I've been watching some random September and October 2005 episodes I had and had then forgotten about. A few thoughts...
I don't understand why they killed Harold's son. He looks so much like a younger Harold, and they work great together. The scenes where Harold cheered him up at a dance club were a delight.
I don't like the Timmons mother very much. Just a lot of yelling. I would like her if she yelled a little less.
The story with Izzy/Darcy is full of great comedy and drama. I loved the episode where she went to Paul for a hitman, and he sent her a very confused restaurant supplier! Darcy is a fascinating character, not all good or all bad, and Izzy is great too. It's also a credit to the actors that play Izzy and Karl that I can actually believe them as a couple, instead of just a pathetic fantasy of a middle-aged man.
The story with the bikini shop is...odd filler. I did love Patrick's (?) dialogue about how ever since he was a little boy he wanted to run a bikini shop. Someone was having a laugh.
The story about Steph and her husband and the surrogate mother who changed her mind because of the stepson, Boyd, doesn't do anything for me. These types of stories are so obvious from the start.