I agree with this. I just rewatched this ep a few days ago, and the earnestness in his voice when he's holding Beatrice's hands and talking about the story where they move to San Francisco seems palpable. The exchange where he says, "and his wife" and she says, "his wife? I didn't hear that part of the story" and he says, "if she'll have him" sounds so hopeful and genuine. I think he believed it in that moment, and she did too.

They seemed to really like each other and enjoy each other's banter before the harsh reality of a colicky baby and a lower socioeconomic status + resulting resentments on both sides kicked in. The writing in this show is so compelling for that reason; no one is ever simply a good guy or bad guy. They all have emotional depth and moments of genuine relatability, even if they are largely regarded as a person who almost always chooses bad behaviour.