An impromptu visit to Darlene's apartment gives Roseanne a clear picture of what Jimmy is all about; meanwhile at home, Dan finds himself a bit fuzzy on parenting skills: D.J. is being beaten up by a bully, and taking it out on David.
The show portrayed a working-class family struggling to get by on a limited income in the fictional town of Lanford, Illinois. Many critics considered the show notable as one of the first sitcoms to portray an American family in which economics necessitated two parents working jobs outside the home.