@Jipijapa, I LOVE that you are doing this! Rockford Files is in my top five favorite shows. I used to watch it in primetime, during its first run.
Re Jim and Beth, there are a few episodes where a brief past relationship is hinted at, so you have those to look forward to. And that just makes me love them even more--it didn't work out, but they still care about each other (and like each other) so much. The co-stars of RF are each quite lovable, I think. I don't even let Angel drive me crazy; he has a few episodes where he seems almost human. And when he's not being human, he's so deliciously base!
In February of this year, I was saddened when Juanita Bartlett died. I always found her episodes to be particularly well-crafted. (Though she may have been responsible for the Grand Jury one you referenced above. I agree that it was a little heavy-handed, and yet, putting the "issue of the day" aside, there was some lovely interaction among the cast of regulars--both humorous and touching.) And to think that James Garner is gone now, too, is just so sad. He seemed like a great guy and I hope he had a great life.
I kind of envy that you've got so many episodes that you get to see for the first time! Carry on.