The Conners Season 6 Further Ruins Johnny Galecki’s David (When I Thought They Couldn’t Do Worse)

Warning! Spoilers ahead for The Conners season 6, episode 6.

The Conners season 6 somehow finds a way to further ruin Johnny Galecki’s David after its total character assassination last season. Despite the cancelation of the original Roseanne revival after just one season, ABC couldn’t deny the potential of bringing back one of the most beloved families on TV. Ultimately, the spinoff sequel The Conners was born, a title that just accurately describes the series’ transition to be a true ensemble. Admittedly, the change wasn’t easy, especially since it involved the death of Roseanne from an opioid overdose, which was motivated by a real-life controversy.

In its six years on the air, The Conners has come a long way from where it started, however, establishing an identity separate from its parent show. Despite its complicated relationship with its Roseanne history, ABC’s comedy doesn’t shy away from leaning on nostalgia, having brought several legacy characters to join the Lanford family. Darlene’s ex-husband, David, has appeared several times but hasn’t returned in a while. Unfortunately, the events of The Conners season 5 finale further diminish the chances of his comeback, after the show opted to destroy the character by painting him as a bad family man.

Darlene’s The Conners Season 6, Episode 6 Story Makes David Worse

David utterly failed as a husband and father.

Since David’s last appearance in The Conners season 2, episode 4, “Lanford… Lanford,” he has yet to be back to visit the two kids that he shares with Darlene — Harris and Mark. For what it’s worth, it doesn’t seem like Dan and Roseanne’s daughter is bothered by the absence of her ex-husband, especially since her marriage with Ben is going well. However, David prioritizing his advocacies over spending time with his children makes them feel abandoned. In The Conners season 5 finale, the ABC show decided to stop making excuses for David’s indifference by calling him out for his behavior.

For context, David was a great character back in Roseanne. He was patient and understanding to his girlfriend, who wasn’t exactly the easiest to be in a relationship with. Darlene herself admitted to David’s mistreatment in The Conners season 6, episode 4, even floating the idea that she drove him away. So the decision to assassinate his character in the season 5 finale came as a shock. That being said, The Conners season 6, episode 6, “Hanging in Dorms with Boys and the Secret Life of Men,” finds a way to continue the demolition job by revealing a barely unexplored point in Darlene and David’s relationship.

In the outing, Darlene innocently refers to the point in her relationship with David where the Conners had to take them on because they were too poor to move out. As a family man, David’s failure to provide for his then-growing family is such a big criticism, especially when the family show has repeatedly highlighted Dan’s determination to make sure that his family has everything that they need. Mark was even able to arrange a trailer so he and Becky had their place separate from the Conners.

Can The Conners Still Redeem David?

David’s redemption cannot be done in just one The Conners episode.

It’s uncertain if there are any plans to bring David back to The Conners. After Mark’s heartbreaking experience of having to expect his dad during his graduation only to be let down in the season 5 finale, it doesn’t seem like either he or Harris is looking forward to reuniting with their biological father. Meanwhile, Darlene is now perfectly happy with Ben — as also highlighted in The Conners season 6, episode 6.

Right now, it doesn’t appear like there’s a way to redeem Galecki’s character, especially if he continues to be an absent father. If The Conners decides to kickstart a redemption arc for David, however, it can only be done if he will be a semi-permanent fixture on the show moving forward. After everything that has transpired, he can’t fix his image in just one appearance.

Will Johnny Galecki’s David Ever Return To The Conners?

Galecki is currently on an acting hiatus.

One of the reasons why The Conners had to ruin David was because the show couldn’t keep on finding ways to explain his absence. Despite the challenges posed by Galecki’s unavailability to partake in the Roseanne sequel spinoff, the creatives behind the show don’t have any grudges, instead understanding that the actor is currently on hiatus since The Big Bang Theory ended in 2019. While the door is always open once he decides to come out of his acting break, The Conners‘ door is open for his reprisal of David.