The Conners Reunites Darlene With Her Original Roseanne Rival

The Connersis bringing back Darlene’s former Roseanne rival for its ongoing season. Emerging off the pyre of ABC’s hit Roseanne revival, which was canceled following a storm of racism controversy surrounding the titular star Roseanne Barr herself, The Conners debuted on ABC in October 2018 as its #1 comedy in the 18-49 demo. In the new show, the original matriarch passes away, leaving her devastated family (John Goodman, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, Michael Fishman, and Lecy Goranson) to figure out life without her. Now in season 3, the show continues to be a massive success for the network, with its authentic depiction of the COVID-19 pandemic receiving overwhelming acclaim from critics. There is no official word about the future of the show yet, but considering its reception, a renewal is likely.

A key factor contributing to The Conners‘ popularity over the years has been its extensive roster of guest stars. Since its launch, the show has featured several notable celebrities in cameo roles. This includes characters from Roseanne‘s ’90s run, as well as new additions like Candice Bergen’s Barb. A few original characters that have appeared in The Conners as guests include Estelle Parsons’ Beverly Harris, Johnny Galecki’s David Healy, and Natalie West’s Crystal Anderson. Actress Sarah Chalke, who had replaced Goranson in the original show, has also graced The Conners in a new role, while Shameless‘ Noel Fisher has appeared as Ed Conner Jr., a grown-up version of the actual Roseanne character. Now the show is looking to expand on its callbacks to the Roseanne era by reintroducing a former rival.

According to TV Line, The Conners is rehashing an old feud for Gilbert’s Darlene by adding Halloween star Danielle Harris to its cast. Harris will reprise her Roseanne role as Darlene’s high-school enemy, Molly Tilden. The actress will appear in episode 315, “An Old Dog, New Tricks and a Ticket to Ride,” on April 7, though it’s unclear whether it’s a one-off role or if she would stick around for a while. While Molly may have been a rival to Darlene back in the day, 30 years later, the two would put aside their differences after realizing that they have been through similar challenges in life.

Molly and her family joined Roseanne as the Conners’ next-door neighbors in season 5. While Molly’s sister Charlotte and father Ty blended in well with Roseanne and the gang, Molly’s country girl persona and flirtatious nature set her up as a nemesis to Darlene. Although Darlene and Molly momentarily connect in one episode, their enmity soon hits rock-bottom after Molly abandons Darlene at an out-of-town concert to smoke pot and drink with some guys. Later in the season, Molly makes a move on Darlene’s boyfriend, David, who firmly refuses her advances stating that he was committed to his relationship with Darlene. Frustrated over the rejection, Molly forcefully kisses David, leading Darlene to nearly break-up with him. While Darlene eventually realizes that David wasn’t at fault, her confrontation with Molly was never shown, as the character was written out after season 5.

Harris’ return as Molly will provide fans with the long-awaited closure they never expected to get. In Roseanne, Molly was a beloved character whose indifferent treatment of her sister and war-of-words with Darlene complemented the story’s quirky relationship dynamics and humorous storytelling. The character presented an opportunity for Roseanne to forge a love-triangle that is both dramatic and hilarious. But the show never exploited that potential; rather, it awkwardly sacked Molly without explanation. But now, Harris’ return allows The Conners to fix one of Roseanne‘s biggest mistakes, subsequently satisfying vexed longtime franchise fans. Harris has already proven her acting prowess with her performances in the Halloween film series. Her return on The Conners is thus really something to look forward to, as it will be hilarious to watch her reconnect with Darlene and pour out some major ’90s nostalgia.

Source: TV Line

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