Dan (John Goodman) might be alive and well [1] in the Roseanne [2] reboot, but those of us who can remember the 1997 series finale know that his character definitely kicked the bucket [3]. In case you need a refresher on how Dan died before we head into the new episodes, allow us to take you for a quick stroll down memory lane.
In the ninth and final season, in episode 24, Roseanne reveals that Dan died after suffering a heart attack at Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and David's (Johnny Galecki) wedding in the previous season. Although Dan has an affair outside of his marriage in the last season of the show, in the end, it is revealed to be a fictitious event made up in Roseanne's mind, along with the fact that she did not win the lottery, either. In the finale, we also learn that the entire series was based on a book that Roseanne was writing about her life, only she had changed the details for parts of her life that she didn't like. Bizarre, we know.
Even Goodman found the whole thing mind-boggling. While speaking to Entertainment Weekly about the upcoming reboot, the 65-year-old-actor said he didn't care for the finale [5]. "It was irrelevant. It was just silly," he told the publication. Goodman further teased Dan's sudden resurrection [6] at a Television Critics Association press event, saying, "I thought it was a clever way to do it, to handle it and get it out of the way." After watching the premiere, we have to agree [7]!
Dan isn't the only familiar face you'll see, either — the majority of the original cast has returned [8] in some capacity. While details are still trickling in, check out everything you can expect to see [9] when the Conner family and associates return to ABC on March 27 [10]. Until then, stay safe out there, Dan.