018 by chitowngirl

[Ottis]

17 minutes ago, chitowngirl said:

If you work for a small company, even full time, they don’t have to provide any benefits at all. My son gets 5 vacation days and they top out at 11 vacation days. No sick days. And if you want to take an unpaid day off, it needs to be requested and it depends on how busy it is on whether or not you can get it off. 

Lots of big companies take full time positions and fill them with part-timers so they don’t have to pay for benefits. Or they don’t replace people at all. They just increase work loads-not necessarily increasing pay to go with that. That can keep unemployment numbers down.

 

Both things I understand. But whether to work for a small company is a choice. And getting part time instead of full time work is almost always tied to a lack of skills (academia teaching excluded). In both cases, Dan’s comment that it is hard to find jobs with “full benefits” is false, which was my point. If he had said, “It’s hard FOR US to find jobs with full benefits,” he would have been correct. 

Edited May 17, 2018 by Ottis

[mansfolly]

1 hour ago, Ottis said:

Jackie has become Barney Fife.

A thousand times yes.

I thought the exact thing, Ottis.

[AgentRXS]

I can't stand the new writers for this reboot. I feel insulted by the lower middle class stereotypes. I feel like the heart and soul of this show is missing and nothing about it makes sense anymore.

Its the Conners 45th anniversary and it has already been established that Crystal, Anne-Marie & Chuck, and Nancy are still in Lanford. It would have been so easy to just have the friends and neighbors throw a potluck party for Dan and Roseanne either at the Lodge or someone's home. I could see everyone chipping in to help Dan and Roseanne have a weekend getaway at the hotel.

To open the show with them eating dinner at Chi Chi's (is that the only restaurant in town?) with just the immediate family and forcing the Conners to pay for their own dinner was insulting. Hell, why wasn't Bev invited?

This is the 2nd episode in which Dan and Darlene have a conversation about basic common sense life skills  in which I feel the scene is written as the wise, ever-knowing Baby Boomer is imparting sage wisdom to the silly Millenials (even though Darlene is Gen X). Darlene grew up watching her mother take shit from a 17 year old classmate of Becky's at the chicken restaurant job in order to provide for her family, for goodness sakes. The Conner children should know more than anyone that you do what you have to do to provide for your kids. Hell, Darlene herself mentioned applying to Build-A-Bear when she first got into town. It makes ZERO sense that she would be cool with being a mall employee but initially turn her nose up at a casino job.

Edited May 17, 2018 by AgentRXS

[chocolatine]

I have to say that, even though both the bike shop and, apparently, the diner failed, I can't knock Roseanne and Dan for going after their dreams. What were they supposed to do, work jobs they don't like and where they're not respected (Roseanne more so than Dan) their entire lives just to pay the bills? If you weren't born into privilege and want to become successful, you have to take risks because nobody is going to hand you anything. Of course not all risks pay off, but at least if you go for it you don't have to live the rest of your life wondering what could have been.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

On 5/16/2018 at 10:30 AM, mythoughtis said:

If they are old enough for social security they need to start taking it. If they are old enough for Medicare - why aren’t they on it? Why would there be a $3000 deductible for knee replacement on Medicare? So they aren’t 65 yet? 

They've been married 45 years.  I hope they're old enough!

On 5/16/2018 at 10:43 AM, TomGirl said:

I was waiting for the clerk to tell them that they’d be charged for the room even if they left, since they hadn’t canceled 24 hours ahead.  That’s the policy of many/most hotels.

I assume they lost their credit card points.  They're not organized enough to try to get them back from the credit card company.

Edited May 17, 2018 by ItCouldBeWorse

[Bastet]

42 minutes ago, AgentRXS said:

It makes ZERO sense that she would be cool with being a mall employee but initially turn her nose up at a casino job.

I don't think so; both jobs required fewer specialized skills than she possesses, so she'd naturally bristle at the idea of either one, but being a Build-A-Bear clerk doesn't sexually objectify her like being a casino cocktail server does, so I can see her being quicker to suck it up and apply for that one.

[methodwriter85]

4 hours ago, Rap541 said:

It depends on your state as far as teaching certification goes, mine took a year and I had to pay for it. Darlene could certainly substitute teach - it' not a lot but it's money.

I was encouraged to look into substitute teaching because I have a degree in history, but then I was turned down by the placing agency because I needed to have a year of classroom experience. Which you can only get by student teaching while you're working towards a bachelor's in that field, basically.

Something similar might have happened to Darlene- just because she has a lit degree doesn't instantly mean she can get teaching jobs.

[mamadrama]

Gosh, I had several thoughts about this episode...

Like some of you also seem to think, I'm getting kind of sad at these downers of episodes. What I always liked about ROSEANNE was that while the show depicted a "typical" blue-collar family and showed real struggles that many of our families faced, there was always this kind of lighthearted sense about it. They all still seemed to have hope and fun together. And humor, too! Some of this new stuff just feels bleak. 

Been there with the hold on the credit card. I've fought it a few times. I've told them to turn off my phone, disconnect the pay per view movies, not allow room service, etc. because I was NOT authorizing a hold. Some of them will do this if you press. I was a travel writer for years and sometimes the hold on the card was more than the room. A week at the Swissotel in Boston wanted to hold $800 on my card one time. We went around and around over that one. 

Re: the opioid epidemic. I actually did like the way this was handled. Roseanne has become addicted (or dependent, which is a little different) in the way that a lot of people have and it was good to show that it can happen to many people. However, the problem these days is NOT that doctors are handing them out left and right, it's that many doctors won't prescribe them at all BECAUSE of the whole "opioid epidemic." They're being cracked down on to the point where many doctors don't want to give them out at all and that's becoming an even bigger problem. The epidemic as depicted on the show was big about 5 years ago; now we've moved into a new phase. "Pain pills" are no longer the big problem-addicts have moved on to heroin and other things because it's literally easier to get (and cheaper) than Vicodin. I have a rare condition that makes my arteries and soft tissue very flexible-too flexible. Something is constantly rupturing. I've lost my uterus, kidney, spleen, gallbladder, and appendix to ruptures. My brain herniated as well and I had to have surgery to suck it back up from my neck. After my hysterectomy, I was sent home from the hospital with Tylenol. Not Tylenol 2 or 3 mind you, just regular old acetamphetamine. My last surgery, the one in which my kidney was removed, my husband had to actually go complain to the director of the hospital to get me pain relief while I was there. They were giving me Ibuprofen, which I am not even meant to have since I have perforations in my stomach. A regional news station actually did a story on me and my condition a few weeks ago and this was one of the things that we talked about. 

Sorry, long-winded there. My point is, it would've been JUST as relevant of a storyline if Roseanne was facing serious pain (or post-op pain) and couldn't get relief because of the "epidemic." 

Loved the scenes with Darlene and Becky. I can't believe how these ladies are Benjamin Buttoning themselves. Neither one has aged much. 

[readster]

4 hours ago, mamadrama said:

Gosh, I had several thoughts about this episode...

Like some of you also seem to think, I'm getting kind of sad at these downers of episodes. What I always liked about ROSEANNE was that while the show depicted a "typical" blue-collar family and showed real struggles that many of our families faced, there was always this kind of lighthearted sense about it. They all still seemed to have hope and fun together. And humor, too! Some of this new stuff just feels bleak. 

Been there with the hold on the credit card. I've fought it a few times. I've told them to turn off my phone, disconnect the pay per view movies, not allow room service, etc. because I was NOT authorizing a hold. Some of them will do this if you press. I was a travel writer for years and sometimes the hold on the card was more than the room. A week at the Swissotel in Boston wanted to hold $800 on my card one time. We went around and around over that one. 

Re: the opioid epidemic. I actually did like the way this was handled. Roseanne has become addicted (or dependent, which is a little different) in the way that a lot of people have and it was good to show that it can happen to many people. However, the problem these days is NOT that doctors are handing them out left and right, it's that many doctors won't prescribe them at all BECAUSE of the whole "opioid epidemic." They're being cracked down on to the point where many doctors don't want to give them out at all and that's becoming an even bigger problem. The epidemic as depicted on the show was big about 5 years ago; now we've moved into a new phase. "Pain pills" are no longer the big problem-addicts have moved on to heroin and other things because it's literally easier to get (and cheaper) than Vicodin. I have a rare condition that makes my arteries and soft tissue very flexible-too flexible. Something is constantly rupturing. I've lost my uterus, kidney, spleen, gallbladder, and appendix to ruptures. My brain herniated as well and I had to have surgery to suck it back up from my neck. After my hysterectomy, I was sent home from the hospital with Tylenol. Not Tylenol 2 or 3 mind you, just regular old acetamphetamine. My last surgery, the one in which my kidney was removed, my husband had to actually go complain to the director of the hospital to get me pain relief while I was there. They were giving me Ibuprofen, which I am not even meant to have since I have perforations in my stomach. A regional news station actually did a story on me and my condition a few weeks ago and this was one of the things that we talked about. 

Sorry, long-winded there. My point is, it would've been JUST as relevant of a storyline if Roseanne was facing serious pain (or post-op pain) and couldn't get relief because of the "epidemic." 

Loved the scenes with Darlene and Becky. I can't believe how these ladies are Benjamin Buttoning themselves. Neither one has aged much. 

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggle. My stepfather has been through similar problems, and they are similar in what they prescribe him. Trust me, he has been in chronic pain for most of my adult life. In fact my brother and I rare talk about the days he was running, playing with us and working on his cars. Now, he can barely stand so long and his doctors are limited by what they can prescribe due to opium issues the last few years. To go back on topic, I agree on Roseanne getting that much pain killers and so forth, not to mention apparently the knee has been a problem for a while now. It just didn't happen over night, they had time to get things together for them. 

[mamadrama]

18 minutes ago, readster said:

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggle. My stepfather has been through similar problems, and they are similar in what they prescribe him. Trust me, he has been in chronic pain for most of my adult life. In fact my brother and I rare talk about the days he was running, playing with us and working on his cars. Now, he can barely stand so long and his doctors are limited by what they can prescribe due to opium issues the last few years. To go back on topic, I agree on Roseanne getting that much pain killers and so forth, not to mention apparently the knee has been a problem for a while now. It just didn't happen over night, they had time to get things together for them. 

As a chronic pain patient, I can understand. It's awful. There are several directions that the show could've gone in if they wanted to present this issue and I am kind of sorry that they took the standard "she's in pain so now she's abusing the medication" stance, which is kind of the stereotypical one. I'd love to see one of these shows present what it's like to be a blue collar, middle class, middle-aged (or in her case, older) woman with chronic pain. Primary care doctors can no longer treat chronic pain, for that you must be sent to a pain management specialist. These aren't people who are doling out pills left and right-they're not the "pill mills" of 10 years ago. You basically sign away your right to live and are treated like an addict from the very beginning. I am not allowed to leave the state for any reason (work, vacation, etc.) without first contacting my doctor. I can't accept pain medication from anyone without getting written permission from my doctor, which has been a real problem when I've had organ ruptures and was rushed to the ER. Random drug tests (which insurance doesn't pay for) at least once a month, and random "pill counts" which basically consists of getting a random call from my doctor's office and having X amount of time to get to the pharmacy (of their choice) to have them count whatever is in my pill bottle. I actually just stopped going. At this point, I'd literally rather be in agony than give them so much power. 

Sorry, I know that's OT. I also know that affects a LOT of people, though, and it definitely would affect someone like Roseanne who does have legitimate pain and is seeking pain management rather than treatment at this time. These issues are increasingly common, yet those who don't go through it are not aware. The "opioid epidemic" as presented was several years ago. Now we're facing lots of new issues, and many of them are worse. (Like the heroin laced with fentanyl.) 

I get kinda worked up about this, ha ha. I mean, it was still funny seeing her making jokes about it and I think Dan's reaction was fairly realistic. I just feel that if the show is going to present some current issues, they should take a look at some of the other, more current, things that are going on as well in regards to that topic. 

How many more episodes are left of this season? One? Two? I do hope we leave on a high(er) note. I don't know why they have to go from one extreme to the other. It doesn't have to be barely-making-ends-meet Connors or lottery-winners-living-in-the-lap-of-luxury-dead-Dan Connors. They could find some healthy middle ground while still dealing with some of the middle class issues that arise from being neither poor nor rich. 

[fountain]

I had dental surgery this year and received Tylenol with Codeine (t3s).  I don’t like them as pain killers and prefer ITC Advil but my mom filled it anyway.  I offered them up to a migraine and pain sufferer at work.  Yeah I guess it was wrong.

I thought maybe Roseanne knew the people, somehow I thought she must be their maid or something but I guess that doesn’t make sense.

ETA I don’t really respect the take big risks with things like the diner.  In life you have to support yourself and your family and pay the bills.  The “personal growth” that comes with taking such risks is for people that can afford it.  Lots of people have jobs they don’t like or just tolerate and get reward from being stable enough financially that their kids are stressed about money.  At least in Dan’s comments to Darlene you can see he maybe realizes the mistakes they made.

Edited May 17, 2018 by fountain

[xander874]

I assume Roseanne was given the pills by the people. It sounded like they knew them. I got oxy after some minor surgery last year and only took 2 of them (they really screwed me up!) so I had some leftover. Not saying Rosie didn't manipulate them a bit to get them, but I don't think she's stealing. Could be wrong though.

I thought this episode was okay. I did really like the Becky/Darlene bonding. They have such a complex relationship and I like seeing it develop as they age.

I hope in the next season Jackie gets something to do besides act like a 6 year old.

[Browncoat]

The more I think about it, the less I like the scene where Roseanne is drunk/stoned.  It seemed like the directors just said, "Hey, you're drunk/stoned.  Ready, GO!" and let her improvise, while Dan just reacted, but did have a couple of scripted lines to work in when he could.  It really didn't work for me -- it seemed so awkward, even allowing for the awkwardness of the situation.

[Madding crowd]

I wish the show had been brave enough to show a person like Rosanne who really needed the pain pills, only took what was prescribed and still had issues getting her medication. There seems to be no middle ground; either you are are stealing/buying pills to get high or don't take them at all. I am on pain medication for severe back injuries and I only take what is prescribed even though it doesn't take away much of my pain. I did try a pain clinic once, but like MamaDrama said above, I was treated like a criminal, asked why I didn't have enough of the drug showing up (because at the time I only took when I had to walk) accused of selling my medication. When they told me I had to appear on a 30 minute notice with my pill bottle, I had to stop going because I was a teacher and could not leave my classroom at random times during the day. Some people really do need pain medication and I think that is what they were showing with Rosanne, but by having her hoarding medication that doesn't belong to her, it puts all of us in a bad light. 

[TattleTeeny]

Quote

So you move or cast a wider net. 

People with no money can't always just up and move.

[llewis823]

On 5/16/2018 at 8:45 AM, Keywestclubkid said:

so everyone is just overlooking that Roseanne stole medication from people (I mean she had their pill bottles with their names on it)? thats kinda way fucked up so not only now is she a Junkie but a thief I get this is a comedy but come on (and yes i know she stole from rodbells ie food and stuff )

She said people gave them to her. It happens all the time. I have bad feet & knees but just live with it and I don't even like to take Tylenol, etc. and I don't. But I have people offering me their leftover painkillers all the time "to help me". Yeah, right. I would NEVER take them no matter how much I hurt. I'm stronger than that, but a lot of people aren't. And I think that is what probably happened to Roseanne's character.

Edited May 17, 2018 by llewis823

[ChicksDigScars]

On 5/15/2018 at 11:56 PM, BitterApple said:

And not for nothing, but for as much as Becky bitches and moans, she apparently makes enough to afford an apartment and a car. She isn't living fancy, but her situation isn't as dire as Darlene's.

 

No kids to feed, clothe, insure, buy school supplies for, and fund their extra curricular activities, yeah, it's logical for Becky to be able to afford an apartment and car on waitressing tips. Especially a decently successful restaurant that sells alcohol, which increases the bill total. Better tips. I did it for many years on Chi Chi's tips. Plus, took college classes, got my degree and raised a kid.  It took twice as long as it should have to get that degree, but I did it.  And the kid lived. And played soccer, Little League, and all those other money sucking activities. 

 

I kinda miss those days, at times. It was a hard adjustment going from having cash in your pockets all the time (even thought it was mostly all one dollar bills) to waiting every two weeks for a paycheck!  

 

The Wacky Jackie Baby Bird thing, was a little over the top to me.  I do hope that they have Becky take college classes. She was the "smart" daughter until the recast and the writers equated "pretty" with "dumb."  Not that Lecy wasn't cute, but Sarah Chalke was more stereo-typically Hollywood Hot. It always bugged me that her Becky was dumbed down and that Darlene, the C and D student, was the suddenly the smarter one.  Send Becky to community college. Can't one member of the family be shown as at least trying to claw themselves out of the hole that they all seem to be stuck in? Or is that going to be reserved for Saint Darlene? 

Edited May 17, 2018 by ChicksDigScars

[tessaray]

There has already been one mod note about moving on from Dan and Roseanne's career choices.  The Conners are where they are.  Please move on.   

Personal anecdotes about the opiod discussion should go in the Kitchen Table topic.  We will be going back later and moving some posts.  Expect some off-topic posts to be removed also. 

[peacheslatour]

Well it is a twenty three minute long sit com and tackling major social problems for laughs is going to be problematic. I'll wait until next season when the show is more fully baked. This season IMO was an experiment. I think there will be some shuffling of the writing staff for next year and hopefully they'll find stronger footing and balance the funny with the blue collar predicaments better.

[Rap541]

Quote

I would not call D.J. a burden. He served his country, and it looks like he is dealing with problems related to his military service.

This has nothing to do with his service. I'm a Desert Storm vet personally. There's a point where I can't blame my problems on it.

Here's why I think DJ is a burden... although that might not be the best word.

He and Darlene and Becky take their mom and dad out for their 45th anniversary, and DJ can't afford to even share the check. Guys, dinner at ChiChi's or Chili's isn't a break the bank event. If he can't afford to chip in, his financial situation makes him part of the problem.

[bigskygirl]

I wonder how much Darlene and her kids help around the house. I bet they hardly do. Since Darlene and her kids are living there, they should take some of the load off Dan and Roseanne.

[TattleTeeny]

I guess we'll see if it's important to the story? I mean, I don't know why I'd care if it wasn't?

[bigskygirl]

It can matter to the storyline of Roseanne saying she cannot rest when her knee is bothering her along with her recovery when she finally has the knee surgery. There is no reason why Darlene and her kids are not helping around the house.

[TattleTeeny]

Yes, it can matter. I don't disagree, especially because it was part of the stories from Original Recipe. I just am not speculating (or betting) about it because it's not relevant unless it's part of the story (or unless it teaches me how to make others do more housework--then I'm in!)

Edited May 17, 2018 by TattleTeeny

[txhorns79]

Quote

He and Darlene and Becky take their mom and dad out for their 45th anniversary, and DJ can't afford to even share the check. Guys, dinner at ChiChi's or Chili's isn't a break the bank event. If he can't afford to chip in, his financial situation makes him part of the problem.

I am very curious about DJ's finances.  His wife obviously has a steady income, even if it's not really clear where DJ lives or what his expenses might be outside what is spent for his daughter.  It was strange he wouldn't be able to chip in anything for the dinner. 

[llewis823]

1 hour ago, qtpye said:

I wish we could see what happened to Arnie,

He is now living as "Elvis" on NCIS: New Orleans helping Pride and his crew try to keep Pride out of jail : )

[ChicksDigScars]

2 hours ago, llewis823 said:

He is now living as "Elvis" on NCIS: New Orleans helping Pride and his crew try to keep Pride out of jail : )

Ha-ha! Roseanne and Tom Arnold working on the same soundstage, again? The term "Cold Day in Hell," springs to mind!

[sab85]

I took Darlene as not wanting Crystal's job because of the saloon girl outfit, not because she thought she was too good to work at the casino.

[TattleTeeny]

24 minutes ago, sab85 said:

I took Darlene as not wanting Crystal's job because of the saloon girl outfit, not because she thought she was too good to work at the casino.

Maybe a bit of both, plus the fear that taking this job--and maybe doing well at it (and even liking it!)--means that she'll never do what she'd hoped to do. Yes, taking care of your kids and aging parents is a priority but it still sucks to realize that your "plan" never happened. And on top of that, being a server can be a strenuous job, maybe especially so if you're doing it for the first time at 40 years old!

Edited May 18, 2018 by TattleTeeny

[Miss Ruth]

9 hours ago, tessaray said:

We will be going back later and moving some posts.  Expect some off-topic posts to be removed also. 

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[StaceyNotStacie]

I found it amusing that they were more excited about the ham than they were the hotel. 

[txhorns79]

Quote

Maybe a bit of both, plus the fear that taking this job--and maybe doing well at it (and even liking it!)--means that she'll never do what she'd hoped to do. Yes, taking care of your kids and aging parents is a priority but it still sucks to realize that your "plan" never happened. And on top of that, being a server can be a strenuous job, maybe especially so if you're doing it for the first time at 40 years old!

Didn't Darlene admit that the idea she moved back to help Dan and Roseanne was just a cover to hide the fact she was broke and had no choice but to move back? 

[Meushell]

On 5/17/2018 at 6:58 AM, Browncoat said:

The more I think about it, the less I like the scene where Roseanne is drunk/stoned.  It seemed like the directors just said, "Hey, you're drunk/stoned.  Ready, GO!" and let her improvise, while Dan just reacted, but did have a couple of scripted lines to work in when he could.  It really didn't work for me -- it seemed so awkward, even allowing for the awkwardness of the situation.

I ended up skipping this scene. I didn’t find it funny, and it was just embarrassing to watch.

 

ETA: Having Netflix in the title was just stupid. Work Netflix into the episode if you want to use it in your title.

Edited May 19, 2018 by Meushell

[love2lovebadtv]

On 5/15/2018 at 11:27 PM, BitterApple said:

I liked this episode, but damn, can anything nice happen to these people? I know the Connors don't travel much, but I was surprised they didn't know hotels put a hold on your card for incidentals.

Of course they didn't give us any insight on Ed and the kids. Why would they when they've already left a million other important questions unanswered. *sarcastic eyeroll*

Regarding Darlene and the benefits argument, wouldn't her kids be eligible for Medicaid? I'm surprised they have zero coverage unless Darlene had too much pride to apply.

The scene between Becky and Darlene at the restaurant was sweet. Darlene's "friend in every color" comment was hilarious.

I'm not surprised Roseanne is the one with the addiction. As noted above, it runs in her personality and she always seemed to be more depressed about her lot in life than Dan. Roseanne always struck me as someone who believed her life could've been better had she not married so young and had kids, while Dan was fairly content, despite their struggles.

I see how Roseanne has more of a tendency toward depression. But I don't think it's because she married so young or had kids. They live in an economically troubled region, have bad luck and, on top of that, make bad decisions.