S01.E06: One Flew Over the Conners' Nest

[HeySandyStrange]

10 minutes ago, cbetsky said:

I'm going to assume that it varies from state to state, but in my state, the biological father must sign away his rights or have them terminated for the adoption to go thru. Now, I'm sure there are ways around it - claim that you don't know who the father is, something like that; but here the father knows that Becky is expecting and that he is the father, so he would have to agree to the adoption as well. But since Becky wasn't even considering it until the couple suggested it, I doubt that she even thought that far.

True. Heck, I remember a news story from a few years ago, about a father who didn't stop, maybe even consented to, the mother giving up their daughter for adoption. He changed his mind a few years later and there was this legal battle in which he had a strong case (based on his and his daughter's Native American ancestry). So I would think, depending on the laws in a given state, a baby's father would have the right to contest an adoption and be awarded custody. It seems obvious that Becky's baby's dad at least has the potential to be that type of father, but of course, he's the last place she thought to turn to in regards to custody.

[ams1001]

5 hours ago, TomGirl said:

For me it was that fabulous armchair with the writing on it in “Revenge.”

I had to google that; that was one of those shows I half-watched once in a while because it came on after something else and sometimes I didn't bother turn it off. Apparently you aren't the only one... https://hookedonhouses.net/2011/10/24/searching-for-victorias-chair-from-the-tv-show-revenge-and-the-real-grayson-mansion/

 

2 hours ago, ChicksDigScars said:

And LMAO. Candy Cane Margaritas? Just put an Altoids in it? Man, that's gross. But hilarious. 

I gagged a bit at that thought. I don't like tequila to begin with, but with mint? Ugh. Martini, maybe, with vodka (since vodka really doesn't taste like anything). 

Okay, I googled before I hit submit and found a recipe: 1 1/4 ounces vanilla vodka, 1 1/4 ounces white creme de cacao, 3/4 ounce peppermint schnapps or liqueur (glass rimmed with crushed candy cane). That sounds pretty good, actually.

[bunnyblue]

Man, I love the relationship between Darlene and Becky. Darlene telling her sister that she'll take care of the baby if Becky falls off the wagon, and asking Becky why she didn't come to her first before offering the baby to the lesbian couple, really tugged at my heart strings. I love that they still insult each other as they did when they were younger but the devotion to each other is so refreshing. Although, I still haven't gotten used to Darlene being the responsible caretaker of the entire clan and Becky being the loner struggling to get her shit together. During the show's original run, I always thought Darlene would be the "Jackie" and Becky would be the "Roseanne".

Last episode I weirded myself out by thinking Dan & Jackie were acting like an old married couple. In this episode, I was worried some awkwardness would ensue during their conversation in the back yard, especially when they hugged. It's not unheard of for in-laws to fall for each other when their wife/sister/husband/brother dies. Am I crazy, or is anyone else getting these weird vibes?

I like Stan Ben, and I'm open to a Darlene/Ben relationship, but the awkward moment in the office (not to mention the audience's "ooooh!") just seemed way too rushed. I actually cringed. Their final scene in the casino was much better. I hope there's another season so they can slowly explore a romantic relationship.

This season is so much better than last. Now, if they could just give DJ something to do.

[Pete Martell]

5 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Dan seemed to have a lot more vitality this week. Maybe the swimming in syrup affect was just John Goodman's acting choice of playing a grieving husband.

I wonder how much earlier the season premiere was taped than the rest. I know John Goodman said he broke a rib and his wife was ill in the months between Roseanne Barr imploding and the plans for the Conners. The difference in his demeanor/work between the premiere and the rest of the episodes has been striking.

[BeachDays]

32 minutes ago, bunnyblue said:

Man, I love the relationship between Darlene and Becky. Darlene telling her sister that she'll take care of the baby if Becky falls off the wagon, and asking Becky why she didn't come to her first before offering the baby to the lesbian couple, really tugged at my heart strings. I love that they still insult each other as they did when they were younger but the devotion to each other is so refreshing. Although, I still haven't gotten used to Darlene being the responsible caretaker of the entire clan and Becky being the loner struggling to get her shit together. During the show's original run, I always thought Darlene would be the "Jackie" and Becky would be the "Roseanne".

Last episode I weirded myself out by thinking Dan & Jackie were acting like an old married couple. In this episode, I was worried some awkwardness would ensue during their conversation in the back yard, especially when they hugged. It's not unheard of for in-laws to fall for each other when their wife/sister/husband/brother dies. Am I crazy, or is anyone else getting these weird vibes?

 

Completely agree about Becky and Darlene.   I love their relationship.    I’m also shocked at the turn of events and personalities, but I’m loving it too.   

 

Um no, you aren’t the only one with the vibes.   What’s worse is I am rewatching Roseanne and now I’m like hyper aware of their (Dan and Jackie’s) interactions and I’m telling my brain to stop it but also I’m like, well maybe?!?!? 

Edited November 29, 2018 by BeachDays

[Trillian]

14 minutes ago, BeachDays said:

Um no, you aren’t the only one with the vibes.   What’s worse is I am rewatching Roseanne and now I’m like hyper aware of their (Dan and Jackie’s) interactions and I’m telling my brain to stop it but also I’m like, well maybe?!?!? 

In the original, there was an episode where Jackie confessed she’d had a crush on Dan in high school and he told her he’d noticed her, too. It was very nicely done and came across as mutual liking and respect and not as if they were going behind Roseanne’s back. Not exactly sure, but I think it might’ve been the episode where Roseanne was away and Jackie took over the household as fill-in mom.

So, it wouldn’t come out of nowhere if the Conners went there. 

[Pete Martell]

Other than the usual disjointed feel of many episodes this season (although at least that was rectified somewhat with that lovely moment between Becky and Darlene), I thought this was pretty good. Becky's story works well for me when it focuses on her struggles and I can ignore how much the rest feels a bit like diversity put into a blender in terms of the baby's father, the couple who wanted the baby, etc. I like that they haven't forgotten Becky's alcohol struggles. Her scene with Sarah Chalke was very good - they could have gone to town on making it a gimmick, but didn't. I also thought the scene where Becky agreed to give the baby up but was clearly lying to herself was well done by Lecy. Now I just hope we hear more mention of her reacting to having a baby now and not with her Mark, so that I don't have to write fan fiction instead. 

I laughed at the scene where Becky told Mark that she used to be smart too, and look where it got her. I rewound it and watched it again and everything. Lecy is giving me my laugh out loud TV moments this year. 

Honestly, I am the type of fan where under different circumstances I would be spending literally every episode thread complaining about Jackie never mentioning her son, as this is the ideal time for Jackie to talk about her history. This type of reality and integrity-puncturing writing does a lot to sour me on characters. Fortunately, since I hated that whole storyline and it did a lot to make me dislike Jackie, I'm not that upset at the lack of mentions. The chicken coop scenes initially seemed like another version of wacky Jackie but the last scene with Dan turned things around. (I'd rather they not get together though) 

I agree with what others already said about the scene with Darlene and her boss (Ben, apparently). The "whoo" mostly made me laugh (it's like we're watching Saved by the Bell), but I don't think that type of moment fits Darlene or the types of relationships she'd want. The idea of this incredible chemistry or whatever - she would just roll her eyes at that. The scene in the casino felt much more like her. 

I do find the lack of mention of Crystal's marriage to Dan's father and lack of mention of her children to be odd, but if someone at the show decided that was too much to bother with for the new show, I can't say they're wrong. I always thought that whole thing was a bit iffy anyway. I just like getting to see Crystal again. Crystal was always a one-of-a-kind combo of nurturing and bizarre - that was one of the things I loved about the character. They have kept that intact. 

Edited November 29, 2018 by Pete Martell

[eel2178]

On ‎11‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 6:24 PM, ams1001 said:

Hmm...according to BackyardChickens.com, the average cost to raise three chickens is 

• Chickens: $3 - $30 per chicken depending on age, breed etc.
• Coop: Free (recycled materials) to $2,000 & up (new & fancy). Average is usually around $500
• Feed approximately $15.00 per month.
• Miscellaneous $10.00 per month.

I think I'll stick with my $4.19/dozen organic eggs from Wegmans... (besides, I don't have a backyard).

Also, now I want my mom to make cornflake chicken.

Ten years ago I had two, and I figured I was paying $5.00 per dozen for eggs. That was just factoring the cost of organic feed. It didn't include other expenses for their care.

[eel2178]

21 hours ago, jewel21 said:

The chicken with PTSD was hilarious. I totally would have kept it in my house, hee.  

My girls were never bothered by cats; however, racoons and an occasional red fox would have them screaming, "What the Cluck!" at the top of their lungs in the middle of the night. It did take a while to calm them down again. The only time I brought them in the house was when it was 12 below outside. Then they got to free-range in the living room.

[CletusMusashi]

Maybe Bridget and Maria will adopt the chicken.

[txhorns79]

Quote

In the original, there was an episode where Jackie confessed she’d had a crush on Dan in high school and he told her he’d noticed her, too. It was very nicely done and came across as mutual liking and respect and not as if they were going behind Roseanne’s back. Not exactly sure, but I think it might’ve been the episode where Roseanne was away and Jackie took over the household as fill-in mom.

So, it wouldn’t come out of nowhere if the Conners went there. 

Just for some perspective, that episode aired nearly 29 years ago. 

I liked the scene between Becky and Darlene, but didn't like the adoption storyline.  It felt like it was written by someone who has no idea what goes into that process, and made everyone look kind of rash and foolish. 

[mythoughtis]

5 hours ago, iMonrey said:

I think if the biological father wanted to protest the adoption he would first have to prove he was the father thru DNA testing. Which would not have been possible say 20 years ago. That's why I'm guessing the laws on the books don't necessarily allow for any input from the bio dad if the mother is single. I think the onus would be on the father to get a lawyer and try to stop the adoption, something a lot of them wouldn't have the money for. 

When my husband adopted my son, almost 30 years ago, we had to notify the biological  father even though he wasn’t named on the birth certificate.  Which was his choice at the time of the birth. 

I suppose I could have said I don’t know, but our lawyer advised us not to.  

[Mom x 3]

21 hours ago, TeapotDiva said:

I just looked her up.  She's a writer named Ali Liebegott, who also is a producer of The Conners and who wrote for Transparent.  She's also written a few novels.

She needs to stick to writing.  Her and the woman she was acting with are terrible.  

20 hours ago, Racj82 said:

Crystal working in that sleazy spot period let alone at her age may be the most depressing part of this reboot.

I didn't find it surprising at all.  I can see her being lonely if her kids don't live nearby.  Also, Crystal always thought she needed a man.  She may feel too old to get married again, but I have no doubt she gets hit on as well and she likely enjoys it.  For a fictional character, that is.

3 hours ago, bunnyblue said:

Last episode I weirded myself out by thinking Dan & Jackie were acting like an old married couple. In this episode, I was worried some awkwardness would ensue during their conversation in the back yard, especially when they hugged. It's not unheard of for in-laws to fall for each other when their wife/sister/husband/brother dies. Am I crazy, or is anyone else getting these weird vibes?

I'm getting the vibes, but it could be because I'm shipping them.  Hard.

[BeachDays]

2 hours ago, Trillian said:

In the original, there was an episode where Jackie confessed she’d had a crush on Dan in high school and he told her he’d noticed her, too. It was very nicely done and came across as mutual liking and respect and not as if they were going behind Roseanne’s back. Not exactly sure, but I think it might’ve been the episode where Roseanne was away and Jackie took over the household as fill-in mom.

So, it wouldn’t come out of nowhere if the Conners went there. 

 

Yep and there was another episode that addressed this episode, where Fred and Dan both thought that Jackie still had an active crush on him.  

[jamfly]

I mentioned it before in one of the episode discussions for the reboot, but instead of pretending Jackie's son didn't exist, I'm going to pretend that he died young -like, didn't reach teenage years young with Fred in a car accident or something, and it's too painful for Jackie to talk about and the family has gotten used, after like 30 years, of not talking about him. So that's why he's not mentioned and Jackie cracks jokes about Aunt being her only title and stuff. 

 

 

 

 

I just remembered that Jerry was mentioned in the reboot -why didn't we see him? Like no one's even mentioned him coming back for the funeral or skyping in or nothing? They couldn't do a line or two? Not even Darlene saying she owes Jerry $5 for a bet they made about Becky getting knocked up, that's 20 years too late or something? 

[Racj82]

4 hours ago, Mom x 3 said:

She needs to stick to writing.  Her and the woman she was acting with are terrible.  

I didn't find it surprising at all.  I can see her being lonely if her kids don't live nearby.  Also, Crystal always thought she needed a man.  She may feel too old to get married again, but I have no doubt she gets hit on as well and she likely enjoys it.  For a fictional character, that is.

I'm getting the vibes, but it could be because I'm shipping them.  Hard.

Not saying your thoughts on Crystal are wrong. None of it makes it any less sad which is all I meant. I'm not shocked that she's in a position like this. It's just sad.

4 hours ago, BeachDays said:

 

Yep and there was another episode that addressed this episode, where Fred and Dan both thought that Jackie still had an active crush on him.  

Yes. It was episode where behind the scenes, they were already testing the waters to see if they could do the show without her. All the way back then she was such a pain, people wanted her gone. 

People like to talk about how innocent the moment between them is while being so sweet and it was but I also think it was a deliberate attempt to see if the show could pivot in that direction.

[tessaray]

30 minutes ago, Racj82 said:

People like to talk about how innocent the moment between them is while being so sweet and it was but I also think it was a deliberate attempt to see if the show could pivot in that direction.

I hope they don't go there. I know it happens in real life but it would be so much better to see Jackie and the kids' reaction when/if Dan starts dating again. (In late Season 2 or Season 3, preferably.) 

[Pallas]

I prefer to think of Dan with Roseanne's friend Marcy Bellinger, and the chemistry between John Goodman and Mary Steenburgen. How as an actor, he came out to meet her: to go toe-to-toe with her intensity. Instead of rocking back on his heels as Dan so often does, wonderfully, to parry the intensity of one of his womenfolk. 

[Ottis]

On 11/27/2018 at 7:11 PM, Melina22 said:

That was actually really good. Lots of laughs and good acting all around

Agree. This may have been the best show so far for me. The writing and reactions were tight, and everything was plausible vs. people being stupid to create TV drama. Well, except the overall lesson that the Connors are a village to raise Becky's baby. That's a great sentiment. In reality, the Beckys of the world having a baby usually sucks for everyone, including the baby.

The one part that seemed out of place was Jackie making the chickens into something around Dan not wanting her there. Purely in the context of this episode, that came out of left field.  There was no evidence that Dan's disinterest in chickens had anything to do with Jackie. Dan (rightly) thought it was an expense they didn't need (and apparently when he caved in, he paid for it in more ways than one). Jackie suddenly making his initial refusal into something about her seemed very self-centered. Maybe in the original Roseanne two decades ago Dan didn't like Jackie hanging around? 

The lesbian couple thing was a bit herky jerky but I get it. I mean, IRL getting a baby shouldn't boil down to a conversation in a bar and then a distraught pregnant woman on your doorstep, and then losing the opportunity to adopt shouldn't be the distraught pregnant woman saying "never mind" without paying any attention to the disappointed couple. But this is a 30-minute TV show.

Becky carried this ep, and while her delivery still seems a bit programmed to me, she seems to be blossoming post-Roseanne Barr.

I do have a question about Mark. So Mark is definitely a he physically and in the way others address him, but goes to school in skirts? I am a huge supporter of LGBTQ rights and respect  those who face gender identity struggles. However, unless schools have changed drastically since I was in them, a boy wearing a dress would not be without issues - especially in the Midwest. On this show, no one even mentions it. Mrs Ottis even asked during this ep whether we had missed that the family had started treating Mark as a girl and that matter was closed, but then Darlene said "he" so guess not.

[tessaray]

41 minutes ago, Ottis said:

I do have a question about Mark. So Mark is definitely a he physically and in the way others address him, but goes to school in skirts? I am a huge supporter of LGBTQ rights and respect  those who face gender identity struggles. However, unless schools have changed drastically since I was in them, a boy wearing a dress would not be without issues - especially in the Midwest. On this show, no one even mentions it. Mrs Ottis even asked during this ep whether we had missed that the family had started treating Mark as a girl and that matter was closed, but then Darlene said "he" so guess not.

This has come up before in episode discussions.  Mark has innocently professed a liking for boys and a penchant for clothes with a traditionally feminine feel.  Darlene has chosen to allow him to do his thing, whatever that ends up being.

Most schools have to handle a wide variety of students and teachers are better trained these days, so I can see even Lanford schools being accommodating and aware. (See the Halloween episode and the beleaguered principal.)  It helps Mark's cause that he is very intelligent and has a sunny disposition.  

[Ottis]

6 minutes ago, tessaray said:

This has come up before in episode discussions.

I know. I've been part of those discussions. But my recollection is that, for the most part, in those earlier episodes Mark wore clothes out that were typical for a boy. At the mall gathering election comments, for instance, Mark was wearing pants/jeans (they were decorated, but they weren't a skirt).  The Halloween stuff doesn't count because it's Halloween. And it doesn't matter what he wears at home, as the family has addressed it. But to school? I know that schools are better at handling this than they were, but I lived in neighboring Indiana, have relatives there now and it would seem like wearing a skirt would be a step too far even for a school trying to be aware. I would have liked the show to have addressed this in passing at least. My fear is that, without at least some commentary, the show will make it a central issue when some schoolmate punches Mark over it. Ugh.

[juliet73]

I really wish it was Darlene that had gotten pregnant instead of Becky. However, I'm glad that Becky finally admitted she has a drinking problem.

On a vain note, does Sara Gilbert have something wrong with her back? I noticed her posture while she was wearing her cocktail waitress uniform.

[tessaray]

7 minutes ago, Ottis said:

would have liked the show to have addressed this in passing at least. My fear is that, without at least some commentary, the show will make it a central issue when some schoolmate punches Mark over it. Ugh.

Didn't they already do the bullying thing on the revival season of Roseanne?  They've shown us that Mark has friends now, so my guess is that they won't address it again, at least for a while.  

Though maybe if Ben and Darlene end up dating the subject will come up again. It might be interesting to see how a potential stepfather would handle a non-traditional kid and Darlene's parenting philosophy. 

[Emkat]

I wish they would mention Ed.

I wish Uncle Burt would make an appearance!

I wish they would say ANYTHING about Jackie's son and talk more about Jerry.

Jackie and Dan together is like a cursed image to me. Hard no!

Edited November 29, 2018 by Emkat
Typo

[BeachDays]

37 minutes ago, juliet73 said:

On a vain note, does Sara Gilbert have something wrong with her back? I noticed her posture while she was wearing her cocktail waitress uniform.

 

I’ve noticed it for awhile.   I know my posture has gotten worse after holding babies and slouching over my cell phone for years, maybe she is the same.  

[Racj82]

8 hours ago, tessaray said:

I hope they don't go there. I know it happens in real life but it would be so much better to see Jackie and the kids' reaction when/if Dan starts dating again. (In late Season 2 or Season 3, preferably.) 

Oh no way they do it now. But, back then they were totally thinking about if they could make it work. It wouldn't have then or now either. Dan with his wife's younger sister. That's some character assassination shit for all involved. 

[peacheslatour]

51 minutes ago, Emkat said:

I wish they would mention Ed.

I wish Uncle Burt would make an appearance!

I wish they would say ANYTHING about Jackie's son and talk more about Jerry.

Jackie and Dan together is like a cursed image to me. Hard no!

Who is Uncle Burt?

[ChicksDigScars]

18 hours ago, ams1001 said:

I had to google that; that was one of those shows I half-watched once in a while because it came on after something else and sometimes I didn't bother turn it off. Apparently you aren't the only one... https://hookedonhouses.net/2011/10/24/searching-for-victorias-chair-from-the-tv-show-revenge-and-the-real-grayson-mansion/

 

I gagged a bit at that thought. I don't like tequila to begin with, but with mint? Ugh. Martini, maybe, with vodka (since vodka really doesn't taste like anything). 

Okay, I googled before I hit submit and found a recipe: 1 1/4 ounces vanilla vodka, 1 1/4 ounces white creme de cacao, 3/4 ounce peppermint schnapps or liqueur (glass rimmed with crushed candy cane). That sounds pretty good, actually.

THAT sounds delish, but a traditional margarita (tequila, triple sec, lime margarita mix) with an Altoids? BLECH!

[methodwriter85]

On 11/28/2018 at 2:50 PM, BeachDays said:

The people you think aren’t going to make good parents sometimes surprise you and the people who have every opportunity to be great parents often drop the ball.  I think that was what the scene between the two Becky’s were supposed to show.  I forget the bae of the character Sarah Chalke is supposed to be.  She has money maids and and paid to have a baby but isn’t.  Becky has an ooops baby but has always wanted to start a family.....with Mark but she also has strong family ties and this might be the thing to pull her out of the deep deep hole she dug herself into.  Because she is a smart girl.

On 11/27/2018 at 8:52 PM, mythoughtis said:

‘Andrea has a good life. You don’t have that problem - youve already fallen apart’.  I loved that line. Say whatever you want, Darlene says the best stuff. 

I think Andrea fell into that whole "Mommyhood is awesome and look at my adorable babies on Insta!" trap. I think she thought it would be a breeze and then it turned out not to be.

I've taken it as a callback to the line Darlene said to Roseanne in the original about how Becky had been prepared for a life of poverty. LOL.

Why did Crystal go back to work as a waitress? I mean, it does happen but if you retire from a place, you can't go back there, right? I've known people who've retired but then took up a small part-time job because the retirement wasn't enough. They could have just had her there as a patron.

Quote

This has come up before in episode discussions.  Mark has innocently professed a liking for boys and a penchant for clothes with a traditionally feminine feel.  Darlene has chosen to allow him to do his thing, whatever that ends up being.

Natasha Leggero said that the original idea was for Mark to be transgender, but they decided to settle on Mark being nongenderconforming but identified male instead. I think it was the right call- you can see the actor's starting to get taller, and it reminds me of the reverse of the situation they had on Degrassi. There was a character that was playing a transitioning transgender male, but the actress playing him was a young woman blossoming into womanhood and it just started looking awkward.

Edited November 29, 2018 by methodwriter85

[Bastet]

4 hours ago, Ottis said:

Maybe in the original Roseanne two decades ago Dan didn't like Jackie hanging around? 

Yes, it was a recurring theme for Jackie to get on Dan's nerves, and since she and Roseanne spent so much time together, she had plenty of opportunity to do so.  How he feels about her - like a pesky little sister he'll do anything to protect - is something she knows, but it's very typical of Jackie (who is insecure) to need to be reassured of that from time to time, especially now that her sister is dead and she's still hanging around so much.  I think from the first episode (of The Conners), when the general issue was first raised, to now is the right amount of time to have passed for Jackie to explicitly address it with Dan, and that a chicken with PTSD is what prompted her is just the kind of thing I've always loved this series for.

[Emkat]

2 hours ago, peacheslatour said:

Who is Uncle Burt?

An emotionally-needy architect at Dan's new job site adopts the Conners as a surrogate family much to their terror.

Episode description.  He even buys them a new refrigerator. For some reason it stuck with me. I was a little horrified to see it's from 1989. I am ancient.

Edited November 29, 2018 by Emkat

[peacheslatour]

Oh yeah, that weirdsmobile. 

[iMonrey]

Quote

Not saying your thoughts on Crystal are wrong. None of it makes it any less sad which is all I meant. I'm not shocked that she's in a position like this. It's just sad.

Ever since the reboot last season, there seems to be a deliberate effort to ignore large chunks of the original series just to service an agenda: that none of these characters ever rose out of blue collar near-poverty. That everyone from Crystal to Dan to Roseanne never made it past their origins working odd jobs just to make ends meet. They never owned their own restaurant, Crystal never married Ed, etc. I think a large part of that was driven by Roseanne who considered herself and the Conner family the ultimate representation of blue collar, working class struggles. Hence, even Becky is stuck in a dead-end, low paying and demeaning job, and even Darlene lost her nice job and has to work for peanuts. Everyone seems to be in bad financial shape. 

That's fine and I get why they want to tell that story but it ignores way too much of what happened in the original series, and it also makes it look like the characters are more the victims of bad choices than bad government or bad luck.  

[peacheslatour]

Quote

I'm not shocked that she's in a position like this. It's just sad.

There has always been something sad about Crystal. I don't know what it is but I always felt sorry for her and unfortunately pity often leads to contempt.

[Bastet]

21 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

There has always been something sad about Crystal. I don't know what it is but I always felt sorry for her and unfortunately pity often leads to contempt.

She's a weird combination -- a perky sad sack.  I find her exhausting in her neediness, so I'm glad we're getting very small doses of her.  She probably talks customers' ears off at the casino.

[Pete Martell]

1 hour ago, peacheslatour said:

There has always been something sad about Crystal. I don't know what it is but I always felt sorry for her and unfortunately pity often leads to contempt.

I've always felt sorry for Crystal too but underneath all the poor Crystal stuff and the pity/derision she got from her friends, I also felt she was a bit of a survivor. That was one of the reasons I was never thrilled with her just becoming Ed's wife and slowly fading off the canvas. The current writing is a regression and also just plain weird, but it's still nice to have the old Crystal back - still surviving, somehow. 

[wendyg]

hoodooznoodooz: what's impractical about the card catalogue? It works perfectly for its original purpose, to store index cards. I was in a professor's office some years ago, and he had one, which he used to store cards with summaries of articles and books he'd read with all the bibliographical data. Even now, that would be useful. Not everything is online.

[UYI]

2 hours ago, iMonrey said:

Ever since the reboot last season, there seems to be a deliberate effort to ignore large chunks of the original series just to service an agenda: that none of these characters ever rose out of blue collar near-poverty. That everyone from Crystal to Dan to Roseanne never made it past their origins working odd jobs just to make ends meet. They never owned their own restaurant, Crystal never married Ed, etc. I think a large part of that was driven by Roseanne who considered herself and the Conner family the ultimate representation of blue collar, working class struggles. Hence, even Becky is stuck in a dead-end, low paying and demeaning job, and even Darlene lost her nice job and has to work for peanuts. Everyone seems to be in bad financial shape. 

That's fine and I get why they want to tell that story but it ignores way too much of what happened in the original series, and it also makes it look like the characters are more the victims of bad choices than bad government or bad luck.  

I thought they said something last season about it closing, or was it just that they almost lost their house at one point? 

[peacheslatour]

11 minutes ago, UYI said:

I thought they said something last season about it closing, or was it just that they almost lost their house at one point? 

Yeah, I think I remember that too.

[ItCouldBeWorse]

2 hours ago, wendyg said:

hoodooznoodooz: what's impractical about the card catalogue? It works perfectly for its original purpose, to store index cards. I was in a professor's office some years ago, and he had one, which he used to store cards with summaries of articles and books he'd read with all the bibliographical data. Even now, that would be useful. Not everything is online.

A physical card catalog only allows you to store the cards in one way (by author, subject, etc) unless you make multiple copies. Nowadays, it would be more useful to type all that information onto "virtual" index cards (there are many programs available) so they can be searched almost instantly for dates, keywords, etc. 

[iMonrey]

Quote

I thought they said something last season about it closing, or was it just that they almost lost their house at one point? 

No, there has been no reference to The Lunch Box thus far. 

[ams1001]

6 hours ago, ChicksDigScars said:

THAT sounds delish, but a traditional margarita (tequila, triple sec, lime margarita mix) with an Altoids? BLECH!

One or two peppermint Altoids in hot chocolate is tasty. (Life Savers work too but the Altoids dissolve faster without crushing them.)

[methodwriter85]

On 11/28/2018 at 7:27 PM, Pete Martell said:

I wonder how much earlier the season premiere was taped than the rest. I know John Goodman said he broke a rib and his wife was ill in the months between Roseanne Barr imploding and the plans for the Conners. The difference in his demeanor/work between the premiere and the rest of the episodes has been striking.

Mark looks significantly taller in this episode.

[summitsw]

On 29/11/2018 at 6:42 AM, iMonrey said:

I wonder though. I watch Long Lost Family and it seems like there are unwed mothers who give up babies for adoption all the time without any consent from the biological father. I'd be interested to know if anyone here knows what the laws are regarding this. Perhaps it varies from state to state. 

I don't think it will happen this season, but assuming the show is renewed, the fact that we now know this is the last season of The Big Bang Theory makes the likelihood exponentially greater for that to happen at some point in the future.

I don’t want it to happen. David and Darleen were a bore the first time, and I like him even less as written now. She deserves better. 

[mojoween]

Was Harris even in or mentioned in this ep?  Not a complaint, just an observation.

[SmithW6079]

7 hours ago, summitsw said:

I don’t want it to happen. David and Darleen were a bore the first time, and I like him even less as written now. She deserves better. 

He deserves better than a bully who constantly browbeat and ran roughshod over him. Unfortunately, his new girlfriend just seems a hippie-dippie version of Darlene, but still a bully.

[Ragingviolet]

On Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 7:02 PM, Pete Martell said:

 

I agree with what others already said about the scene with Darlene and her boss (Ben, apparently). The "whoo" mostly made me laugh (it's like we're watching Saved by the Bell), but I don't think that type of moment fits Darlene or the types of relationships she'd want. The idea of this incredible chemistry or whatever - she would just roll her eyes at that. The scene in the casino felt much more like her. 

 

Before my own divorce I'm sure I would have agreed. When I finally started dating after it was over I at first only went out with men who were similar to my ex husband. Then I had a moment like Darlene did where I was like...what am I doing since that obviously didn't work out. Now I date all kinds of men and find myself more drawn to men who are nothing like my ex. You go through this whole process of learning what you're even attracted to after you get divorced from someone you were married to for a long time. This to me is way more realistic for Darlene, who has always been self aware, than it would be to keep having her date weak men. 

[Ragingviolet]

20 hours ago, Emkat said:

I wish they would mention Ed.

I wish Uncle Burt would make an appearance!

I wish they would say ANYTHING about Jackie's son and talk more about Jerry.

Jackie and Dan together is like a cursed image to me. Hard no!

Who is jerry?

[Sakura12]

3 minutes ago, Ragingviolet said:

Who is jerry?

Roseanne and Dan's youngest kid. He was mentioned briefly last season as being a fisherman that couldn't come home to visit ever. 

Edited November 30, 2018 by Sakura12

[Ragingviolet]

1 minute ago, Sakura12 said:

Roseanne and Dan's youngest kid. He was mentioned briefly last season as being a fisherman that couldn't come home to visit ever. 

Omg! I had completely forgotten that! I had also forgotten Jackie had a kid until I saw it mentioned on here. I'm trying to still figure out what happened to everyone because I didn't watch the show with Roseanne on it due to her politics. So I'm still a little confused by some things plus I haven't seen an episode of the original Roseanne in over 6 years since I went to only streaming services and no cable.