The Conners season 6 was able to squeeze in several game-changing plots — from Beverly's unexpected departure amid her health battle to Dan getting some financial reprieve. With those done, there has been excitement over what comes next for the beloved Lanford family.

However, while the majority of its peers have returned to their respective timeslots and resumed their usual programming schedule, the Roseanne sequel spinoff remains off the air. It boils down to ABC pushing The Conners to a mid-season premiere for its farewell season. Instead of making up for its lost outings in season 6, the sitcom is also further cutting down its output, with The Conners season 7 only confirmed with 6 episodes — around a third of its typical annual production. Despite this, the return of Dan and his extended family is the most exciting since it premiered.

The Conners Season 7 Is The Show's Most Radical In Years

The Return To Lanford Will Be Different This Year

At the height of reboots and revivals' popularity, ABC brought back its cult-favorite sitcom, Roseanne, with the majority of the original cast. Unlike the many shows that came before it, the new version was immediately a hit, as it banked on nostalgia, the chemistry of the cast, and a new chapter for the Conners of Lanford. Unfortunately, just before it could be renewed for season 11, Disney fired Barr for her racist social media posts. It almost spelled the end of the series, but it was too popular to just cancel altogether.

Billing The Conners season 7 as a "six-episode event" changes that, setting the tone for what to expect. Aside from not having any room for fillers, viewers can expect a more focused narrative with the beloved family at its center.

ABC took a big gamble by rebranding the show to The Conners, which was essentially a continuation of the old show, just without its lead star, as Roseanne was killed off-screen due to an opioid overdose. Once the show got over the tragedy, however, it became aimless. Granted that it had overarching storytelling, but was mostly a procedural series. Billing The Conners season 7 as a "six-episode event" changes that, setting the tone for what to expect. Aside from not having any room for fillers, viewers can expect a more focused narrative with the beloved family at its center.

The Conners Ending Gives The Show A Storytelling Purpose It Hasn't Had Before

ABC Is Working Towards Wrapping Up The Conner Family's Story

As with many network shows, The Conners had to balance its storytelling in a way that it maintains being a comforting watch without becoming boring. It's a difficult rope to walk on, especially for a show that has been going on for a while now. Sadly, the last few years saw The Conners fail in that regard, primarily because of its uneven narrative and decreasing circle of characters. As the show wraps up, however, ABC has the chance to revitalize the series by making big waves that could open up new opportunities for its players.

It also helps to know that at the end of its six-episode special event, The Conners is officially done. While there is pressure to deliver a satisfying send-off to such an iconic TV family, especially after Roseanne's highly divisive finale, the creatives behind the show have a target goal to work towards. They know which storylines need to be prioritized and addressed and which characters deserve what kind of ending. It's a much better thing to look forward to than just putting out another full season that doesn't really seem to move the needle in of the clan's arc.

The Conners Season 7's Ending Is The Biggest Risk Since Continuing Without Roseanne

6 Episodes May Not Be Enough For A Satisfying Finale

ABC opting to continue Roseanne without Roseanne was a massive gamble that paid off big time. The sitcom has been one of the top-rated scripted shows on the network, and its multiple renewals are proof of how valuable it is for the company. Because of its current stability, ending in itself is a massive risk as well. To increase the stakes, The Conners is also wrapping up with just 6 episodes. This means that the whole legacy of the Roseanne franchise boils down to how those remaining outings will pan out.

This means that the fate of Dan and the rest of his Lanford-based family is already locked.

Only time will tell if ABC's latest risk will once again pay off. The Conners season 7 isn't due to debut until the spring, but its production is supposedly finished. This means that the fate of Dan and the rest of his Lanford-based family is already locked. It will now be up to viewers to decide how it fares compared to Roseanne's panned ending.