Despite being set up as a significant player in The Conners universe, Harris Conner-Healy, played by Emma Kenney, has been frustratingly sidelined season after season. While the Roseanne spinoff excels at capturing the struggles of its older characters, its younger generation—especially Harris—remains underdeveloped. With the series heading into its seventh and final season, fans can only hope the show gives Harris the storyline she deserves.
A Promising Start That Went Nowhere
When The Conners first premiered, it promised to explore the entire family’s dynamic in the absence of its titular matriarch. Early on, Harris was positioned as a character full of potential, particularly when the show teased her taking over The Lunchbox in season 6. Yet, this storyline was barely touched upon after the premiere.
Instead, the focus shifted back to characters like Becky, Dan, and Jackie, leaving Harris with minimal development. Even episodes that briefly highlighted Harris, like “Manifesting, Marriage Testing, and Cheeseballs,” failed to move her arc forward. For fans—especially younger viewers—it’s disappointing to see her character reduced to the sidelines yet again.
A Legacy of Missed Opportunities
Harris’s struggles with identity and purpose could resonate deeply with younger audiences, but the show has consistently treated her as an afterthought. While Roseanne gave Darlene a rich, evolving storyline as she navigated adulthood, Harris has been stuck in limbo. Her character has dealt with a canceled engagement, a miscarriage, and even panic attacks, yet these moments are rarely followed through in a meaningful way.
Contrast this with her brother Mark, who, despite limited screen time, was given a compelling arc in season 6’s finale—a risky job that could pay for college but comes with moral and legal dilemmas. Harris, meanwhile, remains adrift, her character arc muddled and undefined.
Harris Deserves a Better Farewell
As The Conners gears up for its final chapter, the show has a chance to redeem itself. Harris’s journey with The Lunchbox offers a perfect opportunity to showcase her growth and resilience. Will she succeed in revitalizing Jackie’s struggling restaurant, or will the show gloss over this storyline as it has with so many others?
Harris deserves more than being reduced to a Gen Z stereotype, as she was in the 2017 Roseanne revival. While the spinoff has softened her initially bratty persona, it has yet to give her the depth and trajectory that made characters like Darlene so memorable.
Can Season 7 Fix It?
If the writers focus on Harris’s struggles as a young adult navigating a difficult world, they could create a storyline that feels both authentic and inspiring. From managing The Lunchbox to grappling with her identity, Harris’s arc could offer a fresh perspective on working-class life—one that younger viewers could relate to.
With just six episodes to wrap up decades of storytelling, The Conners has its work cut out. But if the show finally invests in Harris as it did with past generations of Conners, it could deliver a farewell season that’s as heartfelt as it is satisfying.
The Time Is Now
The Conners has always excelled at portraying life’s ups and downs with humor and heart. It’s time to extend that same care to Harris. As the show approaches its final bow, fans are hoping for a storyline that not only honors Harris’s journey but also secures her place as a fully realized member of the Conner family legacy.
The question is: Will The Conners give Harris the spotlight she’s earned, or will she remain a forgotten footnote in the series finale? Fans will be watching—and hoping—for the former.
