[spoilers] Harry and Ruth. The Wonder Years.

[A Cousin]

Well, it will come as no surprise to anyone that I voted for the second option.

However, if all it takes to go sit in the optimists corner is a "non-traditional" relationship then I'm bringing my cheesecake over. I do think they will come to some sort of agreement about the nature of it, just not after at least a series of working through the issues as per the larger series theme playing out through their relationship. I am pretty happy to go along on that ride.

I do not see why marriage is the necessary end for these two. True confessions: my own marriage was common law until we bowed to familial pressure to make it legal. Doesn't mean our level of devotion was any less. We can't interpret it through the norm.

What it comes down to is commitment. I think TL is right, Ruth definitely has commitment issues, but I think we can see why? She has been ripped and torn and thrown from one life to another and back again. She is an analyst - she needs a strategy. For everything. I can appreciate that mind set.

I also don't see why it has to be a choice between who is right or wrong - Harry or Ruth. They have both been emotionally beat up, both have their issues and they both clearly adore each other - whether they choose to see it or not. What is so ironic to me is that their issues are the same: guilt, blame, fear of losing again. Both have their limitations (timing being only one of them) and that is what is holding them back.

There does need to be a catalyst, and I think it will come, but I hope that they don't do it through any kind of serious additional liaison. Too soap opera for me. It is teetering on the line as it is.