I'm really not surprised people love the new Roseanne. I mean, it isn't terrible, but the writing isn't why people love it.
Culturally, it's a breath of fresh air for Trump voters and supporters who are tired of being read for filth for their onerous decision to give power to a racist mental midget. It is also a representation of the type of detente the moderates and some our own “allies” on the left want between us and Trump voters.
After all, Roseanne has a gender-fluid grandchild and a black daughter-in-law, she can't be a racist and a bigot.
Except that she can. Her character's decision to support Trump made life harder for her grandchildren. In the show we're treated to her standing up for her grandchildren against bullies, without ever pondering the reality that bullies have only been encouraged by the normalization of Trump and Trumplike characters Roseanne Conner took part in. She only made it more likely Mark will be tormented in school and life, so her "support" for Mark rings hollow to us.
But I get that to those who support Trump or want to find some common ground with those who did, it makes sense. Trump may be a terrible person and he may give some power to terrible people who want to do terrible things, but as long as his supporters “don’t allow” it, it won’t happen.
After Trump won, a number of Trump supporting friends tried to play the "we support LGBT rights/we hate racism" line, while saying "we would never let anything bad happen to our LGBT, black, Hispanic, etc. friends."
That may seem like it makes sense to you. But it's delusional. Roseanne Conner can convince a bunch of 10 year old bullies that she's a witch, but she can't protect Mark when they are beaten to a pulp by a bunch of dude bros in MAGA hats, or when President Trump tells Mark they can't join the military.
And furthermore, what LGBT/black/Hispanic/immigrant and other minority communities want from their white cis-gendered allies is not support for them personally, but for all. Don't just defend me, defend every LGBT person, every black person, every immigrant, every Muslim. To be selective is still bigotry. How many times have I heard someone say their black friend is "one of the good ones." and how many times have I been told that isn't a racist thing to say because a racist wouldn't have *any* black friends.
But this is unreasonable to many who support Trump and those who defend Trump supporters. Activism is always unreasonable for those who want comfort and stability.
When I was a kid, I had bullies, and I had friends who hung out with me outside school and played with me. But in schools, those same friends were silent. They never stood up for me, or even stood alongside me. Usually they were just quiet, or passive in their support of the bullies over me.
I was told, even by adults, that I had to “understand” their predicament. They needed to watch out for themselves first and foremost, and that it was unreasonable for me to expect them to put themselves at risk for bullying and torment to “fight my battles.” I should be satisfied with the fact that they were my friends outside of schools, or that they didn’t just join in with the bullies.
That seems to have manifested itself again in adulthood. It is unreasonable to expect Roseanne Conner to vote for candidates who will fight for a more just world for Mark. That fact that she scared their 10-year-old bullies and “loves” Mark should be enough. She's concerned about jobs after all.
Mark has to fight their own battles and be satisfied with the passive “support” from grandma.
It would be interesting to see how the new Roseanne moves forward. Does it continue to sanitize the views of Trump supporters, and excuse the hatred toward minority communities that his election has sparked, or does it present us with a character forced to contend with her family's struggle to navigate a hostile society created in part by Roseanne Conner herself.
I except the show won't last long though, even though its been renewed for a second season. Roseanne Barr is a difficult person to work with, and she's not in charge of the show. It's Sara Gilbert's baby. I predict creative difference will either bury it or put her in charge, and either way, it will tear it apart.