Season synopsis
Contains spoilers for this season and earlier seasons.
Jake starts junior high while Charlie finds a new audience for his music. Songs he invents while babysitting girlfriend Linda’s son lead to a children’s recording career as Charlie Waffles. His success irritates Alan, whose money troubles continue. Evelyn prepares to marry Teddy, and Charlie becomes involved with Teddy’s supposed daughter Courtney. After Teddy is found dead at Charlie’s house, the investigation reveals that he and Courtney were con artists targeting the family’s money; Courtney is arrested. Later, Charlie dates self-help author Angie, whose sympathetic attention also draws Alan into sharing his problems.
Rose returns from England and resumes her close, often intrusive presence around Charlie, including when he becomes sick. Alan starts seeing one of Judith's friends and hears private details about her marriage, adding to his habit of treating his ex-wife's life as his business. The shorter season's final story tests Charlie's relationship with Angie: he meets her son's fiancée and realizes she is an ex-girlfriend with whom he has history. She tries to rekindle the affair, but Charlie refuses; she leaves her future husband, and Charlie ends his relationship with Angie. Alongside this, Alan tries to prepare Jake for an algebra exam, only to find Jake focused on getting through school with minimal effort.