Episode Report Card Aaron: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Dead women tell no tales
By Aaron | Season 2 | Episode 5 | Aired on 03.30.2002
After the service, the Fishers are gathered in the foyer. Nate is upset that he never learned anything about the DGDJ, Rico is snotty that David took the day off due to his headache, and Father Jack is inappropriately affectionate towards David. Ruth, on the other hand, has an announcement for the entire family, which basically boils down to the fact that she doesn't want to die alone like the DGDJ. Only she uses the word "renovate" about a dozen times while saying it. She's also desperate for a connection with her children, wondering, "Won't any one of you have intimacy with me?" Ew. Her weekly blurt complete, Ruth moves to go upstairs, but Nate points out that intimacy should be created organically, not by screaming about it. "Fine," answers Ruth. "Then I'll just wait for it like I have been. I just pray it happens before I end up like Emily Previn."
Cut to the Brotherfucking Boudoir, where Nate mentions that Brenda had a really weird look on her face when she was writing earlier. "It's called flow," she explains, obviously having never had the experience of trying to "flow" while constantly rewinding to transcribe what someone said. Nate asks if she thinks they have enough intimacy in their relationship, and Brenda dodges the question as usual. But then he asks why she's been acting jumpy all night, and Brenda finally comes to a decision. She grabs a little jewelry box off the top shelf, and places it gently on Nate's (thankfully covered) chest. He opens it to find a ring, and Brenda, as solemnly as she can, asks, "Nate Fisher, would you be my wife?" Nate, much like most of the audience, is flabbergasted. Unlike most of the audience, however, he also thinks it's a really good idea, even if the ring itself is really ugly. "It was my [presumably bi-legged] grandfather's," reveals Brenda. She explains that she found it while cleaning, and that's when she got the idea. Hmm. Are you sure it wasn't while reading one of the "Marry me, Lauren"-fest recaps from last season? "Why today?" wonders Nate, and Brenda thinks a bit before answering. "I just started thinking, and I didn't know what I'd do if I ever lost you." "Well, I'm not going anywhere," replies Nate. She asks him to promise, and while the director zooms in the Brain-Cam, Nate realizes that's one promise he can't make. So instead, he enthusiastically slips on the ring and agrees to get married. They laugh and hug, and the moment is so romantic that I'm almost willing to forgive the unfortunate sideburn shot that ends the scene.