Wow, I am so proud of Joey; he's accomplished so much in the twenty years after graduation. Of course I'm heartbroken over Allen, but I'm so glad they had fifteen years together.
Nicky's a pleasure, and it's so wonderful seeing Joey giving his son all the love and support that he never got from his own "parents." Ok, I'll give his mother a little break.
With all the happiness I feel for Joey now, I feel the same amount of emotion for Gene---but of sadness. I honestly don't know why his wife is staying with him. Ok, maybe she does love him, but all the signs are there that 'he's just not into you.' Does she really believe bringing a child into the house is going to suddenly make them a happy family? That would be the worst thing they could do.
Gene needs to bite the bullet and leave her. He doesn't have to resign himself to be a miserable alcoholic for the rest of his life. He's not being fair to her or to himself.