I've watched, or partially watched, each of the episodes (so far) of the revival, and think why there was the 2nd-week viewership plunge was that the debut episode was so depressing, unfunny, and felt like its vibe was decidedly un-entertaining.

Having said that, I thought the 2nd episode was actually really funny, and got things properly back on track, feeling entirely like the old series again. Wasn't enthusiastic about the 3rd episode (which I only partially watched due to ongoing distractions), but didn't mind it.

I'm liking the revival, and think it just needs some time to more fully settle in and take off with more people giving it another, or a first, look.

By the way, a thing about the debut episode that I think served to make it feel off-putting and very much like a downer and "off" was the massive weight loss by John Goodman. I personally thought he looked truly unwell and unhealthy in that episode, and not at all like his self that people know and are a fan of. Fortunately, by the second episode and onward his new look somehow is seeming entirely fine and normal - of course still thin, but somehow no longer at all ill looking or seeming.

I never was a big fan of (though never at all disliked) the original Roseanne series, but long have been a huge fan of Laurie Metcalf, which she actually was specifically why I eventually got to often watching episodes of it during the final season or two. I then last season watched the episodes of the short-lived reboot and enjoyed it. Once this season's new revival got the miserable first episode out of the way, I think it's going to be a winner.

What did you think of the Halloween ep?

That was the episode I missed bits and pieces of (though caught the majority of) due to repeated distractions. The parts that I saw I thought were okay, though, as you earlier mentioned, the matter with Darlene's son definitely was handled more timidly than it would have been if the Roseanne character was still on the show.