Roseanne Review: No Country for Old Women (Season 10 Episode 6)

Family is a big part of what makes Roseanne the show it is. That cannot be said more clearly with Roseanne Season 10 Episode 6, “No Country for Old Women.”

So far, this season the focus has been 100% on how much life has changed for the Conner children now they are grown. It has touched on the older generations a bit but rarely focused completely on it.

It is definitely a change of pace to have the focus be on the elders. However, I’m not one hundred percent sure it’s a great change.

To be honest, most of this episode has me struggling to even pay attention or care. While Bev is a fabulously complex character, “No Country for Old Women” barely does her justice.

The mother/daughter relationship is usually a great story starter, but for Roseanne and Jackie and Bev, it gets old and tired very quickly.

They spend the entire episode fighting over who will take care of her. Instead of that, maybe it would have been more interesting to see them explore the reason Bev got kicked out of the retirement home.

However, the show goes with petty, shallow bickering. The best parts of the episode are when Bev reveals her boyfriend (guest star Christopher Lloyd) and the Dan and Mark interactions. At least then the energy of the show picks up.

Mark: Why do birds need houses when they have trees?

Dan: I’ll do you one better. And this will bend your mind. Why do we cut down trees to make the wood for bird houses?

Mark: Woah!

The whole scene of Dan working with Mark on a birdhouse really brings back the nostalgic Darlene and Dan stories. It’s clear that the show is going to have Mark teach Dan a thing or two about his world; to expand on what Dan knows to be true.

Dan is old school and doesn’t really know how to react to his grandson because of his lack of experience. The more time he spends with Mark slowly changes those viewpoints and ultimately makes Dan an even better person than he already is.

This bridge between the young and the old is something that brings this show to the current climate. It makes the themes from the 90s, still being used today, more relevant and relatable.

Darlene: Would you stop seeing Mark as some guy on the assembly line? He’s different. He’s got more potential than that.

Parents will always struggle to understand their children, but in the end, children will show the way. Darlene really shows not only her father but also her son that she understands them both better than they believe.

That being said, so far this season I have been lauding the praises of how strong the writing has been. How it holds up to the original material seamlessly. With this episode, Roseanne misses the mark big time.

Another thing this episode brings to our attention is the gaping hole that writers have created with Jackie’s story. Where is her son?

For one of the first times this season, we really get a good look at her apartment. There are no indications that she is even a mother. No one ever mentions him.

The show has been really good about keeping up with all the character’s they created originally. In fact, they even bring back Crystal.

So how hard is it to cast someone as Jackie’s son or even mention him? After all, they at least mention Roseanne’s youngest son, Jerry.

With the season winding down, this blatant disregard for a major milestone to Jackie’s character is disappointing. As a long time fan, I expected so much more from the show. My only hope is that the rest of the season redeems my trust in them.

This also leads me to my next concern, wasn’t Bev very fluid sexually in previous seasons? So why does it seem they are also glossing over that part of her life? I’m not saying she has to be dating a woman like she did previously, I’m just saying that when they were all playing poker, and talking about being in a relationship with a woman, Bev could’ve added more to the conversation.

She could have given her two cents worth about what it’s like. Instead, she is left talking about how bossy her daughter is and how much Dan probably doesn’t appreciate it.

With all these concerns, I am not sure how well the rest of the season will go. I am remaining optimistically hopeful, but there is also a niggling at the back of my mind telling me otherwise. That they’re fizzling out after a great start.

What did you think of this episode of Roseanne? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Catch up on our review of Roseanne Season 10 Episode 5, “Darlene v. David” right here.

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Roseanne airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.

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