diff --git a/mitmproxy/options.py b/mitmproxy/options.py
index 703928032..9232378f8 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/options.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/options.py
@@ -26,19 +26,11 @@ APP_PORT = 80
 CA_DIR = "~/.mitmproxy"
 LISTEN_PORT = 8080
 
-# We manually need to specify this, otherwise OpenSSL may select a non-HTTP2 cipher by default.
-# https://mozilla.github.io/server-side-tls/ssl-config-generator/?server=apache-2.2.15&openssl=1.0.2&hsts=yes&profile=old
-DEFAULT_CLIENT_CIPHERS = (
-    "ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:"
-    "ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:DHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:DHE-DSS-AES128-GCM-SHA256:kEDH+AESGCM:"
-    "ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-SHA256:ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-SHA:"
-    "ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA384:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-SHA384:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-SHA:"
-    "DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256:DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA:DHE-DSS-AES128-SHA256:DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA256:DHE-DSS-AES256-SHA:"
-    "DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA:ECDHE-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA:ECDHE-ECDSA-DES-CBC3-SHA:AES128-GCM-SHA256:AES256-GCM-SHA384:"
-    "AES128-SHA256:AES256-SHA256:AES128-SHA:AES256-SHA:AES:DES-CBC3-SHA:"
-    "HIGH:!aNULL:!eNULL:!EXPORT:!DES:!RC4:!MD5:!PSK:!aECDH:"
-    "!EDH-DSS-DES-CBC3-SHA:!EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA:!KRB5-DES-CBC3-SHA"
-)
+# Some help text style guidelines:
+#
+# - Should be a single paragraph with no linebreaks. Help will be reflowed by
+# tools.
+# - Avoid adding information about the data type - we can generate that.
 
 
 class Options(optmanager.OptManager):
@@ -51,8 +43,9 @@ class Options(optmanager.OptManager):
         self.add_option(
             "onboarding_host", str, APP_HOST,
             """
-            Domain to serve the onboarding app from. For transparent mode, use
-            an IP when a DNS entry for the app domain is not present.             """
+            Onboarding app domain. For transparent mode, use an IP when a DNS
+            entry for the app domain is not present.
+            """
         )
         self.add_option(
             "onboarding_port", int, APP_PORT,
@@ -80,8 +73,9 @@ class Options(optmanager.OptManager):
         self.add_option(
             "keepserving", bool, False,
             """
-                Instructs mitmdump to continue serving after client playback,
-                server playback or file read. This option is ignored by interactive tools, which always keep serving.
+            Continue serving after client playback, server playback or file
+            read. This option is ignored by interactive tools, which always keep
+            serving.
             """
         )
         self.add_option(
@@ -91,8 +85,8 @@ class Options(optmanager.OptManager):
         self.add_option(
             "server_replay_nopop", bool, False,
             """
-            Disable response pop from response flow. This makes it possible to
-            replay same response multiple times.
+            Don't remove flows from server replay state after use. This makes it
+            possible to replay same response multiple times.
             """
         )
         self.add_option(
@@ -174,7 +168,7 @@ class Options(optmanager.OptManager):
             "server_replay_ignore_params", Sequence[str], [],
             """
             Request's parameters to be ignored while searching for a saved flow
-            to replay. Can be passed multiple times.
+            to replay.
             """
         )
         self.add_option(
@@ -197,11 +191,10 @@ class Options(optmanager.OptManager):
         self.add_option(
             "proxyauth", Optional[str], None,
             """
-            Require authentication before proxying requests. If the value is
-            "any", we prompt for authentication, but permit any values. If it
-            starts with an "@", it is treated as a path to an Apache htpasswd
-            file. If its is of the form "username:password", it is treated as a
-            single-user credential.
+            Require proxy authentication. Value may be "any" to require
+            authenticaiton but accept any credentials, start with "@" to specify
+            a path to an Apache htpasswd file, or be of the form
+            "username:password".
             """
         )
         self.add_option(
@@ -225,17 +218,16 @@ class Options(optmanager.OptManager):
         self.add_option(
             "certs", Sequence[str], [],
             """
-            SSL certificates. SPEC is of the form "[domain=]path". The
-            domain may include a wildcard, and is equal to "*" if not specified.
-            The file at path is a certificate in PEM format. If a private key is
-            included in the PEM, it is used, else the default key in the conf
-            dir is used. The PEM file should contain the full certificate chain,
-            with the leaf certificate as the first entry. Can be passed multiple
-            times.
+            SSL certificates of the form "[domain=]path". The domain may include
+            a wildcard, and is equal to "*" if not specified. The file at path
+            is a certificate in PEM format. If a private key is included in the
+            PEM, it is used, else the default key in the conf dir is used. The
+            PEM file should contain the full certificate chain, with the leaf
+            certificate as the first entry.
             """
         )
         self.add_option(
-            "ciphers_client", str, DEFAULT_CLIENT_CIPHERS,
+            "ciphers_client", Optional[str], None,
             "Set supported ciphers for client connections using OpenSSL syntax."
         )
         self.add_option(
diff --git a/mitmproxy/optmanager.py b/mitmproxy/optmanager.py
index 495354f4c..f1d6461df 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/optmanager.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/optmanager.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 import contextlib
 import blinker
+import blinker._saferef
 import pprint
 import copy
 import functools
-import weakref
 import os
 import typing
 import textwrap
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class _Option:
         self.typespec = typespec
         self._default = default
         self.value = unset
-        self.help = help
+        self.help = textwrap.dedent(help).strip().replace("\n", " ")
         self.choices = choices
 
     def __repr__(self):
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class _Option:
         self.value = unset
 
     def has_changed(self) -> bool:
-        return self.value is not unset
+        return self.current() != self.default
 
     def __eq__(self, other) -> bool:
         for i in self.__slots__:
@@ -127,15 +127,24 @@ class OptManager:
             Subscribe a callable to the .changed signal, but only for a
             specified list of options. The callable should accept arguments
             (options, updated), and may raise an OptionsError.
+
+            The event will automatically be unsubscribed if the callable goes out of scope.
         """
-        func = weakref.proxy(func)
+        for i in opts:
+            if i not in self._options:
+                raise exceptions.OptionsError("No such option: %s" % i)
+
+        # We reuse blinker's safe reference functionality to cope with weakrefs
+        # to bound methods.
+        func = blinker._saferef.safe_ref(func)
 
         @functools.wraps(func)
         def _call(options, updated):
             if updated.intersection(set(opts)):
-                try:
-                    func(options, updated)
-                except ReferenceError:
+                f = func()
+                if f:
+                    f(options, updated)
+                else:
                     self.changed.disconnect(_call)
 
         # Our wrapper function goes out of scope immediately, so we have to set
@@ -172,7 +181,7 @@ class OptManager:
         """
         for o in self._options.values():
             o.reset()
-        self.changed.send(self._options.keys())
+        self.changed.send(self, updated=set(self._options.keys()))
 
     def update_known(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -265,44 +274,50 @@ class OptManager:
             vals.update(self._setspec(i))
         self.update(**vals)
 
-    def _setspec(self, spec):
-        d = {}
-
-        parts = spec.split("=", maxsplit=1)
-        if len(parts) == 1:
-            optname, optval = parts[0], None
-        else:
-            optname, optval = parts[0], parts[1]
+    def parse_setval(self, optname: str, optstr: typing.Optional[str]) -> typing.Any:
+        """
+            Convert a string to a value appropriate for the option type.
+        """
         if optname not in self._options:
             raise exceptions.OptionsError("No such option %s" % optname)
         o = self._options[optname]
 
         if o.typespec in (str, typing.Optional[str]):
-            d[optname] = optval
+            return optstr
         elif o.typespec in (int, typing.Optional[int]):
-            if optval:
+            if optstr:
                 try:
-                    optval = int(optval)
+                    return int(optstr)
                 except ValueError:
-                    raise exceptions.OptionsError("Not an integer: %s" % optval)
-            d[optname] = optval
+                    raise exceptions.OptionsError("Not an integer: %s" % optstr)
+            elif o.typespec == int:
+                raise exceptions.OptionsError("Option is required: %s" % optname)
+            else:
+                return None
         elif o.typespec == bool:
-            if not optval or optval == "true":
-                v = True
-            elif optval == "false":
-                v = False
+            if not optstr or optstr == "true":
+                return True
+            elif optstr == "false":
+                return False
             else:
                 raise exceptions.OptionsError(
                     "Boolean must be \"true\", \"false\", or have the value " "omitted (a synonym for \"true\")."
                 )
-            d[optname] = v
         elif o.typespec == typing.Sequence[str]:
-            if not optval:
-                d[optname] = []
+            if not optstr:
+                return []
             else:
-                d[optname] = getattr(self, optname) + [optval]
-        else:  # pragma: no cover
-            raise NotImplementedError("Unsupported option type: %s", o.typespec)
+                return getattr(self, optname) + [optstr]
+        raise NotImplementedError("Unsupported option type: %s", o.typespec)
+
+    def _setspec(self, spec):
+        d = {}
+        parts = spec.split("=", maxsplit=1)
+        if len(parts) == 1:
+            optname, optval = parts[0], None
+        else:
+            optname, optval = parts[0], parts[1]
+        d[optname] = self.parse_setval(optname, optval)
         return d
 
     def make_parser(self, parser, optname, metavar=None, short=None):
@@ -396,11 +411,7 @@ def dump_defaults(opts):
                 raise NotImplementedError
             txt += " Type %s." % t
 
-        txt = "\n".join(
-            textwrap.wrap(
-                textwrap.dedent(txt)
-            )
-        )
+        txt = "\n".join(textwrap.wrap(txt))
         s.yaml_set_comment_before_after_key(k, before = "\n" + txt)
     return ruamel.yaml.round_trip_dump(s)
 
diff --git a/mitmproxy/proxy/protocol/tls.py b/mitmproxy/proxy/protocol/tls.py
index acc0c6e3b..f55855f0a 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/proxy/protocol/tls.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/proxy/protocol/tls.py
@@ -200,6 +200,21 @@ CIPHER_ID_NAME_MAP = {
 }
 
 
+# We manually need to specify this, otherwise OpenSSL may select a non-HTTP2 cipher by default.
+# https://mozilla.github.io/server-side-tls/ssl-config-generator/?server=apache-2.2.15&openssl=1.0.2&hsts=yes&profile=old
+DEFAULT_CLIENT_CIPHERS = (
+    "ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:"
+    "ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384:DHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256:DHE-DSS-AES128-GCM-SHA256:kEDH+AESGCM:"
+    "ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-SHA256:ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES128-SHA:"
+    "ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA384:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-SHA384:ECDHE-RSA-AES256-SHA:ECDHE-ECDSA-AES256-SHA:"
+    "DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA256:DHE-RSA-AES128-SHA:DHE-DSS-AES128-SHA256:DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA256:DHE-DSS-AES256-SHA:"
+    "DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA:ECDHE-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA:ECDHE-ECDSA-DES-CBC3-SHA:AES128-GCM-SHA256:AES256-GCM-SHA384:"
+    "AES128-SHA256:AES256-SHA256:AES128-SHA:AES256-SHA:AES:DES-CBC3-SHA:"
+    "HIGH:!aNULL:!eNULL:!EXPORT:!DES:!RC4:!MD5:!PSK:!aECDH:"
+    "!EDH-DSS-DES-CBC3-SHA:!EDH-RSA-DES-CBC3-SHA:!KRB5-DES-CBC3-SHA"
+)
+
+
 def is_tls_record_magic(d):
     """
     Returns:
@@ -475,7 +490,7 @@ class TlsLayer(base.Layer):
                 cert, key,
                 method=self.config.openssl_method_client,
                 options=self.config.openssl_options_client,
-                cipher_list=self.config.options.ciphers_client,
+                cipher_list=self.config.options.ciphers_client or DEFAULT_CLIENT_CIPHERS,
                 dhparams=self.config.certstore.dhparams,
                 chain_file=chain_file,
                 alpn_select_callback=self.__alpn_select_callback,
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/grideditor/base.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/grideditor/base.py
index 4505bb979..d2ba47c3b 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/grideditor/base.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/grideditor/base.py
@@ -182,12 +182,12 @@ class GridWalker(urwid.ListWalker):
             self.edit_row = GridRow(
                 self.focus_col, True, self.editor, self.lst[self.focus]
             )
-            self.editor.master.loop.widget.footer.update(FOOTER_EDITING)
+            signals.footer_help.send(self, helptext=FOOTER_EDITING)
             self._modified()
 
     def stop_edit(self):
         if self.edit_row:
-            self.editor.master.loop.widget.footer.update(FOOTER)
+            signals.footer_help.send(self, helptext=FOOTER)
             try:
                 val = self.edit_row.edit_col.get_data()
             except ValueError:
@@ -276,9 +276,11 @@ class GridEditor(urwid.WidgetWrap):
                 first_width = max(len(r), first_width)
         self.first_width = min(first_width, FIRST_WIDTH_MAX)
 
-        title = urwid.Text(self.title)
-        title = urwid.Padding(title, align="left", width=("relative", 100))
-        title = urwid.AttrWrap(title, "heading")
+        title = None
+        if self.title:
+            title = urwid.Text(self.title)
+            title = urwid.Padding(title, align="left", width=("relative", 100))
+            title = urwid.AttrWrap(title, "heading")
 
         headings = []
         for i, col in enumerate(self.columns):
@@ -297,10 +299,10 @@ class GridEditor(urwid.WidgetWrap):
         self.lb = GridListBox(self.walker)
         w = urwid.Frame(
             self.lb,
-            header=urwid.Pile([title, h])
+            header=urwid.Pile([title, h]) if title else None
         )
         super().__init__(w)
-        self.master.loop.widget.footer.update("")
+        signals.footer_help.send(self, helptext="")
         self.show_empty_msg()
 
     def show_empty_msg(self):
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/grideditor/editors.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/grideditor/editors.py
index 0d9929aea..39e51b2b6 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/grideditor/editors.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/grideditor/editors.py
@@ -245,3 +245,20 @@ class SetCookieEditor(base.GridEditor):
                 ]
             )
         return vals
+
+
+class OptionsEditor(base.GridEditor):
+    title = None
+    columns = [
+        col_text.Column("")
+    ]
+
+    def __init__(self, master, name, vals):
+        self.name = name
+        super().__init__(master, [[i] for i in vals], self.callback)
+
+    def callback(self, vals):
+        setattr(self.master.options, self.name, [i[0] for i in vals])
+
+    def is_error(self, col, val):
+        pass
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/master.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/master.py
index d0e237124..c0d8e05c8 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/master.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/master.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ from mitmproxy.tools.console import flowview
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import grideditor
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import help
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import options
+from mitmproxy.tools.console import overlay
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import palettepicker
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import palettes
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import signals
@@ -275,7 +276,7 @@ class ConsoleMaster(master.Master):
         self.set_palette(self.options, None)
         self.options.subscribe(
             self.set_palette,
-            ["palette", "palette_transparent"]
+            ["console_palette", "console_palette_transparent"]
         )
         self.loop = urwid.MainLoop(
             urwid.SolidFill("x"),
@@ -285,7 +286,6 @@ class ConsoleMaster(master.Master):
         self.ab = statusbar.ActionBar()
 
         self.loop.set_alarm_in(0.01, self.ticker)
-
         self.loop.set_alarm_in(
             0.0001,
             lambda *args: self.view_flowlist()
@@ -309,6 +309,18 @@ class ConsoleMaster(master.Master):
     def shutdown(self):
         raise urwid.ExitMainLoop
 
+    def overlay(self, widget, **kwargs):
+        signals.push_view_state.send(
+            self,
+            window = overlay.SimpleOverlay(
+                self,
+                widget,
+                self.loop.widget,
+                widget.width,
+                **kwargs
+            )
+        )
+
     def view_help(self, helpctx):
         signals.push_view_state.send(
             self,
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/options.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/options.py
index 79bb53c2f..f38550f98 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/options.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/options.py
@@ -1,27 +1,35 @@
 import urwid
+import blinker
+import textwrap
+import pprint
+from typing import Optional, Sequence
 
-from mitmproxy import contentviews
-from mitmproxy import optmanager
+from mitmproxy import exceptions
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import common
-from mitmproxy.tools.console import grideditor
-from mitmproxy.tools.console import select
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import signals
+from mitmproxy.tools.console import overlay
+
+HELP_HEIGHT = 5
+
+
+def can_edit_inplace(opt):
+    if opt.choices:
+        return False
+    if opt.typespec in [str, int, Optional[str], Optional[int]]:
+        return True
 
-from mitmproxy.addons import replace
-from mitmproxy.addons import setheaders
 
 footer = [
-    ('heading_key', "enter/space"), ":toggle ",
-    ('heading_key', "C"), ":clear all ",
-    ('heading_key', "W"), ":save ",
+    ('heading_key', "enter"), ":edit ",
+    ('heading_key', "?"), ":help ",
 ]
 
 
 def _mkhelp():
     text = []
     keys = [
-        ("enter/space", "activate option"),
-        ("C", "clear all options"),
+        ("enter", "edit option"),
+        ("D", "reset all to defaults"),
         ("w", "save options"),
     ]
     text.extend(common.format_keyvals(keys, key="key", val="text", indent=4))
@@ -31,251 +39,248 @@ def _mkhelp():
 help_context = _mkhelp()
 
 
-def checker(opt, options):
-    def _check():
-        return options.has_changed(opt)
-    return _check
+def fcol(s, width, attr):
+    s = str(s)
+    return (
+        "fixed",
+        width,
+        urwid.Text((attr, s))
+    )
 
 
-class Options(urwid.WidgetWrap):
+option_focus_change = blinker.Signal()
 
-    def __init__(self, master):
-        self.master = master
-        self.lb = select.Select(
+
+class OptionItem(urwid.WidgetWrap):
+    def __init__(self, walker, opt, focused, namewidth, editing):
+        self.walker, self.opt, self.focused = walker, opt, focused
+        self.namewidth = namewidth
+        self.editing = editing
+        super().__init__(None)
+        self._w = self.get_widget()
+
+    def get_widget(self):
+        val = self.opt.current()
+        if self.opt.typespec == bool:
+            displayval = "true" if val else "false"
+        elif not val:
+            displayval = ""
+        elif self.opt.typespec == Sequence[str]:
+            displayval = pprint.pformat(val, indent=1)
+        else:
+            displayval = str(val)
+
+        changed = self.walker.master.options.has_changed(self.opt.name)
+        if self.focused:
+            valstyle = "option_active_selected" if changed else "option_selected"
+        else:
+            valstyle = "option_active" if changed else "text"
+
+        if self.editing:
+            valw = urwid.Edit(edit_text=displayval)
+        else:
+            valw = urwid.AttrMap(
+                urwid.Padding(
+                    urwid.Text([(valstyle, displayval)])
+                ),
+                valstyle
+            )
+
+        return urwid.Columns(
             [
-                select.Heading("Traffic Manipulation"),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Header Set Patterns",
-                    "H",
-                    checker("setheaders", master.options),
-                    self.setheaders
+                (
+                    self.namewidth,
+                    urwid.Text([("title", self.opt.name.ljust(self.namewidth))])
                 ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Ignore Patterns",
-                    "I",
-                    checker("ignore_hosts", master.options),
-                    self.ignore_hosts
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Replacement Patterns",
-                    "R",
-                    checker("replacements", master.options),
-                    self.replacepatterns
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Scripts",
-                    "S",
-                    checker("scripts", master.options),
-                    self.scripts
-                ),
-
-                select.Heading("Interface"),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Default Display Mode",
-                    "M",
-                    checker("default_contentview", master.options),
-                    self.default_displaymode
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Palette",
-                    "P",
-                    checker("console_palette", master.options),
-                    self.palette
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Show Host",
-                    "w",
-                    checker("showhost", master.options),
-                    master.options.toggler("showhost")
-                ),
-
-                select.Heading("Network"),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Upstream Certs",
-                    "U",
-                    checker("upstream_cert", master.options),
-                    master.options.toggler("upstream_cert")
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "TCP Proxying",
-                    "T",
-                    checker("tcp_hosts", master.options),
-                    self.tcp_hosts
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Don't Verify SSL/TLS Certificates",
-                    "V",
-                    checker("ssl_insecure", master.options),
-                    master.options.toggler("ssl_insecure")
-                ),
-
-                select.Heading("Utility"),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Anti-Cache",
-                    "a",
-                    checker("anticache", master.options),
-                    master.options.toggler("anticache")
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Anti-Compression",
-                    "o",
-                    checker("anticomp", master.options),
-                    master.options.toggler("anticomp")
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Kill Extra",
-                    "x",
-                    checker("replay_kill_extra", master.options),
-                    master.options.toggler("replay_kill_extra")
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "No Refresh",
-                    "f",
-                    checker("refresh_server_playback", master.options),
-                    master.options.toggler("refresh_server_playback")
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Sticky Auth",
-                    "A",
-                    checker("stickyauth", master.options),
-                    self.sticky_auth
-                ),
-                select.Option(
-                    "Sticky Cookies",
-                    "t",
-                    checker("stickycookie", master.options),
-                    self.sticky_cookie
-                ),
-            ]
+                valw
+            ],
+            dividechars=2,
+            focus_column=1
         )
-        title = urwid.Text("Options")
-        title = urwid.Padding(title, align="left", width=("relative", 100))
-        title = urwid.AttrWrap(title, "heading")
-        w = urwid.Frame(
-            self.lb,
-            header = title
-        )
-        super().__init__(w)
 
-        self.master.loop.widget.footer.update("")
-        signals.update_settings.connect(self.sig_update_settings)
-        master.options.changed.connect(self.sig_update_settings)
+    def get_edit_text(self):
+        return self._w[1].get_edit_text()
 
-    def sig_update_settings(self, sender, updated=None):
-        self.lb.walker._modified()
+    def selectable(self):
+        return True
 
     def keypress(self, size, key):
-        if key == "C":
-            self.clearall()
-            return None
-        if key == "W":
-            self.save()
-            return None
+        if self.editing:
+            self._w[1].keypress(size, key)
+        return key
+
+
+class OptionListWalker(urwid.ListWalker):
+    def __init__(self, master):
+        self.master = master
+
+        self.index = 0
+        self.focusobj = None
+
+        self.opts = sorted(master.options.keys())
+        self.maxlen = max(len(i) for i in self.opts)
+        self.editing = False
+        self.set_focus(0)
+        self.master.options.changed.connect(self.sig_mod)
+
+    def sig_mod(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        self._modified()
+        self.set_focus(self.index)
+
+    def start_editing(self):
+        self.editing = True
+        self.focus_obj = self._get(self.index, True)
+        self._modified()
+
+    def stop_editing(self):
+        self.editing = False
+        self.focus_obj = self._get(self.index, False)
+        self._modified()
+
+    def get_edit_text(self):
+        return self.focus_obj.get_edit_text()
+
+    def _get(self, pos, editing):
+        name = self.opts[pos]
+        opt = self.master.options._options[name]
+        return OptionItem(
+            self, opt, pos == self.index, self.maxlen, editing
+        )
+
+    def get_focus(self):
+        return self.focus_obj, self.index
+
+    def set_focus(self, index):
+        self.editing = False
+        name = self.opts[index]
+        opt = self.master.options._options[name]
+        self.index = index
+        self.focus_obj = self._get(self.index, self.editing)
+        option_focus_change.send(opt.help)
+
+    def get_next(self, pos):
+        if pos >= len(self.opts) - 1:
+            return None, None
+        pos = pos + 1
+        return self._get(pos, False), pos
+
+    def get_prev(self, pos):
+        pos = pos - 1
+        if pos < 0:
+            return None, None
+        return self._get(pos, False), pos
+
+
+class OptionsList(urwid.ListBox):
+    def __init__(self, master):
+        self.master = master
+        self.walker = OptionListWalker(master)
+        super().__init__(self.walker)
+
+    def keypress(self, size, key):
+        if self.walker.editing:
+            if key == "enter":
+                foc, idx = self.get_focus()
+                v = self.walker.get_edit_text()
+                try:
+                    d = self.master.options.parse_setval(foc.opt.name, v)
+                except exceptions.OptionsError as v:
+                    signals.status_message.send(message=str(v))
+                else:
+                    self.master.options.update(**{foc.opt.name: d})
+                self.walker.stop_editing()
+            elif key == "esc":
+                self.walker.stop_editing()
+        else:
+            if key == "g":
+                self.set_focus(0)
+                self.walker._modified()
+            elif key == "G":
+                self.set_focus(len(self.walker.opts) - 1)
+                self.walker._modified()
+            elif key == "enter":
+                foc, idx = self.get_focus()
+                if foc.opt.typespec == bool:
+                    self.master.options.toggler(foc.opt.name)()
+                    # Bust the focus widget cache
+                    self.set_focus(self.walker.index)
+                elif can_edit_inplace(foc.opt):
+                    self.walker.start_editing()
+                    self.walker._modified()
+                elif foc.opt.choices:
+                    self.master.overlay(
+                        overlay.Chooser(
+                            foc.opt.name,
+                            foc.opt.choices,
+                            foc.opt.current(),
+                            self.master.options.setter(foc.opt.name)
+                        )
+                    )
+                elif foc.opt.typespec == Sequence[str]:
+                    self.master.overlay(
+                        overlay.OptionsOverlay(
+                            self.master,
+                            foc.opt.name,
+                            foc.opt.current(),
+                            HELP_HEIGHT + 5
+                        ),
+                        valign="top"
+                    )
+                else:
+                    raise NotImplementedError()
         return super().keypress(size, key)
 
-    def do_save(self, path):
-        optmanager.save(self.master.options, path)
-        return "Saved"
 
-    def save(self):
-        signals.status_prompt_path.send(
-            prompt = "Save options to file",
-            callback = self.do_save
+class OptionHelp(urwid.Frame):
+    def __init__(self, master):
+        self.master = master
+        super().__init__(self.widget(""))
+        self.set_active(False)
+        option_focus_change.connect(self.sig_mod)
+
+    def set_active(self, val):
+        h = urwid.Text("Option Help")
+        style = "heading" if val else "heading_inactive"
+        self.header = urwid.AttrWrap(h, style)
+
+    def widget(self, txt):
+        cols, _ = self.master.ui.get_cols_rows()
+        return urwid.ListBox(
+            [urwid.Text(i) for i in textwrap.wrap(txt, cols)]
         )
 
-    def clearall(self):
-        self.master.options.reset()
-        signals.update_settings.send(self)
-        signals.status_message.send(
-            message = "Options cleared",
-            expire = 1
+    def sig_mod(self, txt):
+        self.set_body(self.widget(txt))
+
+
+class Options(urwid.Pile):
+    def __init__(self, master):
+        oh = OptionHelp(master)
+        super().__init__(
+            [
+                OptionsList(master),
+                (HELP_HEIGHT, oh),
+            ]
         )
+        self.master = master
 
-    def setheaders(self):
-        data = []
-        for d in self.master.options.setheaders:
-            if isinstance(d, str):
-                data.append(setheaders.parse_setheader(d))
-            else:
-                data.append(d)
-        self.master.view_grideditor(
-            grideditor.SetHeadersEditor(
-                self.master,
-                data,
-                self.master.options.setter("setheaders")
-            )
-        )
+    def keypress(self, size, key):
+        key = common.shortcuts(key)
+        if key == "tab":
+            self.focus_position = (
+                self.focus_position + 1
+            ) % len(self.widget_list)
+            self.widget_list[1].set_active(self.focus_position == 1)
+            key = None
+        elif key == "D":
+            self.master.options.reset()
+            key = None
 
-    def tcp_hosts(self):
-        self.master.view_grideditor(
-            grideditor.HostPatternEditor(
-                self.master,
-                self.master.options.tcp_hosts,
-                self.master.options.setter("tcp_hosts")
-            )
-        )
-
-    def ignore_hosts(self):
-        self.master.view_grideditor(
-            grideditor.HostPatternEditor(
-                self.master,
-                self.master.options.ignore_hosts,
-                self.master.options.setter("ignore_hosts")
-            )
-        )
-
-    def replacepatterns(self):
-        data = []
-        for d in self.master.options.replacements:
-            if isinstance(d, str):
-                data.append(replace.parse_hook(d))
-            else:
-                data.append(d)
-        self.master.view_grideditor(
-            grideditor.ReplaceEditor(
-                self.master,
-                data,
-                self.master.options.setter("replacements")
-            )
-        )
-
-    def scripts(self):
-        def edit_scripts(scripts):
-            self.master.options.scripts = [x[0] for x in scripts]
-        self.master.view_grideditor(
-            grideditor.ScriptEditor(
-                self.master,
-                [[i] for i in self.master.options.scripts],
-                edit_scripts
-            )
-        )
-
-    def default_displaymode(self):
-        signals.status_prompt_onekey.send(
-            prompt = "Global default display mode",
-            keys = contentviews.view_prompts,
-            callback = self.change_default_display_mode
-        )
-
-    def change_default_display_mode(self, t):
-        v = contentviews.get_by_shortcut(t)
-        self.master.options.default_contentview = v.name
-        if self.master.view.focus.flow:
-            signals.flow_change.send(self, flow = self.master.view.focus.flow)
-
-    def sticky_auth(self):
-        signals.status_prompt.send(
-            prompt = "Sticky auth filter",
-            text = self.master.options.stickyauth,
-            callback = self.master.options.setter("stickyauth")
-        )
-
-    def sticky_cookie(self):
-        signals.status_prompt.send(
-            prompt = "Sticky cookie filter",
-            text = self.master.options.stickycookie,
-            callback = self.master.options.setter("stickycookie")
-        )
-
-    def palette(self):
-        self.master.view_palette_picker()
+        # This is essentially a copypasta from urwid.Pile's keypress handler.
+        # So much for "closed for modification, but open for extension".
+        item_rows = None
+        if len(size) == 2:
+            item_rows = self.get_item_rows(size, focus = True)
+        i = self.widget_list.index(self.focus_item)
+        tsize = self.get_item_size(size, i, True, item_rows)
+        return self.focus_item.keypress(tsize, key)
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/overlay.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/overlay.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e874da691
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/overlay.py
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+import math
+
+import urwid
+
+from mitmproxy.tools.console import common
+from mitmproxy.tools.console import signals
+from mitmproxy.tools.console import grideditor
+
+
+class SimpleOverlay(urwid.Overlay):
+    def __init__(self, master, widget, parent, width, valign="middle"):
+        self.widget = widget
+        self.master = master
+        super().__init__(
+            widget,
+            parent,
+            align="center",
+            width=width,
+            valign=valign,
+            height="pack"
+        )
+
+    def keypress(self, size, key):
+        key = super().keypress(size, key)
+        if key == "esc":
+            signals.pop_view_state.send(self)
+        if key == "?":
+            self.master.view_help(self.widget.make_help())
+        else:
+            return key
+
+
+class Choice(urwid.WidgetWrap):
+    def __init__(self, txt, focus, current):
+        if current:
+            s = "option_active_selected" if focus else "option_active"
+        else:
+            s = "option_selected" if focus else "text"
+        return super().__init__(
+            urwid.AttrWrap(
+                urwid.Padding(urwid.Text(txt)),
+                s,
+            )
+        )
+
+    def selectable(self):
+        return True
+
+    def keypress(self, size, key):
+        return key
+
+
+class ChooserListWalker(urwid.ListWalker):
+    def __init__(self, choices, current):
+        self.index = 0
+        self.choices = choices
+        self.current = current
+
+    def _get(self, idx, focus):
+        c = self.choices[idx]
+        return Choice(c, focus, c == self.current)
+
+    def set_focus(self, index):
+        self.index = index
+
+    def get_focus(self):
+        return self._get(self.index, True), self.index
+
+    def get_next(self, pos):
+        if pos >= len(self.choices) - 1:
+            return None, None
+        pos = pos + 1
+        return self._get(pos, False), pos
+
+    def get_prev(self, pos):
+        pos = pos - 1
+        if pos < 0:
+            return None, None
+        return self._get(pos, False), pos
+
+
+class Chooser(urwid.WidgetWrap):
+    def __init__(self, title, choices, current, callback):
+        self.choices = choices
+        self.callback = callback
+        choicewidth = max([len(i) for i in choices])
+        self.width = max(choicewidth, len(title) + 5)
+        self.walker = ChooserListWalker(choices, current)
+        super().__init__(
+            urwid.AttrWrap(
+                urwid.LineBox(
+                    urwid.BoxAdapter(
+                        urwid.ListBox(self.walker),
+                        len(choices)
+                    ),
+                    title= title
+                ),
+                "background"
+            )
+        )
+
+    def selectable(self):
+        return True
+
+    def keypress(self, size, key):
+        key = common.shortcuts(key)
+        if key == "enter":
+            self.callback(self.choices[self.walker.index])
+            signals.pop_view_state.send(self)
+        return super().keypress(size, key)
+
+    def make_help(self):
+        text = []
+        keys = [
+            ("enter", "choose option"),
+            ("esc", "exit chooser"),
+        ]
+        text.extend(common.format_keyvals(keys, key="key", val="text", indent=4))
+        return text
+
+
+class OptionsOverlay(urwid.WidgetWrap):
+    def __init__(self, master, name, vals, vspace):
+        """
+            vspace: how much vertical space to keep clear
+        """
+        cols, rows = master.ui.get_cols_rows()
+        self.ge = grideditor.OptionsEditor(master, name, vals)
+        super().__init__(
+            urwid.AttrWrap(
+                urwid.LineBox(
+                    urwid.BoxAdapter(self.ge, rows - vspace),
+                    title=name
+                ),
+                "background"
+            )
+        )
+        self.width = math.ceil(cols * 0.8)
+
+    def make_help(self):
+        return self.ge.make_help()
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/signals.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/signals.py
index cb71c5c12..93f095776 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/signals.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/signals.py
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ call_in = blinker.Signal()
 # Focus the body, footer or header of the main window
 focus = blinker.Signal()
 
+# Set the mini help text in the footer of the main window
+footer_help = blinker.Signal()
+
 # Fired when settings change
 update_settings = blinker.Signal()
 
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/statusbar.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/statusbar.py
index 3e5249727..3f18bbb37 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/statusbar.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/statusbar.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import urwid
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import common
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import pathedit
 from mitmproxy.tools.console import signals
-from mitmproxy.utils import human
 
 
 class PromptPath:
@@ -143,10 +142,15 @@ class StatusBar(urwid.WidgetWrap):
         super().__init__(urwid.Pile([self.ib, self.master.ab]))
         signals.update_settings.connect(self.sig_update)
         signals.flowlist_change.connect(self.sig_update)
+        signals.footer_help.connect(self.sig_footer_help)
         master.options.changed.connect(self.sig_update)
         master.view.focus.sig_change.connect(self.sig_update)
         self.redraw()
 
+    def sig_footer_help(self, sender, helptext):
+        self.helptext = helptext
+        self.redraw()
+
     def sig_update(self, sender, updated=None):
         self.redraw()
 
@@ -224,11 +228,7 @@ class StatusBar(urwid.WidgetWrap):
         if self.master.options.console_focus_follow:
             opts.append("following")
         if self.master.options.stream_large_bodies:
-            opts.append(
-                "stream:%s" % human.pretty_size(
-                    self.master.options.stream_large_bodies
-                )
-            )
+            opts.append(self.master.options.stream_large_bodies)
 
         if opts:
             r.append("[%s]" % (":".join(opts)))
@@ -285,10 +285,5 @@ class StatusBar(urwid.WidgetWrap):
         ]), "heading")
         self.ib._w = status
 
-    def update(self, text):
-        self.helptext = text
-        self.redraw()
-        self.master.loop.draw_screen()
-
     def selectable(self):
         return True
diff --git a/mitmproxy/utils/typecheck.py b/mitmproxy/utils/typecheck.py
index e8e2121ea..5df4ea4b2 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/utils/typecheck.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/utils/typecheck.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import typing
 
 
-def check_type(name: str, value: typing.Any, typeinfo: type) -> None:
+def check_type(name: str, value: typing.Any, typeinfo: typing.Any) -> None:
     """
     This function checks if the provided value is an instance of typeinfo
     and raises a TypeError otherwise.
diff --git a/test/mitmproxy/test_optmanager.py b/test/mitmproxy/test_optmanager.py
index df3928290..ef5ebd272 100644
--- a/test/mitmproxy/test_optmanager.py
+++ b/test/mitmproxy/test_optmanager.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class TO(optmanager.OptManager):
         self.add_option("one", typing.Optional[int], None, "help")
         self.add_option("two", typing.Optional[int], 2, "help")
         self.add_option("bool", bool, False, "help")
+        self.add_option("required_int", int, 2, "help")
 
 
 class TD(optmanager.OptManager):
@@ -72,9 +73,15 @@ def test_defaults():
         assert not o.has_changed(k)
 
 
+def test_required_int():
+    o = TO()
+    with pytest.raises(exceptions.OptionsError):
+        o.parse_setval("required_int", None)
+
+
 def test_options():
     o = TO()
-    assert o.keys() == {"bool", "one", "two"}
+    assert o.keys() == {"bool", "one", "two", "required_int"}
 
     assert o.one is None
     assert o.two == 2
@@ -140,6 +147,18 @@ class Rec():
 def test_subscribe():
     o = TO()
     r = Rec()
+
+    # pytest.raises keeps a reference here that interferes with the cleanup test
+    # further down.
+    try:
+        o.subscribe(r, ["unknown"])
+    except exceptions.OptionsError:
+        pass
+    else:
+        raise AssertionError
+
+    assert len(o.changed.receivers) == 0
+
     o.subscribe(r, ["two"])
     o.one = 2
     assert not r.called
@@ -151,6 +170,21 @@ def test_subscribe():
     o.two = 4
     assert len(o.changed.receivers) == 0
 
+    class binder:
+        def __init__(self):
+            self.o = TO()
+            self.called = False
+            self.o.subscribe(self.bound, ["two"])
+
+        def bound(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            self.called = True
+
+    t = binder()
+    t.o.one = 3
+    assert not t.called
+    t.o.two = 3
+    assert t.called
+
 
 def test_rollback():
     o = TO()
@@ -270,14 +304,14 @@ def test_merge():
 
 
 def test_option():
-    o = optmanager._Option("test", int, 1, None, None)
+    o = optmanager._Option("test", int, 1, "help", None)
     assert o.current() == 1
     with pytest.raises(TypeError):
         o.set("foo")
     with pytest.raises(TypeError):
-        optmanager._Option("test", str, 1, None, None)
+        optmanager._Option("test", str, 1, "help", None)
 
-    o2 = optmanager._Option("test", int, 1, None, None)
+    o2 = optmanager._Option("test", int, 1, "help", None)
     assert o2 == o
     o2.set(5)
     assert o2 != o