If you came of age in the 90's, then you'll probably remember a little show called Roseanne. It ran for nine seasons from 1988 to 1997, which were my adolescent years. It told the story of a working-class family with three kids, not unlike my own family or my friends'. They had their ups and downs, but in the end, it was all about family.
Twenty years later, the Connors have returned, and they still have that special quality that made America love them in the first place. The tenth season premiered on March 27, 2018, and the first episode showed why the series was so successful in the first place. Most of the original cast has returned and their chemistry is still spot on. A feeling of happiness and nostalgia overwhelmed me when that first episode aired. It was like nothing had changed at all.
During the first episode, the audience is introduced to Darlene's two kids, Harris and Mark. Shameless fans will recognize Harris as Debbie from the long-running Showtime show. The two highlights of the first episode for me were Darlene moving back home with her kids and Becky deciding to become a surrogate at age 43. Of course, Becky and Darlene are at odds with each other, but that was no surprise to me.
In the second episode, Dress to Impress, the audience learns much more about nine-year-old Mark and his creativity. However, he likes to wear dresses and skirts. Darlene doesn't have a problem with it, however Dan does, as he's concerned about Mark's safety at school. It's awesome that Dan cares more about his grandson's safety than the way he expresses himself creatively. Roseanne ends up taking young Mark to school and introduces him to the class. I think she ends up scaring the
kids.
In the third episode, Roseanne and her granddaughter Harris have it out. Harris is a typical teenager who has an attitude sometimes. She decides to hog the washer and dryer for a couple days and this starts an argument with Roseanne. My favorite part of the episode is when Roseanne grabs Harris by the neck and washes her hair in the sink saying, "Welcome to Hillbilly Day Spa!" Due to her lack of respect for Roseanne and her ungratefulness in living there, I definitely think she deserved this. The interactions between Harris and Roseanne remind me of my relationship with my grandmother.
In the season premiere, Becky reveals that she wants to be a surrogate because it will help her with her future. Roseanne and Dan don't like what she is doing, however Dan is at least somewhat supportive. The surrogate storyline comes back around in the fourth episode, when Becky goes to Andrea's fertility doctor to see the condition of her eggs. She learns that it is nearly impossible for her to have a baby with the conditions of her eggs. The audience saw a softer and sweeter side to Becky during this episode. I also enjoyed how Jackie and Darlene were there for her.
At the beginning of the season, one of my first questions was, Where is David? Well, he finally showed up in Episode 5. Johnny Galecki is one of my favorite actors and I always loved watching him and Darlene interact onscreen. David has been out of Darlene and their kids' lives ever since his brother Mark died. He's been traveling the world building houses for poor people. But he's back now and wants to be there for his kids. Darlene is worried about Harris because she doesn't want her to get her hopes up and be let down.
I've enjoyed the season so far and can't wait to see more of The Connors. ABC gave the green light for Season 11 after just one episode. I'm confident that the next season will draw in even more viewers. This season currently holds a 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and has been received positively by audiences. However, some may not agree with the politics of the show.
I love that they brought back the original cast, and the addition of talented young actors and the witty dialogue really make the show worth watching. If you haven't had the chance to check out the new season, then put it on your to-do list, and keep an eye out for my review of the second half of the season once it's all done and I'm all caught up.
Lisa's Score: 9.5/10
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