I noticed that even Brian and Alex seemed to have a longer flirting/sexual

tension then dating period than Joe and Helen did. The story of Joe and

Brian lusting after Alex lasts all of season four before she decides to

date Brian in the finale, then all of season five Brian and Alex are

together.


Where as with Joe and Helen, they went through all this in only

one season (season 2) where Joe and Brian flirted with Helen first part of

the season then she dated Joe for the second half. After the Gail story is

rapped up in the sixth episode of season 3, there aren't many "almost going

to get back together moments" with Joe and Helen. In fact, there

relationship seems to take a backburner to Brian and Alex. I just think

they could've had a longer courtship, with them not getting together until

the end of season 2, have them date during season 3, then break up in

season 4. And when they were broken up, still shown the tension a bit

better, because them sleeping together in the last episode of season five

seemed a little tacked on and there wasn't enough build up. Like there

weren't moments in season five where Helen considered leaving Davis for Joe

or anything like that. JMO of course.

I never thought of it that way. I liked their relationship the way it was. The only thing I would have done differently was save the wedding for the series finale.

If I watched this show when it was new, during seasons four and five, I would have assumed the Joe/Helen relationship was over. There didn't seem to be an inkling that the two still had the hots for each other. In one episode, they even kissed to see if the spark was still there and went "Nah." Then all of a sudden, not only are they back together, but they're engaged!

While Kristen mentions the wedding, I'll just say that although I'm fine with them getting married at the end of season six (rather than the series finale), I don't like how it was a jokey ceremony by making Joe have his hand stuck in the toilet. We waited all season (and in some ways the whole show) to see them finally get married, and it's played for laughs. I know it's a sitcom, so they feel they have to be funny, but there are some things best left unfunny. And the wedding, to me, is one of those. Sure, all leading up to the actual ceremony can be hilarious (as it should be), but once it's time to say "I Do", get serious.

I like the courtship. I mean, they had the hots for each other secretly since they were kids, so I like the way it was played out.

They are one of TV's most underrated couples, IMHO.