ABC‘s Roseanne reboot premiered Tuesday night, and boy, are the people divided!
While the Conners’ old, beaten down couch is the same, the members of America’s favorite blue collar family has grown: Roseanne is now a Trump-supporting grandma! Darlene has a gender fluid kid! Dan isn’t dead!
Though many fell under the spell of network nostalgia, a number of Twitics just couldn’t get past the title character’s political beliefs. But defenders argued that Roseanne refreshingly showed a family on both sides of the political spectrum — which we saw in the premiere, as Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) and Roseanne have been divided ever since the election.
Related: Roseanne Cast — Then & Now
Echoing the opinions of the woman who plays her, Roseanne voted for Trump because he talked about jobs “on the real news.” Jackie, on the other hand, was so freaked out by her fights with her sister, she ended up voting for Jill Stein instead of Hillary Clinton!
Pushing politics aside, (which Twitter could NOT do — but we’ll get to that in a minute) a lot happened in the two-episode premiere. Becky (Lecy Goranson) is back and hoping to become a surrogate for a woman named Andrea (Sarah Chalke, AKA Becky 2).
Darlene (Sara Gilbert) told everyone she came home to take care of her parents, but really she’s the one who needs taking care of since girl lost her job and, as she cried to Roseanne, has “got no partner.” Where you at, Johnny Galecki?
The second episode tackled the original series finale, in which it was revealed that Dan (John Goodman) had died. After Dan finds Roseanne’s transcript in the garage, he tells her with a hug:
“This would have sold like hotcakes, if only you hadn’t killed off the most interesting character. He was a gentle giant.”
Roseanne had notes of her own, joking that she should have added “more bondage and a wizard school” to the story. Pop culture references!
Related: Former Disney Star Now Works In Trump’s White House
But most of the second episode focused on Darlene’s son Mark, who likes dressing in girl’s clothing because, as he told his grandma, “this just feels like me. I like colors that pop. It’s more creative.” Darlene was completely okay with Mark’s outfit choices, but Dan was worried about it.
During Mark’s first day at school, he was made fun of so bad that he showed another kid a knife — given to him by Dan. In the end, Darlene made her son realize that “weird is cool” and he continued to dress with colors that popped.
All in all, the reboot was more progressive than not. It illustrated the reality of Trump-supporters and Trump haters living under one roof and coming together, for better or worse.
Though a large population of Twitter responders could NOT get past Roseanne’s new MAGA-attitude. Read some divisive reactions to the premiere (below)!
If this #Roseanne show gets republicans and democrats to speak and be nice to each other, I’m here for it.
— Richard S. McClain (@mcclain_r) March 28, 2018
The truth is that I loved the original #Roseanne, but she isn’t simply a Trump supporter.
She’s continually made racist statements against Muslims and spreads #Pizzagate and #SethRich conspiracy theories.
Sometimes you can’t separate the real person from the character.
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) March 28, 2018
People, calm down… if you actually watched #Roseanne tonight you would have noticed that there were jokes made about Hillary supporters AND Trump supporters. It was hardly one-sided or “pro-Trump.”
I feel show depicted the reality of a family with different political views.
— Nathan Stark (@TheStarkVoice) March 28, 2018
What the hell?? No im not a trump supporter, but i dont go up in arms when a fictional character does. #Roseanne is a tv show representing a different viewpoint. And that’s ok.
— Joshua Ovenshire (@TheJovenshire) March 28, 2018
I’m already looking forward to when they reboot the cancellation of #Roseanne
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) March 28, 2018
For the millionth time we don’t want an inside look at everyday Trump supporters. It doesn’t matter if it’s a #Roseanne reboot or a mainstream media profile. They let their hatred get the best of them, fell for Trump’s con and wrecked our country. There is no other story to tell.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) March 28, 2018
There are a lot of #Roseanne republicans. Voting against themselves to the point that they live in the same house, with the same damn furniture 30 years later
— SilENce DoGOoD (@realBigBalls) March 28, 2018
#Roseanne handled death, divcorce, non-gender conforming children, job loss, and political division in the first two episodes. This show isn’t for your side or mine. It’s life as we know it. Welcome back,
domestic goddess!
— Misty Bowles (@ladybarometer) March 28, 2018
the cognitive dissonance is strong in this one #Roseanne pic.twitter.com/pv1wNzAoBW
— m i t h (@ManInTheHoody) March 28, 2018
I don’t care who you are, the #Roseanne reboot is hilarious. Showing the asinine absurdity of both extreme sides of the political divide.
— Emily Isler Pence (@EmilyIsler) March 28, 2018
What did YOU think of the Roseanne reboot?
[Image via ABC.]
