A hypothetical 5th season

[EyeofGenesis]

Had the series returned for a 5th season, what storylines do you think the writers were planning on continuing? The cancellation did come as something of a surprise to the cast and crew, so I feel like near the end of the 4th season, the writers were setting up the audience for the following storylines in the 5th season:

1. First and foremost, a resolution for Gary and Billie. The season finale (which unexpectedly ended up being the series finale) left Gary and Billie seemingly uncertain of what they were (Friends? A couple? Something in between?). I feel like the 5th season would've resolved their status permanently... as in either they get married or solidify themselves as being just really close friends for the remainder of the series.

2. Secondly, I feel Harry would've either reunited with his wife (he even brings this up out of the blue in the season/series finale) or the separation would've become permanent and Harry would start dating either a recurring character or various one off characters.

3. They brought back Murray near the end of the season and had Gary again pushing Archie to find a buyer for Murray's half of the bar/restaurant, so I feel like Archie would've either gotten a new partner in the 5th season (so a new regular cast member) or Archie would've somehow come up with the money to buy Murray out (perhaps setting up a whole new storyline in the process as Archie struggles financially afterward, though that might feel like a repeat of the All in the Family storyline after Archie gets the bar).

So those are the three main storylines I think the writers were setting up to be resolved in the 5th season. Maybe Barney's job hunt storyline would've gotten a resolution too, though I feel like the writers might've just kept shoving him into random jobs that he lasts only a day or two at, sort of like a recurring gag.

Obviously the other characters would've gotten their own stories but these were the three that stuck out most to me near the end of the 4th season. I don't know if the writers were actually planning on building a chunk of the 5th season off of these storylines but that's what it felt like they were doing near the end of the season, to me anyway.

[MikeLutton]

how bout return of the meathead to clear things up with Archie n gloria

[EyeofGenesis]

Originally Posted by MikeLutton

how bout return of the meathead to clear things up with Archie n gloria

I just don't see how that would work, tbh. Why would Archie even let him anywhere near him after he left Gloria and Joey to join a commune? Mike had made a promise to Archie to always look after Gloria and Joey before they moved out to California and he broke that promise.

Any attempt to bring Mike back would feel incredibly forced. It made sense for Gloria to come home to Archie after what happened. It wouldn't make sense for Mike to do the same, imo.

[TVFactFan]

Was stephanie already in highschool in season 4? Maybe season 5 her first day of Highschool

[EyeofGenesis]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Was stephanie already in highschool in season 4? Maybe season 5 her first day of Highschool

Junior high, I believe.

I'm sure we would've gotten another "coming of age" story or two revolving around her in a fifth season, and maybe another story involving her grandmother as well.