Recap: 'The Conners' costume debate continues a 'Roseanne' Halloween tradition

Political correctness was the big fright in Tuesday’s Halloween installment of ABC’s “The Conners,” as just about any costume chosen for Mark’s school carnival was deemed off limits.

The episode, “There Won’t Be Blood,” continued the long-running “Roseanne” tradition of Halloween episodes without Roseanne, whose character died when “The Conners” rose from the ashes of the canceled sitcom revival.

The costumes were fun:  Roseanne’s husband Dan was dressed as Napoleon Blown-apart; her sister, Jackie. as a disemboweled cheerleader; Darlene's sister, Becky, as Shark-nade O'Connor; Darlene’s daughter, Harris, as Lizzie Boredom; and Roseanne’s granddaughter, Mary, as Scary J. Blige.

A debate over free expression and respect for others seemed a good fit, given the Conner tradition of in-your-face frankness, and it pitted Dan’s opposition to overly sensitive rules against daughter Darlene’s desire not to perpetuate offensive stereotypes. 

More:'The Conners' recap: What Johnny Galecki's visit means for Darlene-David marriage

More:Matthew Broderick to join 'The Conners' as Laurie Metcalf's on-screen love interest

Unfortunately, the snippy school principal was just a straw man – and not the frightening scarecrow kind – because his excessive rigidity turned a potentially intriguing argument into a big "Boo!" – again, not the scary kind. There are surely officious types who are that rule-bound, but they wouldn’t be any fun arguing with, either.

Mark (Ames McNamara) first dressed as a Fortnite character, but that was forbidden because it’s based on a violent video game and the school would not allow costumes that “perpetuate negative ethnic stereotypes or are scary, gory or anything that’s saddening.”

Mom Darlene (Sara Gilbert) was on board for the stereotype prohibition, but found “saddening” a bit too broad. “Our whole family is saddening. Does that mean we can’t go out anymore?” she asked, dropping one of the episode’s funnier lines.

Mark’s solution was to dress as a woman he admired, Mexican artist Frida Kahlo: “Presenting one of the great artists of the 20th century!” He showed off his outfit to his proud mother and and grandfather, Dan (John Goodman), who had said he and his late wife, Roseanne, would have fought the school over what he termed “P.C. crap.”

More:How 'The Conners' moves on without fierce (and fired) matriarch Roseanne

Unfortunately, Mark’s Frida didn’t pass muster, either, as the principal rejected the costume “because it falls under cultural appropriation.”

“No, it’s cultural appreciation,” Darlene said. “He loves Frida Kahlo.”

“He has not experienced what a person of that ethnicity has experienced,” the principal said. “Therefore, he does not have a legitimate entitlement to use or wear any element of their ethnic identity.”

When Darlene and Mark returned home, she explained the situation to her less sensitive father. “You were still mostly wrong, but this guy was mostly wrong, too. So, what have we learned? Men are wrong.”

“Uh, Mom, I’m a man,” Mark said.

“Yes, you are, son. Welcome to Wrong Island,” Dan responded, clearly knowing his place.

More:Review: 'The Conners' lacks Roseanne's bite but provides a satisfying meal

More:'The Conners' reveals how the show kills off Roseanne – and fired Roseanne Barr responds

Earlier, Dan hosted a Halloween gathering at the Conner home, which featured a guest appearance by Matthew Broderick as Jackie’s love interest, Peter, a snobby, overeducated type immediately disliked by Dan.

Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) asked Dan for his assessment, saying Roseanne used to steer her away from big romantic mistakes.

“He does seem to know a lot and he’s not shy about sharing it,” Dan started. Then: “He’s the kind of guy that even though you haven’t spent much time with him, you feel like you’ve spent a lot of time with him.” Finally, the coup de grace: “I think I might hate him,  but I really need more time.” This Dan-Peter acrimony could work out well if Broderick returns.

The Conner’s Muslim neighbors, introduced during last season’s “Roseanne” revival, stopped by the party at Dan’s invitation, with reservations.

“We weren’t so thrilled about Halloween, because last year you people vandalized us,” one said.

Dan had a ready answer. “We did that to everybody. We talked about not doing your house, but we thought you might feel discriminated against,” he said.

Welcome to the Conners’ neighborhood.