Joyce's decision to pack up and relocate makes sense but not in the context that it ruins others lives. Just for El and Mike alone she should have stayed. Or El should have been taken in by Mike's family - which would have made their being in love a bit weird but only if you are an idiot. Thing is, simply they are two characters that belonged together and now are not.

Same for Nancy and Jonathan. At least Max and Lucas are still in the same town.

Sounds like they are moving far, far enough for Mike and El to have to communicate by short wave! Illinois? Pakistan??

The rest of the show is window dressing as the characters are what kept me interested (and most folks I think as well). The whole Russian\Soviet plot is so corny 80's it could really be from an old Evil Empire propaganda movie starring Stallone!

Add to that El losing her powers!! Why bother watching season four? Yes yes they'll come back in some miraculous way. Just like all parties separated will be reunited in some miraculous way to fight evil and then... move away again!

The one thing that sticks in my mind from season three is that "we are living in a material world"!!

Oh and "the American" the Russians mention? Jim's buddy. We never saw him after the mall events.