Ep 2. The Little Sister

In Roseanne season 2 episode 2, titled "The Little Sister," the Conner family is thrown for a loop when Jackie, Roseanne's younger sister, returns to Lanford for a surprise visit after being away for six months. Jackie's arrival quickly causes tension as Roseanne tries to figure out what her sister has been up to and why she left so suddenly.

Despite Jackie's insistence that everything is fine, Roseanne can tell that something is wrong and her suspicions only grow when she discovers that Jackie has been couch-surfing since she left town. Roseanne spends most of the episode trying to break through Jackie's walls and get her to open up about what's really going on.

Meanwhile, Dan is grappling with his own feelings about Jackie's return. He's happy to see her but can't help feeling like she's always getting herself into some kind of trouble. He tries to stay out of Roseanne and Jackie's conflicts, but ultimately ends up getting sucked in when Jackie asks him for a loan.

As the episode progresses, we watch the Conners struggle to deal with Jackie's visit and the emotional baggage that comes with it. There are moments of humor and levity, such as when Jackie and Darlene bond over their mutual love of Morrissey, but for the most part, "The Little Sister" is a heavy and heartfelt episode.

The standout performance in this episode is undoubtedly Laurie Metcalf as Jackie. She imbues the character with a palpable sense of pain and vulnerability, and her interactions with Roseanne are both tense and heartbreaking. Roseanne, played with typical wit and warmth by Roseanne Barr, is also excellent in this episode, playing the role of a concerned older sister with nuance and depth.

Overall, "The Little Sister" is a compelling and emotional episode that explores the complicated dynamics of family relationships. It's a testament to the show's ability to balance humor with serious subject matter, and a standout installment in an already excellent second season.