With only six episodes remaining, the countdown to the end of The Conners is officially on.

During a visit to the set of the beloved Roseanne spinoff, Laurie Metcalf — who plays Jackie Harris — tells PEOPLE that viewers can expect there to be some loose ends when the season concludes after seven seasons.

“There’s a lot to wrap up and I think the writers are really working hard to get everybody’s storylines sort of … not completed,” the actress, 69, says of the show’s final six episodes. “It’s not going to have a big bow tied up with the Conners.” 

“And it will remain true to their storyline, what happens to them in the final episode,” she continues. “But, it’s a very short amount of time to wrap up this many seasons of a family that’s covered decades.”

Metcalf’s costar Lecy Goranson, who stars as Becky Connor, adds that there are no plans of “doing something wacky or kind of culminating.” 

“It’s just not really our style. Our show is about real people and real life situations, so I feel like we don’t need to do that,” Goranson, 50, says. “It’s enough just saying that the characters are moving on in the future together as family.”

While the Connors may be getting ready for the next chapter, the actors reflect on why the show has resonated with fans over the years.

When asked why the sitcom has connected with viewers, Emma Kenney — who plays Harris Connor — replies, “The relatability, the family dynamic. There’s a character that I think everybody can relate to, whether it’s one or the other combination.”

“I think we walk a line between drama and comedy that’s very unique,” Goranson adds. “And I think because of that, it’s kind of surprising for the audience when things get more serious, more grounded.” 

Goranson explains that the show addresses issues that “are topical, that are hard to talk about sometimes, and we do it with comedy,” explaining, “I think the gravitas of it is unique to our sitcom, and it’s what I hear … I’ll hear from friends and people on the street about jokes and what have you, but I’ll hear a lot about scene work, situations that we’re in, that it really gets to the core of people.”

The stars of The Connors realize it won’t be easy to say goodbye to the series, but still hope to find a way to work together in the future.

“I’m already thinking of the next thing for all of us, including the crew,” Goranson reveals. “I’m an optimist and I’m thinking, ‘How do I keep us all together? I just refuse to believe that it’s done.”

“It would be interesting if we broke off in little groups and did other projects,” Metcalf adds. “And could see each other in different cameos on other things here and there. That’ll be interesting.”

“That is always the saddest part, I think, about wrapping a project, especially such a long-running one, is that it’s really hard to get the same people in the same room again, but clearly, you guys proved that that’s not impossible,” Kenney concludes, referring to The Connors premiering more than two decades after Rosanne concluded.

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The Connors farewell event begins on March 26 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.