Maybe Ed could've become a more reliable patriarch. I'm not sure the audience would've forgiven him enough to be okay with him remarrying, even under the best of writers.

3 hours ago, Reverend Ruthledge said:

Well, him faking his death was completely out of character and was written by the Dobsons who had zero history with the character. The real Bill Bauer would never have walked out on his family and would never lead them to think he was dead. The Dobsons writing that storyline is one of my biggest pet peeves. It was just a plot device that didn't honor history. Bill should have stayed dead in that plane crash in 1969, in my opinion. Yes, he had two affairs but he was torn up about them. He didn't leave Bert due to his sense of duty even though she was a battle-axe (during the first affair, in particular). Bert's selfishness and belittling really drove him to drink and into the arms of another woman. At least initially. It wasn't because he was emotionally distant and just catting around. He actually should probably have never married Bert to begin with (Bill and Bert were very mis-matched) but they got closer as Bert mellowed with age. When Bill "died" in 1969, they were closer than they had ever been. Which makes it even more unbelievable that he would have faked his death to be with another woman at that time. Plus, Bill would never have done that to his family. In spite of his affairs, he was perhaps too loyal. He denied himself and his personal desires to do what was "right". He got married and stayed married because that was the "right" thing to do even though he really wanted to be with Gloria and, later, Maggie. He did jobs he hated and didn't pursue his career dreams because he had to make a stable income for his family. He didn't live the life he should have (or wanted to) due to weakness and fear but also out of a sense of morality and loyalty. This is one of the reasons why he drank. Even though Ed hated Bill because of his drinking and affairs, it's ironic that Ed later became an alcoholic and adulterer. However, Ed's reasons for becoming those things were far less sympathetic in my opinion.

Yes I'm really not sure what was the point of having Bill BFTD. Sure it provided some short term drama, but it didn't seem to go over well and Bill was off the show again in less than ayear.

If they wanted to add some more Bauers eg Hillary there were probably other ways of doing it. Use the time that Mike was off the show in the early 60's for example to give him a son.