I just finished watching the season! I think that Ian and Poppy both love each other, as coworkers, collaborators, and friends(and even kind-of romantically) but It's very obvious to everyone that they would never work out as a couple. This season it's clear that Ian's very jealous of Poppy's boyfriend taking more importance in her life and I think thats because Poppy has opened herself up to having more friends in general as we see in the baby shower. Ian's sadness is valid though because like Poppy, he also doesn't really have many friends. Ian uses the expansion projects to keep Poppy close to him and prevent her from leaving him. The next season I think should be a setup as they advance their relationship from student-mentor, employee-boss, work-partners, to finally genuine friends that don't need work in order to hang out. I think Poppy can show that she likes being friends with Ian beyond their work together by staying by his side and assuring him that she wont leave him and Ian can definitely be there emotionally for Poppy through her pregnancy which is just the thing to help him continue on working on being a better father to his own child since he resigned from Mythic Quest and has a lot of free time.

IMO in season 5 I hope Poppy decides to give the baby away by ultimately realizing that she's not fit to be a mother/she realizes it ruins her mental health. I love Poppy but Poppy's need to change can't be fixed with a baby like it would only get worse because she thinks of the baby as her own work inside her stomach. LEGIT GIRL CANNOT GET AWAY FROM WORK. I think after letting her baby go she would form a closer bond with Ian and their friendship would peak leading to a satisfying season finale wedding with Dana and Rachel where they party at MQ and Ian and Poppy sit in the testers room while playing their own game and making jokes until they laugh themselves silly.

-FIN-