Across the early seasons, Frankie struggles at Ehlert Motors before being fired in Season 4 and retraining as a dental assistant, while Mike sells his treasured quarry business share to help fund Sue’s education. Axl earns a football scholarship to East Indiana State, and Sue graduates high school despite endless setbacks to attend the same college. In later seasons, Axl navigates underemployment and an annulled impulsive marriage to April, Sue studies hospitality management and breaks off an early engagement to Darren, and Brick embraces high school alongside his eccentric girlfriend Cindy.
The one-hour series finale ("A Heck of a Ride") culminates in a cross-country family road trip to Denver for Axl's new job, right after Sean Donahue confesses his love for Sue. The dysfunctional road trip triggers emotional sibling reconciliations. A flash-forward reveals that Axl eventually moves back to Orson, marries Lexie, and raises three rowdy boys mirroring his youth; Sue and Sean marry after series of breakups and reunions; and Brick becomes a successful sci-fi author with Cindy. Returning to the present, Mike and Frankie sit on their living room sofa, accepting that their chaotic journey was worthwhile, punctuated by Brick whispering “...the middle”.