Roseanne has been all over the media recently with ABC’s cancellation of the show’s
eleventh season and the development of a new spin-off series, The Conners, with the cast
from the original series, but without Roseanne Barr.
If you were living under a rock for the past few months, the second season after the revival
of the show was canceled after a racist tweet by Barr about the politician, Valerie Jarrett.
The backlash created by the star’s tweet might’ve led to the show’s demise, but
the legacy of the aged sitcom still remains intact.
The show was a ratings machine during the early 90s and produced many of TV’s unforgettable
moments.
So in remembrance of the iconic sitcom, we have narrowed down the five most memorable
episodes of Roseanne in no particular order.
But, before we get in, take some time to subscribe to our channel and hit the bell icon as well.
#5. Darlene Fades to Black (Season 4 Episode 4)
For the first three seasons, we knew Darlene
as a tomboy who loved sports just like her father and a smartass just like her mother.
However, this episode marked Darlene’s transformation from a tomboy to angst-filled teenager who
likes to sit on the couch and watch TV all day.
Her misanthropic character remained a signature throughout the rest of the show’s run, and
this episode marked the beginning of it all.
#4. Inherit the Wind (Season 2 Episode 1)
In this episode, Roseanne finds work as a
telephone solicitor to bring money into the family, while Becky deals with a “gassy”
problem at school.
Portraying common problems in an average American family like in this episode became the show’s
premise and one reason why the show became so beloved.
#3. Trick or Treat (Season 3 Episode 7)
What makes this particular episode so memorable is its groundbreaking depiction of gender
roles in the society.
In this Halloween special, Roseanne dresses like a lumberjack while DJ shows a desire
to be a broom-riding witch to Dan’s utter dismay.
In the end, Dan and Roseanne, who’s still dressed as a man, embrace producing a heart-warming
moment and subtly promoting gender acceptance.
#2. “Crime and Punishment” and “War and Peace” (Season Five Episodes 13 and 14)
The sitcom definitely provided the comedic chops, but at times, like in this two-part
episode, it took on pressing issues like domestic violence.
When Dan finds out that Roseanne’s sister Jackie was abused by her boyfriend Fisher,
he goes and gives Fisher a taste of his own medicine.
The emotionally gut-wrenching performance by Laurie Metcalf earned her an Emmy and at
the same time, produced one of the most unforgettable episodes of Roseanne.
#1. A Stash from the Past (Season 6 Episode 4)
This “smoke-filled” episode is probably
one of the best and most unforgettable out of all the other episodes we’ve ever seen
on Roseanne.
It was even ranked number 21 in TV Guide's 100 Greatest Episodes of All-Time in 1993.
So what made this episode so great and memorable?
The answer is a stash of marijuana and nostalgia.
In this episode, Roseanne finds a 20-year-old stash of weed from their counterculture days
and ends up burning the reefer with Dan and Jackie.
As the three take a step back from reality, we see Dan and Jackie as their goofiest selves.
As purely comedic the episode was, it also promoted a strong anti-drug message- that
pot seems a lot less fun as we grow older.
Do you agree with our list?
Tell us your favorite moment from Roseanne in the comments below.
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