I watched all of AITB a long time ago and enjoyed all of it. Even Season 9 which I think was a great addition to the series. I really liked the addition of Stephanie as it brought out another side to Archie and allowed the character to grow.

I never watched ABP though until this month. I'm shocked at how good this show was. I think Season 1 is the weakest though. Keeping Edith alive offscreen kind of bogged the show down.

But wow, once Season 2 begins, they just let loose. ABP seasons 2 to 4 is so much darker than AITB but I like it. It's a nice change and the show never feels stale. I really like the father/daughter relationship with Stephanie. The character of Archie grows so much throughout the series. Archie for instance in season 4 is such an evolution from AITB season 1. I wish this show got a proper ending. I wish there was a season 5 but even a one-hour special would've been great.

I see alot of comments here saying it all should've ended with season 8 of AITB but I strongly disagree. I'm glad season 9 and ABP exists. The overall story of Archie is better because of it.

ABP was a good show, but failing to land the plane kept it from being a great one.

The first year felt like season 10 of AITF. Then a reset for the 2nd season. The entire show revolved around lovely Danielle Brisebois. Then the 3rd year it evolved into a workplace comedy centered at the Bar. For the 4th and final campaign another reboot into more of a romantic comedy focused on Billie and Gary. The lack of consistency season to season really kept it from reaching its potential.

I don't agree on Season 3. That season still had plenty of focus on Stephanie and many great episodes focused on that character. A full third of the season is episodes centred around Stephanie.

I don't agree on Season 3. That season still had plenty of focus on Stephanie and many great episodes focused on that character. A full third of the season is episodes centred around Stephanie.

Umm, 4 season two episodes aired in Season three due to the Summer 81 writers strike; Norma Rae Bunker, Stephanie's Dance, Stephanie's Tryout and Photo Contest....

I know that but it doesn't change the fact that they aired as part of season 3 and are officially season 3 episodes. I'm glad they were moved over. Season 2 was already really good. The holdovers enhanced season 3.

I liked the later seasons of ABP with Billie and Gary. My favorite characters . I love their romance . I also liked Murray a lot from the beginning seasons though.

I liked the later seasons of ABP with Billie and Gary. My favorite characters . I love their romance . I also liked Murray a lot from the beginning seasons though.

Yep, it's too bad they couldn't make the Murray character work.

ABP focused on so much more than the Bunker house. It allowed for character development of characters who were very minor on AITF.

I know that but it doesn't change the fact that they aired as part of season 3 and are officially season 3 episodes. I'm glad they were moved over. Season 2 was already really good. The holdovers enhanced season 3.

Just the opposite, they were good episodes but they killed the tenor of actual Season 3 which had gone in a very different direction. According to Joe Gannon in this 8/81 TV Guide interview, he didn't feel that Danielle was ready for more intense Season 3 storylines, so Denise Miller was being added.

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