[aliensporebomb]

Gnaa. Stupid laptop page back/forward key obliterated my message.

I'll try again.

I suppose you think I'll completely obliterate this episode because of
the events that likely could have happened in the first season, right?

No. I found it sweet and I found parallels in a lot of relationships I've
personally witnessed.

Also, consider that the first season was spent with him just trying to
cope with the fact that she was living in his home and how to relate
to her. This season is K1 trying to fumble his way into a relationship
with her obviously.

Slowly but surely K1 is going to have a relationship with her one
way or another. There are signs this is finally happening. Ignore
the manga since I've not read any of it, I've heard the stories that
he kissed her in episode 12 and now it's episode 13 gazillion and
he's still terrified of holding her hand, right? We'll forget that for
the moment.

The reason I'm saying this is something K1 did was pretty darn
bold, especially for him. In fact......

I found it shocking, nay astonishing that something K1 did was
completely bold and forward and if any of you had not noticed
it you should have. Bear with me.

Spoiler:

In the episode he does several things that are over the top even
for K1.

-He works extremely hard jobs for long hours. This isn't new but...

-He gets to the store after getting the cash and nearly has a nervous
breakdown when he finds Sayoko is in the process of buying the ring.

-He climbs the tree to get the balloon so Sayoko will sell him the ring.
He risks life and limb to do so. Again. And Bel' comes to the rescue
again.

-He puts himself into an unwanted beseeching position with Sayoko.
When she sees how intensely he wants the ring she finally relents a
little. Sure he has to attend her party (is Bel' invited, she'd better be
considering what I'm about to suggest next) but mission accomplished.

-K1 redeems his "I'm frightened of Belldandy" stance with something
completely unexpected for him - he takes the ring and places it on
her ring finger. That's bold. Read carefully.

This is tantamount to: K1 announcing that "She's mine now" and
Belldandy holding up a sign: "Off the market".

It's not possible to overstate the case, this is a betrothal if it
wasn't before - we're talking marriage.

As Obi-Wan would say "You've taken a first step into a larger world."

Not sure if placing a ring on that finger has the same connotation in
Japan as it does here in the U.S. but I was saying out loud "whoa".

I'm probably reading more into it and we'll be back to the timid K1 in
future episodes but that's more like it.

Now, Sayoko probably gets rocks like that every other day but I think
she gave up when she saw how intense K1 got about having to have
it. We know she likes K1 more than a little. Maybe she even thought
that one day he would be like that for her. Given this episodes'
events, I doubt it.

Okay, I'm done. Thanks for bearing with me.