Ep 4. Darlene Fades to Black

In the fourth season of Roseanne, episode four is titled "Darlene Fades to Black." This episode primarily focuses on Darlene, one of the main characters of the series.

At the start of the episode, Darlene is feeling down. She's been struggling with her grades and hasn't been feeling like herself lately. She's been spending more time in her room, isolated from her family. Her parents, Roseanne and Dan, notice the change in behavior and try to talk to her about it. However, Darlene is reluctant to communicate with them and keeps shutting down their attempts to connect with her.

Meanwhile, at school, Darlene's English teacher, Mr. Cansino, gives out an assignment where the students have to write their own obituaries. Darlene is particularly struck by this assignment and begins writing about her terrible life and how nobody understands her. This leads to a sequence of events where Darlene is increasingly isolated from her peers at school and at home.

One day, Darlene's parents go to her school for a parent-teacher conference and are taken aback by what they see. Darlene's artwork, which she has been working on in secret, is displayed and it's clear that she's been struggling with some dark themes. Her parents are shocked by the content of her artwork and they begin to realize how much Darlene is struggling. They try to talk to her again but she still refuses to open up to them.

As the episode continues, it becomes clear that Darlene is struggling with depression. She is having trouble finding joy in any of her usual activities and is increasingly withdrawing from her family and friends. Her parents are at a loss for what to do and eventually decide that they need to take her to see a therapist.

The episode ends with Darlene in the therapist's office, where she slowly begins to open up about how she's feeling. The audience is left with the sense that there is still a long road ahead for Darlene as she learns to cope with her depression and find a way out of it.

Overall, "Darlene Fades to Black" is a poignant episode that addresses a heavy topic in a sensitive and thoughtful way. It highlights the struggles that many teenagers face and emphasizes the importance of seeking help when dealing with mental health issues. Through Darlene's story, the show reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles and that there is always hope for a better tomorrow.